archtech

Speaking as an Irishman I think we, in Ireland are playing catch-up in terms of shows, but we could rapidly reach saturation point. I do think there is still lots of growth in the hobby particularly with the advent of the internet this forum etc, less than 2 years ago I would never have considered getting customised models, and did not know the likes of scaledown or Brian Norman or even BOR with his foragers existed. Shows etc do help the hobby and will no doubt encourge more to get involved when they discover that at 35 they are not alone or mad for wanting to or collecting farm models. Customisation is definately a growth area, be it weathering models, altering models to reflect individauls specifications. Univeral Hobbies have helped and will I expect assist in the growth of the hobby, ok they may not get every detail 100% right 100% of the time, but for many of us the level of deatil is good, or at very least they provide a satisfactory model to be customised. Briatin done the ground work for many of us, back in the 1970's and 1980's, hopefully they will do so again. As to what direction models will go, I think there will always be a demand for both modern and vinatage generation models, I love the older stuff while my nephew, one generation younger loves the newer modern stuff and this will always be the case.

brillant photos and displays well done to all

bloody hell that looks the business

looks really well

nice collection jdc

no back window I don 't think I would be too popular with my niece calling the tractor Minnie as that's what she known as. nothing for the moment

Thanks for the kind comments lads. I have to say I am very much growing attached to the cab, and am certain won't be getting rid of it in the short term, if ever. There is a fair amount of rust on the cab in places, however it isn't beyond repair, apart from possibly having to replace the mud guards, which are fairly bad in places. From what I can gather, its had only 3 previous owners, the last been my uncle whom gave it to me; he's had 35's upto now for over 40 years on his farm, and has a lot to do with my love of the MF 35 in that my first memory of getting a spin in a tractor was in his MF35 at about the age of 3 and then later had me to "drive" one around a hay field when I was only 8, while he field the trailer with bales. Prior to that a farmer owned it for about 5 years and did nothing with it only to drive it to Mass on sunday and the to local shops. There's only one previous registered owner named on the taxt book but as it wasn't registered for road use until 1980 some 20 years after manufacture, i'm not sure if there were other owners prior to then. My long there plan would be to restore it as a show tractor, and use it for tractor runs and odd jobs around the house, collecting timber, a bit of ploughing in the garden (to keep the wife happy with her veg patch) etc as I don't have farm. Of course you can have it.... but at a price(which is high) And no she hasn't got a name..... yet

I was originally planning on removing the cab when restoring it, but I'm having second thoughts now. The cab would be useful for keeping the rain off, although it does need a bit of work. The biggest draw back of leaving the cab on is the bonnet need to be unbolted and slid off.

I recently got a MF35. It's not what is says on the tin, in that its not a MF35x. Its 50 years old, having been build in 1960. I plan on restoring it in time.

Britians Ford 5000 Siku Ferguson Trailer

very impressive as always

great pictures.. looked like a great show. definitely next year

Best of luck and hope it becomes an annual thing. unfortunately I can't make it this time. Plenty of pictures please.

frosty and dry here in Clonmel -2 at the moment

ha ha!

that little 205 would do nicely for cutting the grass and working in the garden at home

me too .

A fendt 936 with a rather large reversible plough trying to manoeuvre through a construction related traffic jam

Picking spuds on a cold wet November mornings.

looks good

I was there yesterday with my nephew and Father. The only exhibitors were G & M Models and Old 20 Parts Company. G & M had a reasonable amount of stuff and were doing a fair trade while we were there.

photos back in view again must be the weather

now I do, in that the pictures appear to have disappeared, I did see them yesterday and they looked great!

Just been through the topic form start to finish again. Very impressive account of the restoration and images of the prized tractor. The lengths you went to get everything right was amazing. well done.

+1 and Very light snow in clonmel this morning. By all accounts its been the longest cold spell in ireland since 1963 and i think that one lasted for something like 12 -16 weeks