PDH

WOW...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Hobbies-Claas-Tucano-450-Brand-New-rare-Item-/281170145901?pt=UK_ToysGames_DiecastVehicles_DiecastVehicles_JN&hash=item41770bf26d I've got two these, dealer boxes as well. Should I sell? P

Collected the Wiking Claas Arion 650 I ordered last week today. Another great model from Wiking. P

Paid a visit to Hamblys the local Claas dealer. Ordered the new Wiking Arion 650 and came away with two Axions, the 950 and 930. All in dealer boxes. According to the Claas stock control system only just over 700 of the Arion 650 left in stock. So they've sold over 2200 in pretty quick time. P

Put masking tape on top of the gripper, helps save your skin!! P

Actually pouring with rain in the area around Westpoint as at the moment. No snow in sight, all melted. Hurrah!! See you Sunday Mandy. Pity they've organised a Shepton Mallet for the following weekend. A gap of a couple weeks would have aided the wallet a bit. P

Subscribed for a year, didn't bother to renew. Too much 1/64th stuff and to my mind very closed against European/1/32nd. My advice...save your money.

At a good look at what is needed for this mod today. As you say Mark, shorten and thin. Success could depend on how much glue UH put on the lade when it came down the production line.

When I was looking for round bales that fit the latest UH Rolland BH 100 flatbed trailer I found I had 5 different versions, all different sizes, in amongst all the farm bits and pieces I have. Looking at them it struck me how accurate are they all? Now firstly a real round baler, and let me say I'm no expert in these so please do correct anything i say, are either fixed or variable-chamber. When the bale reaches a predetermined size, either netting or twine is wrapped around it to hold its shape. The back of the baler swings open, and the bale is discharged. With a fixed chamber the bale size cannot be varied in size and the manufacturer decides what the size of the bale produced is. With a variable-chamber the operator can set a size according to preference for a crop/crop condition. Variable-chamber balers typically produce bales from 1200mm to 1800mm in diameter and up to 1500mm in width. The bales can weigh anywhere from 500 to 1,000 kg, depending upon size, material, and moisture content. So I have 5 different round bale versions. These are 4 mainstream manufacturers versions - Britains, Siku, Universal Hobbies and Replicagri, all being moulded plastic - and one cottage industry version as sold by Holly Loves Toys, this is made from wrapped sisal. The sizes of these round bales are as follows - Britains 52mm diameter 36mm wide giving a real bales size of 1664mm by 1152mm Universal Hobbies 38mm diameter 35mm wide giving a real bale size of 1216mm by 1120mm Siku 44mm diameter 28mm wide giving a real bale size of 1408mm by 896mm Replicagri 45mm diameter by 36mm wide giving a real bale size of 1440mm by 1152mm Holly Loves Toys 52mm diameter by 40mm wide giving a real bale size of 1664mm x 1280mm So there is a huge variation in size. To me the UH ones are probably too small, the Siku ones possibly too narrow. The rest are acceptable though my personal preference for being the most realistic are the Replicagri bales, for their texture and colour to represent straw or the Holly Loves Toys sisal versions. In conclusion I would say to me it shows whatever bale you use needs to be matched to the machinery you are using. For balers check the baler you use can produce the bales you display with it and check that the bales of choice fit your trailer or make sure you can modify your trailer so they can fit.

Thank you very much Tris. They ain't bad for a 5 year old camera.

Good modification Mark, make the load neat and tidy! What do you do, thin the iade support into the trailer bed or chop it off?

It is a great trailer Paul, and I feel the same way as you about the bales. Just need to find out the best bale that fits or what we have to do to make what ever bales you want to use fit. Mark is already on the case!

I think you have decide on what bales you are going to use then work out how much you need to gain or lose. With the Replicagri ones I would say take the rear lade in but i would need to measure everything up and the work out the changes required before committing to cut things about!

Cheers Mark. Looks like a simple little job. I'll be buying another in the New Year so when I do I'll have a play around. Please post up photos when you decided what you are going to do and finish the modifications. In the meantime I'm going to do a little research into round bales and what's available. Post the results soon!!

Thanks Mark. I'll rummage the loft tomorrow and see if they fit any better. Yes, it'll only be a row of three on the bottom for sure.

So have you tried Britains round bales Mark? If so were they a better fit?

So far Paul I've tried the Replicagri, UH and the sisal handmade bales from Mandy, all have the same problem. Not tried Siku or Britainns yet. Reckon the Siku will have the same problem as they are similar size to UH's. The Britains round b ales are bigger but I need to find some first. A loft rummage tomorrow. However seen trailers round here loaded in a similar manner several times.

Hooked up to a UH Claas Arion 640. Bales are the Replicagri ones.

The flatbed version Comparison with a Britains Kane silage trailer

A few more of the grain trailer

The new UH Rolland BH 100 Grain Trailer

Taking them out the box at the moment Sean. Just got the flatbed out, grain next. Sides on the grain are glued/screwed but a very simple job to remove/reduce in height. Looks like a peg and hole system for the sides (the chassis is the same for both trailers as I suspect you know) then four side and two doors for the grain trailer. Photos probably tomorrow. P

Spent the morning wandering around. Really busy, looked like a lot of people were busy Christmas shopping. Lots of new UH. The latest MF's were there but the all sold within the first hour. Also saw the two new MF grey trailers, surprised how small they were. Picked up the two new UH Rolland BH 100 trailers and Manitou MI25D forklift. Loads of other things I wanted but need to watch the cash at the moment.

The two new UH Rolland BH 100 Trailers and a UH Manitou MI25D forklift from the Shepton Mallet Toyfair. The trailers are really good I think, not too big and well detailed.

Thanks Mandy, should have guessed at Davies, knew it wasn't Jones!! What's the interesting bits and pieces then? I'll see you there, you in the usual spot?

Brian Norman should be there as well as the Welsh chap Cefwyn xxxxx (sorry can't remember surname). There are usually several Britains lead model dealers as well, Martin Jewell, Farmer Ed, Karen from Farm Models and of course our Mandy!!