mrol

I think we should try to persuade a group of the NI modellers to come over for Spalding as they have some great dioramas and would be some good inspiration to all the visitors (obviously alongside the British guys).

I agree on the tyres point - we've all become so used to the huge tyres of today that we forget what they were like. And positively this still leaves plenty of room for the custom builders to work on. What's also good is that it appears that the Force ii series now seems to have its indicators which is good. Final point re: custom building, whilst i accept that UH churns out lots of models they do make them much more accessible to the general collector who cannot afford the prices of some of the custom work. In addition, there are still thousands of machines/implements/harvesters to go for in the custom world that I struggle to see how UH producing these tractor models is a bad thing.

Hold on...there's pretty much the entire John Deere 40, 50, 00 and 10 series to be produced by one of the model mfrs plus a lot of old combines, foragers etc....the excitement when a JD 3350 or a 4850 is announced will be incredible I reckon!

Pictures in the UH 2012 topic. So does anyone know if these replace the TW-25s or are in addition to them?

Not sure if these are in addition to or replacement of the TW 25s but G&M now showing these models in their coming soon section instead. The Tw30 is 2wd with rear duals! Excellent.

Looks like that wasn't my finest idea But I'd still suggest we focus on encouraging Colin to broaden the appeal of Spalding. It is, I think, tw biggest UK show so prob the best platform to build on. Unfortunately Marquees are pretty expensive to hire though so space is still the big problem.

Completely agree - the focus should be on encouraging Colin to change Spalding and not run another event. On venues, possibly being stupid here, but isn't this industry blessed with some of the biggest buildings around? Could a couple of decent grain sheds not be found on a host farm (with a field for parking) that could be borrowed at much reduced rates - or are there health and safety aspects? (Though these seem to be overcome on the 'Open Farm' event days). If this was done for the April event then I would think that most grain would have been sold and moved by that point wouldn't it?

Looking at the pictures of the Irish shows, I'd agree that they also look like they offer a far more comprehensive display of this hobby at it's best - with the right mix of ingredients to make it interesting. I probably wouldn't take my kids to Spalding as there isn't that much for them to really look at and get excited about. The new farming display at Snetterton models is much more interesting to them then lines and lines of boxes. If Spalding could bring that element in, I'm sure it would broaden the appeal greatly.

I don't think I even know what the new show is.... ...on the Spalding point, I think adding another new show would just dilute things further. I think it would be better to try to get a few of the current show organisers together to collaborate - so a common show format, held perhaps 2x or 3x per year and held in two or three different locations to meet the needs of the public (who might not want to travel 300 miles), traders (who like to have a few events a year to sell stuff) and custom builders (who could be offered an incentive to show at all 3 - a discount for signing up to all 3, a special model only available to exhibitors at all 3 events etc, discounts on products from some of the traders). The scale would prob also encourage the model mfrs to get more on board and take the opportunity to showcase new stuff more than they do today.

Perhaps the cafe could be turned into another room dedicated to non-commercial activites - although I guess the Cafe wouldn't like that! But as you say, space is obviously an issue. The reality is though for me, I probably won't go again now I have been a couple of times as there's never that much new to see (as everything is on the internet as soon as it comes available) and most people are selling mostly the same stuff. The diorama's and custom models would attract in a broader group I would think.

I don't like to beat up on British things (I still don't understand why Basildon built New Hollands aren't the best selling machines in the UK - the hypocrisy of this versus the little red tractor scheme encouraging customers to 'Buy British' is crazy) - but this show looks like it knocks the spots off Spalding. The combination of custom models, dioramas and commercial stands is very impressive. Perhaps we should encourage the organisers of Spalding to copy some of the ideas here and bring some more variety to that show as it would be great to get more opportunity to see all the amazing custom models that appear on here in the flesh.

How does the CVX look - the publicity photos look odd - but how about real life?

Or a new holland TF46!

A combine to the same standard as the Grimme beet harvester - perhaps a New Holland CR9090 or an Axial flow.

That Harry Selten preview is just incredible. Te level of detail and realism is just immense - the field entrance to the stubble field is 100% lifelike. Amazing stuff.

It will be interesting to see what the Lexion 780/800 does with a 13.5m table on the front of it when that finally comes out. And as you say, the new Deere as well.

They really did smash the record didn't they - the previous about 550 tonnes in 8 hours wasn't it?

Yup it looks like a 770TT will be available as a ltd edition. Not sure whether 2011 or 2012 though.

Excellent - hopefully I can get one of those! Thanks Atte

Atte - just noted on Farm Model database the comment against the 770 says 'Picture shows the tyre version' and I am guessing this was entered by you as you were the last to modify the entry - does that mean there will also be a track version? Malc - perhaps 780 is more likely....

Just posted in the UH 2012 - but overall I think the Fords look good. The cab roof of the gen 2 looks a bit big and it's missing it's mudguard mounted indicators and side lights - but I reckon these are prototypes so hopefully those little bits will be ironed out by the time they are released....I might have to fit some chunkier wheels/tyres to the 4wd as well as they look quite skinny (although probably right for the time when these were released).

Pictures are up on farm model database of the TWs now - follow the links above. They look good - prototypes I think. The wheels look slightly unusual - I'm guessing the real machine it is based on had non standard wheels fitted. There's also something slightly odd looking about the gen ii super-q cab that doesn't look quite right...perhaps the white cab roof is a bit big or something? But they will no doubt be refined some more before release so I'm sure will be fine. All in all - look very promising.

Was there much difference between a 25 and a 35 from the outside apart from the decals? Perhaps Britains still have the rights to the 35?

Surely its got to be an 800! Awesome. As soon as they badged it the 770 it was obvious there must be a bigger model coming.

Those JD combines look good - are they the new Ertl models?