LeeRoebuck

I got this of a English chap who goes by the eBay name of "doctordan5dinkytoys", I've seen the guys from china selling but I tend to stay away from buying Chinese goods on eBay after a cheap pair of trainers turned into a ?150 nightmare. I wasn't overly impressed by the David Brown cropmaster they had made, the tires are pretty awful and the paint looks far too thick.

Bought off eBay this week, after a quick read I thought I was buying a 1:16 cheap but after buying it I realised (after reading the title properly) it was a 1:43 scale. As with all UH stuff its packed with detail despite its small stature, which is apparent when its placed next to the 1:16 tractor. There seems to be no hachette release scheduled so if anyone has any clue why they've made it any information will be greatly received.

There's nothing quite like the offset, tight legged driving position of a cropmaster. Especially when you cant reach the throttle for the passengers legs, when the passenger is a female its a bonus.

Great pictures, looked like there were some great restorations there, especially the "130". Nice to see the huge amount of drip trays dotted about too, even Masseys bleed! Also loving the renegade David Brown poster.

Have they sorted out the brake fluid reacting with the material that the dash is made of yet?

Haha If shes after a couple of new limbs this one may interest her. Theres nothing quite like a moustache to sell a tractor. This company "Mahindra & Mahindra" still produce the old IH McCormick B275 Another Mahindra which is based on the old IH designs. An Escort Jawan, I think the company was set up with technology from Ford back in the 70's. They are seen as the budget brand in India. John Deere 5103, these are produced in India and exported world wide. Not many sell in India as they are the most expensive tractor on sale. .....and saving the best till last, I think this bloke is either a movie star or a wrestler (or a kebab shop owner). Farmtrac is owned by Escorts and can trace its heritage back to Ford. These tractors are quite popular in America I believe. Again another Ford looking tractor, with four different manufacturers all producing similar looking products it has created a very confusing market for consumers.

First we start off with the NewHolland 3030, NewHolland are relativly new to the Indian tractor market. These are aesthetically the same as the old 5610/6610 tractors. having trouble with imageshack so i will update later.

Which is where? Forgive me I am but a newcomer to this site in terms of "who's who"

Excellent pictures! we have two 1947 Cropmasters and are restoring one of them at the minute, I hope they look as good as that once they are finished. Where abouts was the farm?

Whack a commemorative badge on there and your well away!

Hi I've just finished working for an Indian tractor company who wanted a new design direction for their tractors. The preliminary research went towards helping us understand the Indian tractor market, although the tractors are the same they are seen and dealt with very differently over there. My boss who at the time was in India consulting on another companies products, travelled over to the factory and was given a bundle of literature and a 1:20 model of one of the companies tractors. Although the literature was a great help much of it is in Hindi so a local doctor was roped in to translate. We gave the company a completely new design direction for their tractors which we believe is in keeping with indian design trends and we are awaiting their feedback. I cant tell you who the company was because I am unsure about confidentiality issues and I have not been paid yet. If you want I'll start another thread and upload some other manufacturers literature, some of it is pure comedy especially the tractor endorsed by the wrestler. Lee

Which ones the literature or the design stuff?

Awesome convo, the wheels look spot on. The cab on the lonestar model looks a thousand times better than the glass-less ertl 1690

I believe so they also make many more models than the two above. 25DI (25 hp) 30DI Series (26 ? 30 hp) MF 1035 Series (31 ? 40 hp) MF 5245 Series (46 ? 50 hp) 5900 Series (50 hp+) The 25 and 30 DI model being massey 35's. Here's some pictures of the development of the 4410. It was designed by a guy who studied design at Coventry uni. Pictures taken from his portfolio site on coroflot http://www.coroflot.com/public/individual_set.asp?individual_id=92643&set_id=25396

Would look nice with a loader on' I would have a go at a 14 or 1594 but cant find a cheap enough ertl 1690.

Here's some literature scans of Massey tractors in India, they don't produce literature like we do in the west because most Indian farmers are illiterate, instead companies paint adverts on walls and rely on word of mouth to advertise their products. This is the TAFE4410 which is based upon the old Massey 35 design. The original 35 is still available in India (as the TAFE30DI) but is seen as too small and weak in their machismo lead society. So I understand they redesigned the bodywork to give the product a "bigger" looking tractor to try and increase sales which I don't think has happened. Next up is the TAFE MF 241DI J which I believe is mechanically and aesthetically unchanged from the original Massey. The big black mass on the front is known as a "push bar" the owner will probably never use it but goes toward the machismo of the product, similar to the 90's craze of "bull bars" on SUV's over here. I've got loads more of every manufacturer in India if anyone's interested but thought I'd put these up as I promised Marky them ages ago. cheers Lee

Very brave trying to get a reply off dbtc but here you go, hope this helps. Lee

I did hear/read from somewhere that the original ergonomists for early tractor cabs in the US had to take into account operators hats. (big old cowboy hats etc) This led to a high than needed cab, maybe Australian tractor operators had bigger hats back then?

Marky Did you ever get those Indian Massey brochure scans i sent you, I've been having trouble with emails and PM's not being sent or received and haven't heard anything back from you. Lee

I know what you mean, I bought several corgi David Brown 1412's off eBay a year and a half ago for no more than 3 or 4 pounds each, now I could sell them for easily for 20 pounds plus each. Its a shame they are bits awaiting conversion. Good idea with the Dinky there, has inspired me to have a go.....maybe a bottle opener logo 995.

Its a VAK 1 or VAK 1a, but with the looks of the power unit with the adjustable top link its most likely to be a VAK1a. With what looks like a Ferguson Brown 2 furrow plough. Nice book, thanks for sharing the pictures.

Found this out too, its the loader on what looks like a 880, all you've got to do is re size the image to the wheel base of the tractor (1390, 1290 or whatever) your basing the loader on. If you want the measurements which relate to the letters on the picture gives us a shout. Would have posted it sooner but funnily enough I was drinking excessive amounts of carlsberg last night.

These are of a LF series loader fitted to 1210 and 1212 models but looks the same. Hope this helps

This may have been seen by some members but is worthy of a mention. Recently discovered on a "tractor" picture research mission and has to be some of the best diorama set ups i've seen. If hes not a member might be worth getting him on board. Barn/Tractor diorama Country gas station

I had photoshop open so i thought I'd give one a go (hope you dont mind)