Stabliofarmer

The CAD looks like this and allows me to see how all the moving parts interface. From the finalised CAD I could create a fresh set of dxf files to cut when I got home. 

Note that the telescopic boom of the MC2 has now been developed too, designed so that it can slide and work. 

This has been my baby for the last 3 months. While working on a friend's farm carting bales over the summer I started drawing up a Heath Bale Chaser. While working there I bought the laser cutter and the project began to gain momentum. 

The drawings. To draw up the machine was a challenge, I've never been around one in the flesh, but between a friend whose done a few seasons on one, and the instructional videos on YouTube I started to figure it out. The design was created with the use of 2 and 3mm acrylic plastic as the construction material. 

Once the drawings where on paper I transfered the designs into a vector drawing on inkscape, this then becomes a dxf file that can be sent to the laser cutter. When I got home from the summer I excitedly installed the laser cutter and got the first test cut done. 

And before I knew it I was out of time and had to head back to uni. While at uni I couldn't get home, pandemic and what not, so was stuck with a not quite right prototype and a set of 2D drawings. 

Pretty rapidly I'd lost the 3D picture of how everything went together in my head. I'd relied on the laser cut prototype to plot where things like the rear Bale push arms would route without clashing with the cylinders etc. And knowing I needed to extend the actual bed length I didn't want to risk changing any drawings without being certain. So while I didn't have the laser cutter with me I did have Solid works, so I 3D cadded my drawings. 

2 hours ago, Janval said:

Did some minor adjustments and made a bit more progress, coming along now, will have to make several of these!

Now that I like alot, following with great interest!

2 hours ago, WillTEF20 said:

Many thanks James, rightly or wrongly I don’t use plasticweld anymore as like you say it can make the plastic very dirty! I also find it deforms the plastic depending on the application. I’ve been using ‘Gorilla’ super glue for 5-6 years now and haven’t had any issues with things breaking or degrading so that’s what I’ve stuck with !

2 hours ago, Janval said:

I've been doing the same, those screws would come in handy though. I have different sizes of regular m1 nuts and bolts which are great to use as well for different things.

Also agree with the plastic weld stuff, when I started I used Tamiya which gives off nasty gases as well.. Loctite superglue is my go to glue now, better to have glued fingers rather than breathing toxic gases!

Interesting, I have to say I prefer plastiweld for its instant strong bond, but I have been using the blue cap gorilla glue for any acrylic plastic work, and it is very good stuff, but feels slightly less controllable.

Looks fantastic Will, I'm still amazed how people work with plasticard and keep it so clean! 

As Sean says some small amount of this si going to be down to the old corona. 

I read last week a comment from a big model shop)/company which was 'this is the year of the re-run'. Suggesting to me that across the board its being seen as very difficult to develop and deliver a new product. After all it involves alot of back and forth in discussions, prototype checking and more. While issuing a re-run is, on paper, as simple as ringing the factory up and asking for a repeat of order XYZ etc. 

Personally I think there's a good selection there. An E27N hasn't been available as a low price model since the 50's. I look forward to seeing some detailled prototype photos to see what they've gone with front axle and wheel wise. 

The two jcb's are good products for those actually buying Britains as toys, so much playability in them, and 7 year old me would have gone straight to them on a shelf in a shop. The tracked 1cx is a clever use of existing castings. 

The Ford and Deeres where an obvious approach and arguably shouldn't have been dropped from the catalogue in the first place. 

The 'Chaser' models in the E27N set is interesting, and I wonder if it will catch on across the range. 

Bar Royal Mail suspending International shipping for a few days around New year's I've had no issues with posting out to Europe. I've had items going to The Netherlands and Slovenia in the last fortnight and should be shipping elsewhere in Europe this week. 

Postage costs have nearly doubled but the customs information required when using the Royal Mail Click and Drop website hasn't changed. All that's required is an item description, weight, value and number of units. Certainly not €700 worth of work! 

I am yet to receive anything from Europe and like you had an order cancelled for a trade box of Welly Scania from Germany. I may retry that order as it was placed just before Christmas. I am expecting a similar response to items from Japan or China above a certain value, where import charges are applied, plus Royal mails £8 handling charge, for each delivery. 

A side note here is that many of the cheap 1:32 diecast toy cars direct from China have doubled in price over Christmas. My assumption for this is that their delivery pathway uses somewhere in Central Europe as a hub, so items go China - Europe - UK and thus incure charges. 

Stunning John, simply stunning!

On 1/2/2021 at 5:57 PM, Jd6320driver said:

I’ve found this not to be the case, I listed one of my custom built John Deere 3650s on eBay and it struggled to make it past the reserve 

I have to say I think a reserve really halters a model. The first bidding wars have to be at the start when people could genuinely get a great model for 20/30 quid. This generates interest that then takes the bidding up to your higher amounts. Obviously this is risky, but the risk is what I love about an auction! 

7 hours ago, WillTEF20 said:

Have been very jammy recently and have managed to purchase two model shops plastruct stock. Unsure whether the shops have gone bust under the current situation or given up selling it! 
The first lot isn’t in the picture but the second came today, complete with display stand. A vast amount of different sizes, some probably will never get used but at £100 for the lot I cannot complain!

Jammy git! As others have said the stand alone it handy to have. But a very good price for so much stock!

18 minutes ago, Janval said:

These wheels look awesome, not a bubble in sight. What kind of method did you end up using for these castings? 

They're all done with the same method described in the casting topic, if you turned them over there are bubbles, this is just the fronts. The aggressive tread particularly suffers from pinholes in the back. The truck style does have some that are almost perfect front and back, I think that's purely down to mixing and pouring correctly. 

They look very good for a first attempt, took me a long time to get anything like that. I look forward to seeing more progress. 

Looks great Dave, Merry Christmas to you too

16 minutes ago, robbo said:

I have just had an email from the seller to say that they are currently unable to ship to the UK, Ireland and The Republic of Ireland, normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

Does anyone know if future purchases from European sellers will be subject to additional taxes following Brexit?

I don't have an answer to you're query but at least your orders on its way. I put an order in last week with a German wholesaler and they cancelled the order and refunded the next day. 

Turns out if you make alot of wheel moulds you can pretty quickly make alot of wheels! All getting ready for some model kits. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Range-Rover-Limousine-1-32-Scale-Diecast-Car-Metal-Sport-Model-Pull-Back-Boy-Toy/362608995593?hash=item546d2e2d09:g:kswAAOSwwvtb5yUi

Just what every model farm needs when they hit the big time 

That's the continuation magazine for the Model Farmer brand Cyril, not the new publication Farm Modeller

On 11/27/2020 at 10:25 AM, justy 46 said:

They could do so.much more with the 6600 tooling if they wanted.  A 5600 simple.  Gen 1 5610 , 6610 & 7610 by just changing the front grill..Then a whole range off 4wds could also be produced and even County versions. I know if it were UH , Replicagri or ROS, them castings would have been milked along time ago ..

At a guess I would say it is testing costs that stop Britains from milking castings. I remember when Andy was developing the Bunnings spreader for FTF/Model farmer he shared photos of them checking trap points etc with a plastic hand. I imagine trying to develop a 4wd or county axle that meets the standards while still looking the part is not worth the research costs. I imagine the same reason could apply to why the DB's have such a narrow bonnet, so that when the front axle pivots it doesn't create a pinch point. UH and the like don't have these issues as they are not marketed as toys.

I also imagine it would be difficult to suggest any of the variants you mention when Britains key market is considered. A collector looking for such a specific model number is likely to want higher detail than the toy market offers, so Britains will concentrate on the most generic largest sellers.

The same theory applies again to the implement side I suppose. Implements are normally more finicky than the tractor, so to make them to toy standards is probably difficult. Also there is such a wide range of both implement type and manufacturer that to make a decision on one specific type and model would be incredibly risky from a development cost to returns perspective.

All just a guess mind, it could well be purely down to management not recognising what the market looks for.

2 hours ago, sipher172 said:

That looks amazing, can't wait to see the finished chaser.  

Thank you, I have just opened my order book for anyone interested in a kit or complete model. 

Gorgeous as always John, congratulations with the venture!

Some very interesting information Ted, very much looking forward too seeing the progress of the Engine, can't beat a good traction engine, although its got to be a McLaren or Fowler for me. The finescast kits certainly look like very good quality representations.

From what I'm aware most of Dylcom's stuff is bought in from other manufacturers, I know he's contacted me before about supplying parts. 

A lovely buy Martin!