ploughmaster

With the exception of the MF2680 type wheels, glazing and grille, the later 5610 is the same as the TW20/7710 The Britains TW20 started life in 1981 and was slightly scaled down to fit in with the existing wheels and tyres (presumably they did not wish to go to the cost of new tooling for wheels and tyres at that time). They had done pretty much the same with the Ford 5000 in 1965 - Britains used the same wheels and tyres as the previous Fordson Majors and by my measurements, the 5000 was slightly underscale. When the MF 2680 was released in 1984, with larger, newly tooled wheels and tyres, the TW20 model would have looked obviously underscale and out of place, and I imagine that is probably why it was re-decalled as a 7710, in spite of being inaccurate in a number of ways (engine detail, bonnet/wheelbase too long etc). It was then made into the 5610 by changing the grille moulding - and became what has to be regarded as the worst toy Britains have ever made with regard to accuracy (virtually no part of it was correct). Nothing wrong with using either the 5610 or the 7710 as a basis for conversion to a TW15 - the engine detail, and general proportions are correct.

It's a bit tatty and missing its tailgate and forage extension, but it was a billy-bargain for someone nonetheless: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270812170410?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

A bit of band can be useful for minor temporary repairs to loose guards, broken brackets etc. It will often allow you to do a bodge repair to keep your machine going in the field until you get back to the yard where you can do a proper job with some wire...... \

These were originally produced in 1985 and were made by NPS in Hong Kong. Britains remarketed them as the 'Action Drive' from 1989 to 1993. They have been sold in various different types of usually unbranded packaging over the years by various toy importers/suppliers. It is clearly IH based and had a sister model which was obviously representing a John Deere (shown in Niels photos) Originally (in 1985 and long before they were sold by Britains) the models were decalled as an 'International 3180' and a 'John Deere 3185', but NPS had no licences from the OEMs and were threatened with legal action by both companies and from then on they were sold without any name on the decal . The original IH and JD badged versions are hard to find!

I can guarantee 100% that any blue Britains County 1884 (all of them were decalled 1884!) that you may see is a conversion. There were definately no blue ones issued by Britains - Graham Miller asked why no blue one at the time and was told by Britains that they had no intention of issueing them in blue because they already had the blue Ford TW and 5610 in the catalogue. It was however, a very easy conversion to do using the blue casting and bonnet and cab of a TW35/25 and the front axle assembly and front weight block from the County (only the weight and axle needed painting and with care in matching the colour they can appear authentic). A huge number of collectors did the conversion, so although there are a few blue ones around, none of them were produced by Britains. The Powerfarm TW 35 base casting was used for the big Fords and Countys and the Lamborghini 1706DT, Same Galaxy 170 and Fendt Favorit. The MF 2680 casting (used for the MF 3680 and Landini) is different

The hurdles are a new moulding, but unfortunately, the shepherd is the same old 1950's attired Herald based one. The troughs are also a new moulding, although rather unexciting \ The livestock trailer is a re-release of the one we know and love based on the rear of the 1981 Iveco cattle truck but with the framework of the cattle body picked out in blue.

Because they already had two blue tractors in the Britains range (Ford 5610 and Ford TW35/TW25) - this was the official explanation from Britains when asked by a certain retailer. No.

Hachette are the publisher of 'Tractors and the World of Farming'; the 43rd models that come with each issue are from UH. I would think UH are unlikely to obtain a licence to produce any JD models in 64th, 32nd or 16th any time soon.

Not yet - only the Ertl 'Prestige' series US version so far. One assumes that it will come into the Britains range at some point, possibly next spring?

Britains 42713 1/32nd European version 7280R; due for release in November: Ertl #45284 1/32nd US version 7280R; due for release in September:

Perhaps Ifor Williams wouldn't renew the licence, or possibly demanded too much money from Britains for it (in the same way a demand for what Britains deemed an unreasonable amount of money was the reason that the Dunlop name was deleted from Britains tractor tyres in the mid 70s). Likewise, if you are going to produce 'Ifor Williams' decals to sell for money, you will need to have a licence too

Unfortunately not - the GPS mapping systems are recievers only, not transmitters. I too find it incredible the way that most farms virtually abandon very expensive tackle wherever they have finished with it, with little thought of security (often with the key left in the ignition, or only superficially 'hidden' - doesn't help that most manufacturers use a universal key type. Very large machinery used to be fairly immune from theft, but the problem now is the parts are worth too much on the black market (particularly in Eastern Europe where they don't seem to have any qualms about buying stolen machines or parts), and it is relatively easy to dismantle them and ship the parts out.

Sounds like a Cooper-Pegler (http://www.cooper-pegler.com/); probably the most widely used make (and best quality). The CP3 knapsack has been around in various versions for most of 40 years with a yellow tank and blue base and lid (early ones had an orange tank). However, they don't look anything like the shape of the above model \

Oh brilliant - take care the dog (which shouldn't be in the cab in the first place) doesn't get injured, but don't give a monkeys about the driver slipping and breaking his neck!!! Serious H&S infringement which would certainly get pointed out during an HSE inspection, and may well have negative implications for employers liability insurance too - the cab steps have a safety function in the grips incorporated in the design and removing this by covering them up is actionable.

Weeks certainly made trailers for MF in the 60s and early 70s (the ubiquitous 3 ton and 5 ton carts that were common on so many farms back then were all Weeks), but in the 80s, most of the 200 range were made by Marston Agricultural Services.

I think there's a bit more to it than just a redecal of the old one

Is that a code 3/conversion?? Britains and Ertl normally use a completely different catalogue/stock number from the standard one when they produce a different edition of an item ...and what is it for?

Pretty much - at 16 with full cat F licence: both tractor and trailer must be less than 2,45 metres and must be two wheeled or four close coupled wheels (i.e. tandem axle). Also note that due to the size and weight of many larger tractors nowadays that if the weight of the tractor itself exceeds 7370kg, you have to be 21 to take it on the public highway. Otherwise, the same weight restrictions apply as will apply to anyone 17 or over:- maximum gross train weight (tractor + trailer) must not exceed 24390kg, and the maximum permitted gross weight for an agricultural trailer on the road is 18290kg. Note that there is a requirement that the ratio of the gross weight of the trailer to the weight of the tractor must not exceed 4:1, and the maximum speed limit for agricultural tractors and trailers on the road is 20mph (unless they have a dual line braking system which achieves at least 50% efficiency - agricultural tractors and trailers only need to achieve 25%). I am not aware of there ever having been any special restriction on 16 year olds or provisional licence holders carrying rear mounted implements beyond the restrictions which apply to all (the 2.45metre width restriction will again apply to a 16 year old).

I've certainly not come across the Exmoor Ram in plastic - will be interested to hear more of this. I don't think I have come across the lead mould calf in Jersey colour either. Sounds like a nice lot you've won there.

Pictures of the forthcoming 7R show it also has the front A-frame, and no, I don't think there has been an official reason given for fitting it - perhaps something for Andy to ask questions about? I expect the reason is similar to the reason why Siku, Hausser, Yaxon et al fitted a Britains type rear linkage when they started out making toy tractors.

When I posted that, this thread was in the 'Farm Shows' section. I see someone has now renamed that section (and presumably moved this thread).

Section fail

Interesting conversion - not the sort of machine we are used to seeing. Ransomes?? The Britains one is an accurate model of a Smallford Setrite.

The Knights were first marketed under the 'Knights of the Sword' banner in the 1986 catalogue, although some of the figures had been in production for some years beforehand - I'm not too familiar with the Knight figures, but I think a few of them may date back to the launch of the Deetail 'Knights and Turks' in 1973.

I rather think the problem lies with the topper not the tractor top link The lower link pins on the topper are much too far forward (in reality, they should only be slightly further forward than the top link mounting on the A-frame; or even behind it).