CX820Joe

Senator/Mercator should definitely be the next model - if they are planning to release a range of Claas classics - But a Dominator 85 with a cab would be the ideal model for me, they have always been my favourite combine, with Senator a close second!

That is nice! I think I shall have to find space for one of those! Looks like a Gigant rather than a Standard to me too

Passed the farm quickly this evening and saw the 1200 out of the barn, so looks like she's still a runner. Be great to see out and about ploughing

And its not even particularly nice is it? A chav combine if ever there was one!

> > > On the way back to Shrewsbury on the bus and saw a Claas Dominator (possibly a 98) and what looked like a Massey 38 (not seen one of those before) and then a few minutes later a JD WTS cutting beans! Why do I always see them when passing at 45mph rather than on me bike?

Surely a work of art! I am undecided whether to get (when I get round to it!) the Horsch, the Lemken Soltair or the Britains Vaderstadt - or should I just stick with my old Britains pneumatic drill? I doubt a 1500 acre farm could justify any of the above!

Can't remember exactly what model it was but it only ever appeared as a photo of the real thing - may have been an Ectron, certainly wasn't a very big machine, in line with the MF/Fendt/Laverda/Challenger.

Does anyone know if the Deutz Combine that was mooted a while back has been cancelled or might it still appear? I think it would make a super addition to the range, and a decent Deutz combine is long overdue...

There are a few Deutz's about - not as many as there used to be though...I know where to find a red M2680 but it only handles a small acreage and has probably finished now...There are a few green ones around, but not many. I have a pic of an M36 from last year which I will post up, though its just of the combine minus header parked in a field. As for New Hollands...there don't seem to be so many around this year - I saw the TX67 which was at the start of the thread all over the place, and I glimpsed a CX780 a couple of weeks ago, but other than that haven't seen any more - I'm sure its a case of knowing where to look, but it seems like Claas are getting all the business these days in this neck of the woods! Joe

Just wondered - is it possible to remove Robbie Rotten from the cab on the Siku Lexion? Cheers Joe

Aye thats it, sorry shouldn't have made that mistake - the Volvo combines also had Bamford lettering all over them as well...

Back on the bike again today, and time for a couple more oldies - the first being a Bamford (M120?) which I was surprised to see still working; this is at a small village called Lee, not far from Ellesmere. There were three of them at the same farm once - they still have one of the other two which looks to be cannibalised and they also had a newer M152 - not sure if they till have. Interesting to see the cages on the wheels... Then nearer to Shrewsbury I saw this Claas Dominator 86; this is from a farm at Albrighton (village about 2 miles out of Shrews) and it seems to cover a fair sized acreage for a relatively small machine - these pictures were taken nearer Bomere Heath (quite some distance from the home farm) By the way, the first pic of the Bamford was taken more by chance than anything else - it was behind a high hedge so I held the camera up and hoped for the best - it didn't come out too bad I thought! Joe

I sold the precision sts on ebay for about ?45 :'( :'( :'( :'(

Only just seen this Tell me, is it 1/32 scale, and more importantly, is it very hard to get hold of?

It is clouding over a bit now to be honest but no sign of rain....yet. I don't mind if it does for the next few days - back at work so not much chance to get out and about with the camera!

Stunning scenery...

Thanks for all the kind words folks. I went out again today, and saw a few more combines in action, though for some reason, most of what I saw was in a poor position for taking photos - thats the trouble with taking the bike - finding somewhere to leave it, so I apologise for these being slightly distant! Anyway on with the photos - first combine to be snapped today was a Claas Lexion 520 seen near West Felton: Then back to Rednal for another look at the Fortschritt E517 in action: Then it was on to Hordley where I saw this Dominator 98 Classic (sorry about the weeds) And then, a couple of miles on I was astounded to see this machine still working - I last saw it about 15 years ago or thereabouts, the owners used to do contract work with it! Great to see it still going strong, and there was me yesterday saying how I never see Massey Combines! Hope you like this lot, apologies again for not all of them being very close

It is - whoops, forgot to actually mention that! Same farm used to have 3 of them, plus an older Volvo...the Volvo in the picture has been there for about 20 years at least....

I can't remember the last time I saw an MF combine at work, they seem really rare in Shropshire for some reason. There was a farm near Wem that had 2 865's but they have probably gone now. I think i've got some photos of a 440 somewhere though, and a 750 - where they are I don't know though!

Thanks for the kind comments They did seem to be in excellent condition for their age - one was a 'T' reg, the other I couldn't see a plate, and besides a 431 the same farm used to own, they are the only examples of this type I have ever seen. There did used to be an older International 8-51 near Baschurch, but IH combines are quite scarce round here full stop to be honest - Have seen a couple of Axial Flows, but only the older 1400 series ones, never anything newer than that.

Excellent photos!

No it was inside...I did spot their combine on Live search, resting in a field!

Heres something else I just about spotted from todays travels...Its not a good picture but its supposed to be an MF1200 - it belongs to same farm as the E517 and Volvo combines I posted in the other thread...Didn't think they still had it, I wonder if it still runs?

You can certainly see it from a fair distance!

They were about 5 miles from Ellesmere (Shropshire) at a place called Hordley - they seemed in great condition and I dare say they are capable for the acreage they cover, though I suppose even one combine with a 20' header would make a difference. The farm used to run an IH 431 and a Laverda M132, so they probably aren't too preoccupied with upsizing!