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I subscribe to that publication.

Very nice German, NZ and Australian MF 500 Series brochures, Lord MF, all new to me. Want, want, want, as they say........ R Day

I have a sales leaflet for the red cab MF 592. I think it was only produced for the French market. Quite an interesting variation on the normal MF 500 Series theme. As most probably know, there was also an MF 560. Suspect Lord F has this one already catered for in the collection. R Day

For some reason, MF never produced a UK sales brochure for the later red cab 595, although many of the European countries, including France, Germany and Scandinavia did produce leaflets for the late version. R Day

Beet harvester! Massively large numpty for Lord Ferguson! Worse still for the Lord, I have this brochure....(and several more Whitsed brochures besides). R Day

Come on Nigel....that's rather a lot! Anyone would think you had been collecting for a long time. Lord F is right....there doesn't see to be any definitive list of MF brochures....ops manuals, perhaps, but not sales literature. Plus, as he rightly says, when you factor in all the different countries, who produced literature on their own account well into the 1980s, then there are the possibilities of hundreds if not thousands of brochures for each country around the world. Once you start collecting all the foreign brochures it does indeed get expensive, but fascinating all the same. Personally, I find the overseas brochures just as interesting, even if I can't read them. Regards R Day

Ref Imber Models, I have in my possession their Ford 5640 SLE two-wheel drive and it is immense. Considering it is Imbers Models' first attempt I think it is superb....definitely on a par with the UH MF 1200 that it is sitting next to in my office. I love the detailing....items such as the opening bonnet and cab doors and the little bags of lights and weight attachements that come with the model. It is just a little treasure. Will definitely be investing in a New Holland 7840 version when this finally appears. What an absolute cracker....well done to Steve and Karen of Imber Models. Regards R Day

Glad you are OK. No, it's a toy/model of an MF 440 tractor that I have recently been given by a friendly MF contact. Apparently, comissioned a Brazilian company to produce a model, but after receiving an initial pre-production sample, they were so disappointed by the quality, they severed links with the manufacturer and quashed the project. Therefore only a small handful of samples survive, including the one I now have. The quality is indeed not good, but the bonnet and platform has some merit and it's actually quite likable. The scale is 1/32. Quite a rare piece I would say and I was delighted to get it. pictures has been sent to your work e-mail.

Lord F Glad you are OK. No, it's a toy/model of an MF 440 tractor that I have recently been given by a friendly MF contact. Apparently, comissioned a Brazilian company to produce a model, but after receiving an initial pre-production sample, they were so disappointed by the quality, they severed links with the manufacturer and quashed the project. Therefore only a small handful of samples survive, including the one I now have. The quality is indeed not good, but the bonnet and platform has some merit and it's actually quite likable. The scale is 1/32. Quite a rare piece I would say and I was delighted to get it. Pics has been sent to your work e-mail. R Day

Lord F Hope you are well. Did you get that picture of the MF 440 model I sent you and have you been able to post it on the site? I haven't seen anything but am not sure where it would belong? R Day

Thanks guys, your comments are really appreciated and very vaulable. I'm biased of course, but I do think the latest issue was one of our best...thanks largely to the efforts of the contributors I hasten to add. I just sat here and pulled some of the strings. Regards R Day

Yes, but what sort of awards.............!

Lord F, I know, I'm very sorry for the inaccurate reporting; I shall in future try my best to adhere to the high standards and example shown by other tractor magazines, notably 'Classic Messy'. Don't worry about buying a copy....I will send you one f-o-c as you clearly need an injection of quality every so often. Regards R Day

Dear Toolbox Tam & Robbo, Stone the crows you blokes take some pleasing. Point taken about the date for the next Spalding show, ....although I'm sure this date was given to me by Colin, but I still should have checked the calendar. Reference the Siku JD combine, McCormick and JD 8430T, I should have quantified this by adding that the items you mention were making their 'UK farm model show debut' which is what I meant. I was aware of Lanark but it's more of a general show. Maybe I should employ you two as proof-checkers....you might be able to spot a few typos for me...... Regards R Day

Dear Archies pike, Thank you for your question, which I have no problem answering. The article you mention has been delayed a couple of times, initially because the company in question was in the process of moving to new premises and then because of work commitments. It probably will go ahead at some point in the future, but unfortunately I can't tell you when because we still have to sort out a mutually agreeable time for all parties. Regards R Day.

Thank you Tractortim & Co.The latest issue was the result of a lot of hard work and organisation by a lot of people, so I'm really glad it has been well received. We always try and put together a good issue for the Christmas period. Regards R Day Classic Tractor

DearCX820Joe, Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated, as ever. Glad you liked some of the features. This issue seemed to turn out well. Regards R Day

I have a pre-production version of the MF 1200 and chisel plough and, in my humble opinion, it is quite awesome in terms of detail, and absolutely spot on for accuracy. My only criticism is the lack of a top link for the implement/tractor, but I'm sure someone will make one before long, because it really would be the icing on the cake. The example I have here has a red linkage, as opposed to grey, and a sliver grey chassis, as opposed to a darker battleship grey. The rear indicator lights don't swing out on my example, but I believe they do on the final version. It is a cracker. A full story on the MF 1200 by UH will appear in the next issue of Classic Tractor, but this isn't a plug by the way....honest. R Day

Always a pleasure! R Day

Thanks for all the great comments, guys. After the effort we put into issue No.100, it was important that No.101 didn't fall off a cliff in terms of content, so I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed some of the features, notably the Ford Engine Transplant story, which we really enjoyed doing, and the IH 674 rebuild. Work on the October issue is well underway and will, I hope, contain some equally good stories. Regards Rory Classic Tractor

Dear BD Contracts, Thanks for your comments. As a keen collector of models myself, and usually the one who writes the 'Collectors Corner' section in Classic Tractor, I share your enthusiasm for the subject. However, as some other forum members have pointed out, models are only a small section in the magazine and past reader surveys have shown that they are not everyone's cup of tea. In fact, believe it or not there are a quite a few people who have no interest in models and would rather not see them featured in the magazine. It's fair to say that our model content is in moderation with the rest of the magazine. I would like to see a few more displays and conversions featured in the magazine and will attempt to cover some more in due course. There's often quite a lot to fit into a small amount of space, bearing in mind there are also new releases to cover, show reports and general model reviews, like the old-time Britains hay-making feature in the current issue. It's quite tricky providing something to suit every taste, every month, especially when you've only got two pages, somethimes three, to play with. I take the comments on board and will try and provide some more coverage of model displays and conversions. Regards R Day Classic Tractor

Dear Fergie 699., I am sorry you were disappointed with the content of this month's Collectors' Corner feature. I don't know who told you there was going to be a full report on the Moira event in the current issue, but whoever told you this was misinformed. We did recieve a report from one of the organisers, for which we were very grateful, but it is not generally our policy to use pictures supplied by the readers, unless they meet our criteria. The same would apply to magazines like Farmers Weekly, profi, Farmers Guardian, IFJ, etc. The vast majority of our reports are compiled by our own team of contributors, but you can be rest assured that we shall make every effort to have someone at the forthcoming Moira show in October. Regards R Day

Dear Nachmach, MJB1 and Toolbox Tam, Thanks for the great comments. I'm really glad you like the new refreshed layout. It was long overdue and took quite a bit of sorting out but seems to work well. Feedback on the changes and new features, whether good bad or ugly, is gratefully received. Regards R Day

Yes, I would like to see what one looks like. Prior to this discussion I thought they had a break between 1980 and 2001/2002. Does this mean there is another one between 1980 and 1985/86? Not to rub it in, but the 1980 volume is superb, bound in a black leather-type cover and about an inch and a half thick. R Day

Dear Lord F A 1986 WWC....now that must be rare? I saw a 1980 one sell very reasonably for just over £30 a couple of weeks ago, but I already had that one. I've never seen a 1986 edition. Regards R Day