the other green

Talking with a couple of mates yesterday and this topic came up. It brought back some good memories so I thought I'd make it a topic here. I also used Lee's Favourite Britains question format and made it a 2-for-1 question. Apologies if it has been asked before. My favourite would be the New Holland 1032 bale wagon. Just lots of fun. A bit difficult to set but once you had 'er going, those small square bales would be off the ground and onto the first table to get lifted up onto the load neat as you like. Keep the ground speed just right and watch for bales lying on their side or out of line then once loaded, a bit of road work back to the yard, some precise reversing to unload and off down the road to repeat the process. Best tractor I had for the job was an International 574 without a cab. I would still like a few hours running a large self-propelled forage harvester 'bout 900-1000HP would do nicely.

Thanks for the reply Lee. Fair old price right enough, for a good cause though. I was wondering how popular the Agco branded tractors were rather than the other makes under the Agco banner like MF Fendt, Valtra et al. Were full-size tractors branded Agco available in Europe at all? Agco has just announced that the Agco branded line of tractors will end here in North America.

Sounds good. I only just picked up the 2010 MF at a show a couple of weeks ago.

Has anyone purchased the Universal Hobbies Agco DT 205 B or 275? Just wondering how popular the Agco models are.

I've done a little bit of digging around in past issues of Classic Tractor and in the September 2006 issue (page 107) there is an article about a man who builds his own models in various scales. This gentleman's name is Roy Leetham, he is (in 2006) from Hook in South Yorkshire. He builds mostly County, Roadless and a J.J. Thomas Ninety Five 100 from various donor tractors and scratch-build pieces HOWEVER....he also built a cabless Muir Hill 101 using what looks like a fair bit of Britains Ford parts. That may be a lead for you.......

Minus 32c this morning. We're doing a lot of renovations inside the store these days having just recently changed our franchise. The lumber manager and I will be laying laminate flooring in the housewares dept. today so I expect to be inside most of the time and will let my "yard guys" who want to stay away from the renovations take care of outside today. Each to their own I suppose. Just checked the weather network website, our area has wind chill warnings that will make the temprature feel like minus 44c not taking into account wind gusts........it may be that everyone will be looking for an inside job today

Interesting pictures. What make is the airport tractor? I want to say Landini but a little bit of me is thinking Iseki \

I quite agree with your review Thomas. This tractor was the first UH model I ever bought and at the time I thought it was one of the best models I had ever bought. Lots of detail and quite substantial too. I didn't think UH could do any better but, well, we all know what has happend since

You have a nice layout there Lee. I'm really liking that Britains International and the FW 60 is quite impressive too. I don't envy the fitter who has to wrestle that tyre and rim back on to the TW though

-18 in deepest darkest Manitoba but windy which will bring the temp down into the -25 to -30 range. Still dark while I'm typing this but I expect a clear sunny day at least.

Good looking models. I've heard the name but know nothing about the man (not my scale), is he still producing models? Are they limited quantity? Does he only replicate British manufacturers?

Three 32" solid pine interior doors (slab only) good deal through work. Bostonian 6 panel. Came in yesterday, look goooooood

I suppose it depends how you think the manufacturer or dealer sees the equipment brochure. Is it as a means to distribute information and brand awareness to the agricultural public or is it information aimed at a particular segment who is or may be "in the market" for that particular piece of equipment that the brochure pertains to? It's my opinion that 30 or so years ago, it was the former, I can remember going to agricultural shows aged 8-14 years and going around the dealers and getting brochures with friends. I'm not blowing my own trumpet here, just stating facts, but most of my friends just picked them up, they were there for the taking. Most of the time, I asked a salesman first. Replies ranged from "aye, take what you like, let your Dad see them" to "okay, but just one or two mind". Getting the manufacturer or dealer name out there seemed to be the most important thing and it seemed that the "trickle down" theory that the information would eventually make it to a potential customer while on the way it may serve to educate or help build brand loyalty in the next generation of farmer was quite acceptible. Nowadays it seems that a more direct result for that investment in the sales brochure is desired, i.e. it should go to someone who is a potential customer who is planning to purchase sooner rather than later and who is the person who has the purchasing "say". I don't think its right to take something free just to resell it and the fact that it is free doesn't make it right. To the sellers-on, if its not a problem, tell the salesman thats what you're going to do and watch his reaction

She really looks the business. Great workmanship on your part.

Good topic 1. Massey Ferguson 135. We had one on our farm from the early '70s until 1985 (the year we left for Canada) so as a kid I pretended to be my Dad. It was the model I learned the principles of driving, how a vehicle with a towed unit corners and how to reverse a tractor and trailer before I was ever let loose with the real thing so this model has a special place in my heart. 2. Square baler, Bamford or New Holland. I loved these models when they worked, surface had to be just right as I remember. Popping those bales out just like the real thing. The mechanics of the thing were a work of art, just an awesome toy. 3. Multi level elevator. Delicate yet realistic and with great "playability" just the thing to use after the baler. 4. Fiat 880 with half-tracks. I always thought it took someone with b***s of steel to put this model on the market. just not thousands of the real thing out there and it didn't look right with a lot of the implements of the time. I don't think my brother or I ever bought one in our playing days but I'm glad I have one as a collector. 5. Case IH Magnum 335 with duals front and rear. One seriously impressive tractor with nice detail probably mucho fun in the sand pit or on the carpet. This top five is what I think right now, I reserve the right to be flakey and change it at any time. I don't really have a top five I'm looking for but I will say I'm really looking forward to seeing the two new International models.

Thanks lads, I was planning to get all three and this thread was to make sure one wasn't a duffer. I actually went to a toy show last Saturday and picked up the 590. It was the only one of the three available. I'm well pleased with it and will be adding the other two as soon as it is prudent.

Thanks for that Sascha, I appreciate your opinion.

Thanks for the replies lads. Bill, four years ago, I think but I'm not certain. This time we'll be heading home on the 9th of May. Whatever we do this go 'round, it will be hard to beat the BA working weekend. Everyone in our group had a really good time there. The older Canadian gentleman (lifetime farmer) said it was the highlight of his holiday. He still mentions it to me quite regularly.

I also prefer the more detailed and less functional model that seems to be the norm of today compared to models of the past. I do appreciate it when implements are compatible with tractors from the same model maker but that's enough for me. I know this industry (die-cast model making) is a business and therefore profit and loss is the main consideration for the likes of Britains, UH, Wiking et al so replicas of new and current tractors and equipment is probably the biggest income stream for them, but, I really like to see models of classic tractors and equipment. Almost to the point that I might even buy a classic model that I wasn't totally familliar with just to "keep the numbers up".

May be in Britain around that time and would like to know if there is anything going on in the agricultural vein, shows, open days, toy shows etc. Any location is possible. Thanks.

Having decided to concentrate on tractors that I remember from my (misguided) youth including classics from the '80s and early '90s, I'd like your opinions on the UH tractors in the subject line. I'm not too bothered about what is "correct" compared to tractors you remember, its more build quality, fragility, paint finish and detail etc. thanks in advance.

Watched some football on the box this morning with my Dad at his place (with the time difference, we get EPL games live from early morning to mid-day). Sunday ritual. Hauled two loads of cows to the auction mart for neighbours. Cast cows, really heavy, probably about 900-1000kg each. Spent some time this afternoon dismantling a sink and countertop in order to measure up for new countertops.

-18C this morning, I'd better enjoy it, the weather office says its to get colder over the weekend and first part of next week, -30 and colder. snow accumulations in sheltered areas are around 70cm so far this winter.

Five. Didn't keep up with things so only attended one toy show and haven't bought anything from eBay or from dealerships. Planning to come to Britain this year and will visit (among others) G and M and DBP Models so I can see that number rising a bit.