WHITESNAKE01

Hi all, Well, if you thought this was it, than i have a little surprise: there's even a fourth showcase!! Yes, it's a smaller one, filled with only models from one brand, and that is Caterpillar. As far as i remember i've always been fascinated by earth-moving equipment, not to say by Caterpillar. I have a remembrance from my early childhood that a man was driving this bulldozer, which apparently was a Caterpillar D4, having my attention for a whole afternoon, without any disrupting! The sound of that mighty machine seems to be even echoing in my ears until today! It made an unforgetable impression on me, and so the "love" for Caterpillar was born. Collecting scalemodels isn't complete for me without a certain amount of Caterpillar models, although prices today are really getting sky-high, forcing the collector to make choices. And so they deserve to be in their own showcase..........😁 Here's a few pictures from my latest showcase, which of course had to be completed with lighting as i wanted it: Just picked up and brought home........⇑ Installing the electricity for new ligths ⇑ Really nice LED-spots from a large Asian webshop....⇑ On it's final spot in my bedroom ⇑ And now it's time to fill it with the models: In the middle on left a 325B LC excavator, which was a "renovation-project" (HERE you can find the proces described), On the bottom left my own home-made D10 made somewhere back in the eighties....... Best regards, Jan

Hi, To be honest: the 1055-1056 models in real are far out my favorit! But i keep wondering why most of the (scale-)models are suited with the short fenders. This is not how the real models were fitted in the Netherlands (and Germany). Probably because of German law. So that's the first thing which bothers me. Just two pictures to show you what i mean: German/Dutch fenders French/UK-fenders Looking at the pictures as shown above, i notice that the decals on the right side of the bonnet seem to be a little slanting. Although the quality of the Replicagri CaseIH / IH-models mostly are high, this one i will pass up. (i'm still working on mounting the right fenders (extensions) of the 1055). BR Jan

Very impressive James!! Must've been quite a challenge!! But with an amazing result!! Best regards, Jan

Hi all, As scalemodeller i'm always working on several projects at the same time. It prevents me from being bored......🤣 So, working on the Caterpillar D8H i started the Landini-project, and while this is finished, i started another new project: On a product-show at te local Volvo BM importer i bought myself a simple but realistic model of a Volvo BM A35 dumper, back in 1995. It always had a charactrer of a toy, but in the back of my mind i saw possibilities to re-shape it to a nice scalemodel. That's the idea behind the project! First of all i started looking for more realistic tires, which i found as spareparts on the Playmobil website. Yes, indeed: THE playmobil, toy-manufacturer! Shown on the first two pictures there's a grey variant of this tyre, but later on i found black versions. With these tires on the model, it will have much more apearance! Yesterday i airbrushed the model in the right color, as it clearly had the looks of plastic. Which of course was right, because it's been made from plastic. But having the right color also makes it more realistic! Time for the pictures: Two pictures above show the model with a "fitting" of new tires, but in grey variant. Paint-work being done yesterday. Thanks to Zero-Paints with the right color! To be continued. Best regards, Jan

Hi all, @Hajo: Thanks for your compliment! Well, i kind of have the privilege to have my own bedroom 😊. As we discovered quite some years ago that my wife and i were keeping each other from sleeping because of a snoring partner, we decided it could be a wise decision to sleep in separate bedrooms. And so we did. In a certain way it can save your marriage, you know!? The collection as shown wasn't collected in a few years: i think i'm collecting for over fourty years now. Still being critical in making choices......😉, one just has to....... Finding the right showcases is a sport in itself, and this also wasn't a matter of a few weeks. It takes time and patience! But i'm very happy with these, although most af them are second hand! When i'm right, i saw your name pass by on the Dutch Farm Toys Forum (https://miniaturenforum.nl/) Hajo, is that correct? I've been active there for a while, some years ago, but didn't find "the right climate" there. So i decided to back-off. Every now and than i take a look around there, but it seems to be very quiet nowadays. Don't know why. I'm visiting mostly to take a look for news regarding new models and stuff. Best regards, Jan

Hi all, Up to part two of descriptions with each showcase-shelf. We've arrived at showcase #3: Showcase #3, top-shelf: Service-Vans i've been driving, or am driving today, based on my history of being a Service Technician in wheelchairs and rehab-equipment. Showcase #3, shelf #2: International, Case-International, Case and David Brown tractors in 1:32, most of them i've worked on or with during my era of being mechanic in this industry, as wel of working on dairy farms. Showcase #3, shelf #3: CaseIH and International 1455's in 1:16, a IH (kit) made by Preiser 423 in 1:24, and my self-made CaseIH 1056XLA, scale 1:10, unfortunately unfinished....... Showcase #3, shelf #4; some varieties on the IH-subject of my collection, amongst a wooden "Maxxum"-version of the first generation, especially issued by the dutch importer Boeke Heesters, for which i've worked for about six years. On the bottom-shelf my (small) stone-collection. Up to showcase #4: cars: Showaces #4, top-shelf: Opel Manta's in different scales. It is and has always been my dream-car, although i didn't own one.......... Showcase #4, shelf #2: a large part of cars i've owned companioned by some Land Rovers. Showcase #4, shelf #3: some different cars in different scales, one of the most appealing probably the ZZ-TOP Eliminator in 1:24, made out of a standard building-kit of a Ford five-window coupe, re-furbished / re-done by myself, decals made by my brother. Showcase #4, bottom-shelf: a broken crankshaft out of a Case backhoe, which drove into the workshop with a hell of a lot of noise because the fourth crank was broken, but it did came in RUNNING! I did save the broken part for a long time but eventuallay threw it away, which i regret awful afterwards. It's been companioned by an Opel Manta as well as an Opel Ascona, both in 1:24. To be honest: the car-showcase needs to be reorganized a bit, for which plans are being made. I hope it gets a bit more clear to you what i mean by: my models are telling a story. Mostly every item has it's own history! To be continued! Best regards, Jan

Hi all, Thank you Cyril. As i said i find it pleasant to be able to look at my collection on a daily basis, and so these showcases are really suitable for this! My collection consists of three main areas, "Agricultural", "Cars" and "Heavy Transport, Trucks and Earth Moving Equipment". The common thread in these three is the (usually emotional) connection I have with them, as for "Agricultural" meaning that i have worked with these tractors & machines, during my school-era, or being a mechanic. About "Cars" meaning that they represent a car which i've owned, or have a strong connection with, which goes for the most Service-Vans which i have on scale, and have been (or: are) driving during my era of being a Service-Mechanic, up until today. Regarding the "Heavy Transport, Trucks and Earth Moving Equipment-department": that's mainly about interest, basicly based on the fact i see them a lot when i'm out on the road, and they intrigue me. The brand Caterpillar does intrigue even from when i was only a child! The number of showcases has grown to five over the years, and as mentioned: this also is a dynamic process. As when your collection slowly increases, the space it needs does the same! So i'm always on the look-out on second-hand furniture websites as we have something like "Market-place" here in the Netherlands. My latest acquisition is a showcase which is about 30cm. wider than it's predecessor, and i collected it about two weeks ago with a friend of mine. However, the internal move has yet to take place, first I'm still looking for more glass shelves to put into the new showcase, as there's also the need for a new sliding glass door, which the former owner dropped by accident! And, to me of a very high value: a mirror back wall! This i order separetely from a supplier. Now time for some pictures, more in detail than the former ones. I'll try to make a decent description with each picture: Starting off with Showcase #1, shelf #1: some different earth-moving equipment in different scales, as well as a Lego Wheelchair, not on the market. Showcase #1, shelf #2: some earth-moving equipment, mainly scale 1:50, different brands. Showcase #1, shelf #3: trucks based on building-kits, scale 1:24 / 1:25, as well as the Heller MF2680 in scale 1:24, and a truck and low-loader with a wheelloader in scale 1:32. Showcase #1, shelf #4: Volvo Trucks, made from building-kits, scale 1:24, and their low-loaders, loaded with a Claas combine and it's header. Showcase #1, bottom-shelf: home-made Liebherr excavator, scale 1:18, and a REALLY NICE Caterpillar display, one used in a shoe-shop, and given to me by a dear friend! Up to showcase #2: Showcase #2, top-shelf: agricultural equipment, scale 1:43 Showcase #2, shelf #2: A bit of a historical view on Claas combines. Showcase #2, shelf #3: some other combines, as wel as a historical Claas corn chopper and some tractors which didn't fit into the tractor-shelf anymore. Showcase #2, shelf #4: only tractors on scale 1:32, different brands, amongst a large number of Fiat's Showcase #2, bottom-shelf: agricultural machinery in scale 1:32. Again: a lot of them i've worked with. To be continued.......... Best regards, Jan

Hi all, Time to show some of my collection. Looking around on the forum i've seen lots of beautys comin' by, especially some realy nice typical British stuff. I do wonder though why a lot of people buy models and just store them in boxes........... in my opinion one wants to see the collected models regularly, as they (to me at least) tell a story. This way i can enjoy them every day! So my collection is shown, not stored, in showcases. And indeed, slowly increasing your collection occasionaly creates the need for larger or more showcases. That on itself can be a hobby and pretty expensive........... Okay, enough talking for now. Time for some pictures: To be continued....... Best regards, Jan

Lovely video!!!

Hi, Just run into this question: i'm using paints from Zero-Paints, UK-based manufacturer. Have very good experiences with their products, although they mainly produce for car- and racing-industry. The range of paint-products regarding agricultural and earth-moving equipment are increasing over the last years, making me a happy customer! Best regards, Jan

Hi all, Bought myself the new CaseIH 845XL PLUS from my regular supplier yesterday. Made by Replicagri. Although they've made some excellent CaseIH / IH-models, this one has at least one major fault: its drive-shaft to the front-wheel-driven axle should be a centred one, not the old version which is mounted beside the body........... And thus the FWD-axle should also be a newer version, meaning to be the center driven one......... Only older versions have this configuration................ That's a pitty i.m.h.o. The rear mudguards in this conversion, being longer at the back, bending downwards, were typically for the German and Dutch market, as far as i know. French and UK-versions were shorter. On the other hand: it's one that definitely belongs to my collection, since it's the last model of the 845's i've worked with during my era at the Dutch importer Boeke-Heesters back in te 90's! Best regards, Jan

Hi all, @justy 46: You're absolutely right there Justin! The rims which are on the brochure-tractor most definitely were the ones on the Landini i've worked with, although that was fitted with larger size wheels, which resulted in a higher transport-speed. These rims probably were used also on the Massey-Ferguson-version, as i remember the Fergusons had these rims on a lot of their models too. Or do i speak rubbish now........? 🤔 The number of wheelbolts also do not match the wheels i've used. But my most important criterion was the size. The original wheels which were on the (MF-)model simply were too small, and of a different type rim. Of course i would've prefered wheels which were as the original, but that combination turned out to be untraceable. But anyway, thanks for noticing! Best regards, Jan

Hi all, Thank you John! Stay tuned, the day is coming it will be finished! In the meantime you might wanna take a look at the whole process over here: https://modelbrouwers.nl/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=54085 Although it's in Dutch language, the process is filled with a lot of pictures! Best regards, Jan

Hi all, @JEP: This is a bulldozer in scale 1/24. The current conversion is made by AMT, and originally it was put on the market as Caterpillar. Also by AMT. Probably the license had run out of date in the meantime, so now the kit is called "Construction Bulldozer". Best regards, Jan

Hi all, Working on the Caterpillar D8H, and in between the Landini-project, the process continues in a slow but steady speed. At the moment the body is finished, cab was already finished, but i need to do the last step; airbrushing and assembling the tracks. Each single part needs to be primered and painted in yellow before assembling and mounting to the body. When assembling the tracks some small pieces of paint are falling off, and thus there's the need to "repair damage" after mounting. So after mounting, the yellow has to be finished locally, and as a final finish the laquer has to be sprayed. I think it is wise to cover the body before re-spraying yellow and laquer, but first the last pieces of tracks need to be done. Each side covers 42 pieces............. But okay, here's a view of one side mounted, the other will follow in time, but enjoy with me the current status as shown here. Best regards, Jan

Hi all, Thanks for your compliments! @Nigel: indeed, this is scale 1/32. The wheels i've purchased from a French supplier, Artisan 32. A bit more specific: HERE you can find them. Size is 52 x 14 mm's. They come by pair, including the rims. Do you happen to have a web-link to your windscreen-wipers, as spare part, perhaps? On your website i only could find the complete kit of the Track Marshall, but these double-arm wipers would indeed fit properly! Although ordering and sending to the Netherlands might be quite expensive and difficult these days............ Many thanks in advance! Best regards, Jan

Hi all, And finally, she's ready. Just one more tiny little thing to complete by mounting a windshield-wiper on the front windscreen, but first i have to find that in a nice fitting scale. And maybe some front mudguards would be nice too....... Here are the pictures of the result: Found a better place to make pictures: my spray-booth (airbrush-booth): Múch better light! Have a nice day! Best regards, Jan

Hi all, As announced on the website of Toys Farm Farm Toys, Italian based ROS is bringing Limited Editions of these tractors in 2022; - Hürlimann H6136: https://toys-farm.com/nl/verzamel-landbouw-miniaturen-1-32-per-fabrikant/ros-farmer-schaalmodellen-in-1-32/ros-hurlimann-h-6136-limited-edition-300-pieces-1-32/a-53439-10000101 - Lamborghini 1506-T: https://toys-farm.com/nl/verzamel-landbouw-miniaturen-1-32-per-fabrikant/ros-farmer-schaalmodellen-in-1-32/ros-lamborghini-1506-t-limited-edition-350-pieces-1-32/a-53441-10000101 - Lamborghini 1706-T: https://toys-farm.com/nl/verzamel-landbouw-miniaturen-1-32-per-fabrikant/ros-farmer-schaalmodellen-in-1-32/ros-lamborghini-1706-t-limited-edition-350-pieces-1-32/a-53444-10000101 - Same Laser 130: https://toys-farm.com/nl/verzamel-landbouw-miniaturen-1-32-per-fabrikant/ros-farmer-schaalmodellen-in-1-32/ros-same-laser-130-limited-edition-500-pieces-1-32/a-53447-10000101 - Same Laser 150-T: https://toys-farm.com/nl/verzamel-landbouw-miniaturen-1-32-per-fabrikant/ros-farmer-schaalmodellen-in-1-32/ros-same-laser-150t-limited-edition-500-pieces-1-32/a-53448-10000101 - Same Galaxy 170T: https://toys-farm.com/nl/verzamel-landbouw-miniaturen-1-32-per-fabrikant/ros-farmer-schaalmodellen-in-1-32/ros-same-galaxy-170t-1-32/a-53449-10000101 Pictures courtessy of Toys Farm Farm Toys. Best regards, Jan

Hi all, Thank you guys for your replies! Hope you enjoy what's being produced! The next challenge were the steps. Made of square tubes in real life, but i didn't have anything which suited that. So there's nothing left (again....) to scratch something, and to be honest: it really isn't that hard. You just take a piece of round iron wire, thick enough, two hammers with one of them in a vice, and a great part of patience and a sharp view to produce your own square rod. The individual steps i've made of a narrow strip of plastic mesh material i purchased to make a realistic grille for my Caterpillar D8H (maybe i should open a Post on that one someday....🤔). Some images of the process: Glueing them to the bottom of the cabin, i realized they're mounted in a small angle, so that ultimately had to be done in the latest step. Scratch-made mirrors don't function without a real (looking) mirror-glass off course, so that part was done also today: A tiny piece of a chromed sticker i once saved for issues as this! 😉 Perfectionism will pay off in the end........🤣 Have yourself a nice weekend!! Best regards, Jan

Hi, Can i just give you a tip in what paint stripper i'm using? I've been struggling this subject years ago, using paint strippers from the lumberyards, but this quality just sucks. 😡 So i finally found me a much better solution for this: i visit the local car damage repair company, and ask them to sell me just about a liter or so from the paint stripper they use. And thát is form a professional quality, and thát is what one remarks!! The paint is off in minutes!!!! But beware: only to be used on die-cast-models. Any plastic will be useless after it gets in contact with this liquid......... Just to give you an idea, here's a YouTube-video i once made: https://youtu.be/DxVddDElpEA Best regards, Jan

Hi all, As time goes by, the process is moving forward. In fact, in real time faster than in the version on the Forum here 😉 Some images to show: The front-axle was originally a four-wheel-drive, but the one i'm building / adapting is meant to be two-wheeldrive. So the front-axle needs to be replaced, also by a version supplied by Artisan32: But since these tyres are too wide according to my whish (ánd memory), they also need to be replaced. And here again Artisan32 has the needed versions: The same goes for the rear wheels: Whether you might get the idea i have some shares in Artisan32: no, i haven't! 😉🤣 Th grille in the right setting and color went to look like this: And "dry-fitting" the interior, it occurs that a decent dashboard is needed also: Last bit for today: the cab is supplied with glazing, used from a package in which was somekind of toy. The rear window has to be in an opened position and therefor needs gas-struts, as did the roof-hatch: Just to give you an idea about the size, a match is laid aside. And, what's a cabin without a radio in it??? To be continued. Best regards, Jan

Hi James, I'm a big fan of all products of Zero Paints, located somewhere in the UK, but supplied by a local Dutch supplier over here. They make a wide range of colors, and are increasing their products in the "agricultural" and "earth-moving"-equipment! All pre-thinned and ready-to-use from the bottle! Although this white primer i just thinned a bit more. Here's their website: https://www.zero-paints.com/ Best regards, Jan

Hi all, And we continue our journey with adaptation of the cabin. The original one is really quite simple, so it needs a re-configuration: a roof hatch which is opened, as well as gas-struts to it, and hand-rails on the inside to get in and out comfortably. Glazing had to be applied, but this is done after painting. The inside of the cabin also needs a canopy. Pictures show the process: I didn't like the grille in the bonnet at all, it simply was a sticker, so again i was triggered to make a more realistic version here: And so, after some real "modelling activities", we're ready for primering, put on by airbrushing: To be continued......... BR Jan

Hi again, And as we continue, the first thing to build, but not on pictures here to see, was the rear hitch and drawbar. This was made from a kit from Artisan32, a French company which makes a lot of stuff one can use for building and detailling agricultural models. The version i've used was this one: To make a toy change into a serious scale-model, this is a first priority i.m.h.o. Then there's this issue about the interior of the cab, there's simply nothing in it which is like the real thing. So there's a lot to do! And i hope it's quite obvious to see, but i'm a BIG fan of details! It's sometimes really hard to do because some parts are really too small to hold in your hands, you definitely need a pair of tweezers, but in the end...............i just love it!! The seat i've used was a left-over from a Zetor-building-kit i've built last year, made by a Czech supplier. For those of you who would like to take a look ahead in the proces: take a look at my scale-modelling website: https://modelbouwjan.jouwweb.nl/landbouwminiaturen-trekkers/landini-6550-veloxdrive-1-32 There's a whole lot more to see there, you know.....😉 To be continued.............. Best regards, Jan