powerrabbit

Russ. If your tractor does not have a V5 or a V5C (New type registration document) you will have to contact the DVLA in Swansea to ask them if the registration number is still active. (Still on the register). If you have the afore mentioned you will be able to tax it for the road no problem providing you have a current insurance certificate. If you have no documents you will need documented evidence that the tractor is correct, such as chassis number, original registration number, old tax disc or a bill of sale that documents the tractors identity and even then the DVLA may ask you to verify this through a club that have been approved to provide you with approved research on the tractor to say that it is 'correct'. The DVLA are in the main very helpfull and will provide you with all the relevant forms and instructios of what to do. Failing this you will either have to re-regiser it on a 'Q' plate or apply for an 'age-related' registration number. As regards lights etc, you will only have to comply to the law as was at the time the tractor was new, for example, if it was not fitted with indicators or braking lights you won't have to fit them. A flashing beacon is not compulsory in law but it is advised. Lighting that was fitted as standard, head-side-tail are of course a requirement and must be in working order during daylight hours as well. A roll-bar is not necessary, if an approved type was not manufactured for the tractor or there is no provision to fit one. If you are self-employed and use the tractor yourself and no other person drives or uses it you do not have to fit one. These Russ are a few of the basics. I would suggest you look on the DVLA web-site also ROSPA and VOSA, you will probably find a lot more info there. Any vehicle, including tractors registered before 1st January 1973 are classed as 'Historic Vehicle' and the road-fund tax is free but you still have to go through the process of taxing it as you would normally. These vehicles can also be fitted with the alluminium black background type number plates, after this date reflective plates came in. On a tractor a front number plate is not required. Sorry to be so long-winded on this but I've tried to inform you with the basics. Hope it helps you a bit.

The plane was red and white, IH colours!!

Been chucking it down on Dartmoor today, at the time of posting this we have had 45mm, that's 1 3/4in since it started sometime in the early hours of today and it's still raining. I'll look at the guage again at midnight, I recon we will probably top the 2 inches in this 24 hrs.

Simon M. You better ask your Dad to explain that one!

This is the explanation for this one. A guy that had a circle of pals with light aircraft rented a field next door to my farm which they used for an airfield weekends and holiday times. One Easter a few years ago the guy who was flying this crate was allegedly giving his girlfreind a lesson in flying, The plane was taking off and landing several times during the morning and the last time it came in it seemed to me that it was coming in a bit too fast, being just over the hedge from me I could observe, it hit the ground with a bit of a bump and raced up across the field with engine revving like hell. To cut a long story short, it hit the far hedge and bored a nice big hole in it tearing the plane to bits ending up across the road, fortunately the two occupants were not seriously hurt but the plane was a write-off. Apparently the girlfreind of the pilot was at the controls and rumour had it that her hand was on the wrong joystick. Great fun helping the local fire brigade make a pile of the bits. Not a good way to plough out a hedge!.

Still raining. Started fine and sunny with a bit of early frost, rain set in about 12.30pm. Down here on the edge of Dartmoor it has been one of the wettest Februaries I can remember. I have a rain-guage in the garden and for Feb I recorded 9 and 7/8 inches, or 249mm. That is an awfull lot of water. We always say down here:- February fill the dyke, black or white! Good job is was not white or we would be burried by now, an inch of rain is equ to 10 of snow. Did you know that an inch of rain over an acre of ground is 100 tons of water, that is imperial not metric

Was this after Top Gear finished filming?

Just had a look and it says 'this item has been withdrawn or is no longer available' Perhaps he read what you said and took note!

Yes, they had the best pedigree Highland herd in the country apparently but got shot of them years ago to concentrate on increasing the dairy herd to supply other prisons around the country with milk, they had all the gear, bottling plant and all, but that went ****-up. The Highlands were bred to re-stock the dwindling pedigree herds in Scotland. When they gave up milk they kept a lot of the cows and used them to rear heifers and supplied other prisons with in-calf heifers. Went out to their sale, about 2 years ago now, that was when the farm was reduced in size, the tractors were well and truly 'used', the older ones were absolute wrecks and the newer ones were on their way there, the best was i think a TW35 but most of the tin-work needed a fair bit of sorting and the tyres were something else, a dealer bought it and if my memory srves me correct, he paid over ten grand for it. No, I'm not Princetown, more Moretonhampstead.

Thanks for that FB. I will take some pics and email them to you. Might do one at a time so keep an eye on your 'in box' Thanks again.

Thanks all. I will have a hunt around your suggested contacts. I have been making a few link-boxes, rear bale spikes, front spike for the old Britain's loader (fits on the same as the original front bits). Little while ago made a Lawrence Edwards 'Perry' bale loader, if I can get to grips with posting pics I'll put some on. In the mean time If you want to see them I could email any of you pics, perhaps some kind sole would tranfer them to here for me? Where am I? Not far from the prison, been in there several times. Know one of the previous Gov's well and did an annual farm tour for many years with local YFC. Most of the farm has been given up now and gone back to the Duchy and some of it has been split between tennants, the farm used to produce for other prisons but sadly it's all changed now. Sad sign of the times.

Seems that ther are quite a lot of toy/model tractors and stuff on the stalls at boot sales that are dirt cheap and just crying out for either being coverted or customised. My query is, where can parts and bits be obtained for this purpose?, such things like clear amber beacons on a pole, decent mirrors, lamps etc etc, you know what I mean. I am aware that parts and bits are obtainable from the likes of Steve Flowers and Brian Norman but these guys tend to cater more for the re-build/repair market for the older models. If anyone could give me some pointers as to where I might find what I am looking for, I would be most grateful. When replying to this, would you please type slowly as down here in deepest Dartmoor the 'lectric is slow and it don't travel up-hill to well. Thanks all.

These are a ltd ed of 1500 aren't they? There is another model, 1005 or something is the model, ltd ed of 500 I believe. Anyone got one? I would if I could find one. The 5095 is a good model right enough, It's a pitty though that Siku have got that 'orrible pole connected from the roof beacon to the steering, not too noticeable on this model and others that have a good tint to the cab glazing but very inventive and excusable, can't have it all. By the way, has any one started a collection of the French model Company 'Hachette' model tractors. Made by Universal Hobbies in resin in 1/43rd. These are incredible for their size, detail as good as U.H's 1/16th tractors. About 38 diferent models available at present and more in time. They should come with a detatchable leaf magazine punched for a two-ring-binder that profiles the real tractor in the first few pages, the rest focuses on other agric topics like breeds of farm animals, poultry, fruit growing and all sorts of stuff, all in French of course. Priced at 11 Euro's 95 including the model (which comes stuck to the mag) which is contained in a 'protective transparent cover' screwed to a black plastic base printed with the name of the model and year of manufacture with a two-tone green card wrap-around card around the base. Loads of them on Ebay, type in 'TRACTEUR' in ALL CATAGORIES and you will find them. Some make silly money, example, the first one I aquired was a 1949 David Brown Cropmaster which came from China and it cost me ?7 inc p&p, terrific, a few weeks later another one went for ?52 + p&p, two listings lower on the same page another was offered under 'buy it now' for ?14.99. No sense to it is there. Quite a lot of European makes, Massey Harris 'Pony', 1958 Same 240DT, 1934 Superlandini, 1958 Fendt F24, 1949 Lanz D8506, 1922 Renault HI crawler tractor, just to mention a few and U.K tractors such as 1949 Field Marshall Series 3, 1958 Fordson Power Major, The Cropmaster I mentioned a 1947 Fergie 20 and a 1965 MF 35X etc etc. If you want to see more of these models go to www.pur-tracteur-passion.com. Another to look at is, www.hachette-fascicoli.it, this is in Italian, on the home page click on 'Trattori', second page click on 'La Collezione, the names of the tractors will self-scroll, have a look. Be interested in hearing what you all think. Cheers all, getting late now, I'm off to bed. Nighty night.

One for Rory here. Agree 100% with all, cracker this month (April). Something for everyone. Seeing that we are on model tractors and farm related stuff, I would like to see, once a year, all the years 'collectors corner' articles re-produced from the year in one 'supliment'. Would save trawling through a heap of mags to refer back to. Does anyone else agree? How about it Rory. Regards all.

I don't take this one myself, too expensive when you buy three tractor mags a month plus it is over-priced for a few pages so I look at a mates when he gets it. Not surprised that there have been problems in folks receiving it, the excuse is that the printers have been changed. I reccon it is more to do with the chap that puts it together, (mention no names) if you are trying to write tractor books, do magazine articles, buy and sell books and tractor leaflets and manuals etc etc etc, something in the end suffers. You can't have your cake and eat it they say.

Look in the models section of the current T&M and Classic Tractor mags, the pics of this one and the 7000 are there.

That chap at ToyTrac was Malcolm the builder of 'Malks Models', Apparently he is selling off his horsey models. By the way, talking of ToyTrac, Farmer Gile's has closed now and the next ToyTrac is being held in November at the Wincanton racecource, report in T&M, about time some of these events came closer to the South West! Please note all you model tractor dealers, there are a lot of collectors in Devon & Cornwall. Just one more thing in case I forget, we have a toyfair on Sunday April 8th at the Westpoint Centre, Devon County Showground (J29 M5). Lots and lots of tractors.

Sorry. The page does come up ok. Should be, http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Tractordieselred I have been back and corrected the original post. Hope you can all access it ok now. I missed out one / Click it now. Regards all.

Would all who read this posting please take a look at this web page:- http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Tractordieselred. (Typed in as you see it here or just click on it). On this page you will find a petition you can sign, to hopefully persuade the powers to be, to allow the continued use of rebated (red) diesel in the tractors that we use in agriculture and use in rallies, road-runs, showing and other charitable functions and events. This petition is in the form of an E-petition and runs for one year from 18th Jan 07 to 18th Jan 08. Let us all try and convince the Government that the restrictions and implications that having to use DERV will have on a very valuable asset to our communities and nation is a nonsense. The originator of this E-petition has contacted all the tractor related magazines and these will print the details in their news sections. Please spread the word as this is an important issue which I am sure you will agree. Please give it your support. Thankyou all.

Just aquired one of the U.H. McCormick MTX 150 Diamond Edition model tractors. These are now beginning to appear on Ebay for greatly differing prices. Mine cost me ?22 inc p&p but there are a couple of others listed, one is on 'buy it now' for ?39.99 + ?6 p&p and another is on the auction format at present ?35 with p&p quoted at ?4.50. The model is extremely good as you would expect from this company and is limited to 2,5000 units worldwide. If there is anything on the downside of all the U.H. 1/32nd tractor models it is the rear linkage, but you can't have everything.

Yes, I did see that one. I watched it to the end. Nice blob of body-filler for a front weight!! If anyone puts something half decent on it seems to make peanuts. They say "one mans rubbish is another mans goldmine". You ought to look at others listed under 'conversion', you will certainly have a good laugh, obviously some of these people should get out and have a look at the real tractors instead of looking at picture books. By the way, have any of you seen the Universal Hobbies 1/43rd scale 1949 Cropmaster Diesel. I found one in China a couple of weeks ago for ?11 including post, the detail is as good as the 1/16th scale tractors, wonder if U.H. will do a big one, time will tell. If any of you want to see this little Cropmaster, email me and I'll send you a pic or next time I'm on I'll post a pic. Cheers ye all. Happy new year.

Being a collector of David Brown model tractors (primarily) amongst all the rest as well, a lot of people don't realise just how many D.B. models were actualy produced over the years. The difficulty earlier on, while the Meltham factory was still in production, was that the old man did not give model manufacturers license to produce them unless he actually commissioned them to do so, it is only since the demise of the Company that more models have come into production but having said that, I believe the present owners of the name still protect it fiercely and any proposed models have to pass strict muster. The Implematic 990 was first produced in 1995 in an Ertl box and in 2000 re-released as an 'Elite' after it became Britain's Ertl or something like that. (Shame about the front axle and linkage). As a point of interest, I read somewhere that Dinky applied to D.B. in 1968 to produce the Selectamatic 990 for the Xmas market after the successful sales of the Implematic 990. Dinky were allowed to produce 100,000 units of the white one and by the end of January 1969 had sold out, re-applying to D.B. to produce more, were given license to produce 60,000 more. That was it. I have in my collection 49 David Brown and D.B/Case models including a few conversions (My conversions are David Browns, not like the rubbish on the auction sites, most of which are Ford 6600,s painted white/red).