tractor1

Hi

We are launching a new Irish (Republic of Ireland & Eire) machinery publication titled `Tractor & Plant World` at the upcoming Farm Machinery Show (February 6, 7 and . As we have a section on scale models we are keen to get in touch with any model collectors or builders around Ireland. We've already met some people who are very involved in model collecting but are keen to get the message out to others.

We will have a stand at the machinery show; and the pilot issue will be in the shops immediately after...

Why is it so expensive? I want one with a grass pick-up but it would want to be fairly detailed etc for that sort of money. Nobody else seems to be making a 1:32 model of those New Hollands.

It's a real nostagia thing for me. I'm from Ireland and the local contractors had an SF60 when I was younger. It was the first  self-propelled around. Then New Holland took over; it started with a few 1895's - there may have been a couple of 1880's before that but I've never actually seen one in the flesh. The 1895's made way for the 1900 and 2200 and those machiens seemed to take over the whole contracting scene for many years. Mind you there were a few John Deere 5830's about too.

I just have a thing for self-propelled's of that era (any of the above) - and I'm looking for a Clarke Michigan 35B loading shovel too. I need to make the complete outfit. I'm hoping to get some Ford's 6600's, 7600's and 7000's drawing in with single axle trailers and a 2wd John Deere 3040 or 3140 (OPU or SG2) on a John Deere mower. I'm gonna try and get everything in 1:32 scale. The tractors shouldn't be a problem from what I've seen on here already - some of the other stuff might though!

It's funny. I've spent several weeks during recent summers taking time off work and driving a five-year-old (fairly modern!) Claas Jaguar 840 for a friend of mine who contracts up the country. He drives the loader as he thinks it's a more skilled and critical job than picking up and filling trailers (until something breaks) and he's right I'd say. The few times I did up on the loader when there was pressure on the pits ended up looking a bit hairy! The harvester suited me better and I had a great knack of filling good loads without spilling any (I mean much) over the side and keeping up a steady pace.

Thing is; it just doesn't have the same feel about it as when I was watching those older machines all those years ago. Probably 'cause I'm older, wiser and all the rest. Anyway, I'm ranting on and chasing the 'wonder years'... 

Has anybody seen any models of a New Holland 1900 or 2200 etc self-propelled silage harvester with a grass pick-up reel. Or a John Deere 5830 harvester. Or an old Claas SF 60 for that matter? Or even a New Holland 1895 - the old machine with the cab to one side.