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Best
Farm Toys Of 2003
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1/16
Scale
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| The John
Deere 7920 Collectors Edition has earned toped honors from TTS members
in the 1/16 scale class for 2003. This models is far more detailed
than any Ertl 1/16 tractor before it. Not only does it have the
handrails, lights, tilting hood and cab windows we started seeing a few
years ago, but it has a working 3pt hitch, plastic rear tail light
lights, hub duals and gps. Its box also uses JD marketing 24/7
slogan and literature pictures. |
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| Scale
Models also had an A+ model with the 1/16 scale Challenger MT765.
This model was offered as a Signature Edition from Joseph Ertl in June
2003 and as a Fall Farm Show Edition. This model has cab windows,
plastic headlights and tail lights. Free rolling tracks replicating
CAT's heavy duty treads. This model is a great collectors piece
and one of the nicest detailed from Scale Models ever. |
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| CNH
had two very nice tractors with the CaseIH MXU125 Maxxum and New Holland
TS135A tractors. These models like the John Deere 7920 have all the
features collectors like with cab windows, handrails and a working 3pt
hitch. |
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| The IH
1486 just released by Ertl was a great year end surprise. This
model is a 1980 Red Power demo model. In 1980 IH's slogan was "Make
IH Your Brand". Each 86 series demo had a cattle brand decal
branding a steaming IH logo on the hood. The 1486 completes the 86
series in 1/16 from Ertl with the 1586, 1086 and 886 offered from
1976-1981 and the 986 Tri-Stripe offered earlier in 2003. It is
nice to see Ertl going back to fill the vintage gaps in the toy line and
offering new decal variations. The 1486 also has the correct deep dish
outside dual and inside spindle tire. A real plus with IH fans. |
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| Last
year Toy Farmer's Oliver 1950-T was a hit with collectors. AGCO
collectors were pleased to see a nicely detailed 2wd version spin off
the Oliver 1950-T. The Cockshutt 1950-T was sold in Canada in the
late 60's. This tractor is a great piece of AGCO Heritage and the
largest horse power Cocksutt ever offered to collectors. Hopefully
additional large horsepower AGCO/White historical tractors from the 60's
and 70's will follow. |
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1/16
Historical Sets |
| 2003
started a new trend in collectors editions from Ertl. 1/16 Sets highlighting
important tractors of the past were released. CaseIH celebrated the 40th
Anniversary of the 1963 introduction of the IH Farmall 806 and
706. This collectors set stood out because Ertl offered the
tractors with rear tires from the Precision 706 tractor and the special
box that houses the two 06 tractors has classic sales literature
pictures and information. |
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| John
Deere celebrated the the 50th Anniversary of the 40, 50, 60 and 70
tractors with two boxed sets. These tractors fly off the shelves
in the spring and summer off 2003. Hopefully this is the start of a
popular collectors piece trend. |
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1/16
Implements
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| Great
Plains celebrated is 25th Anniversary with a 1/16 26ft folding grain
drill. This model is a highly detailed collectors piece, replicating the
2S-2600. It is a folding tandem drill. Each press wheel is spring
loaded. The 1/16 model was hand built at Great Plains manufacturing
facility along side the real drills. This collectors piece comes in a
wooden box with a brass plate serial number. |
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| Ertl is
working on 1/16 planting an seeding. The 1590 was Ertl's first 1/16
grain drill since the mid-1990's. This model has plenty of detail
with a safety hand rail and spring press wheels. A 1/16 12/24 1790
planter will join the 1590 in the 1/16 John Deere toy line in
2004. |
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1/32
Scale |
| 1/32
Scale is the scale to watch in 2004. Ertl has a variety of models
planned. 2003 kicked off Ertl's expanding 1/32 line with three new
collectors edition combines. The 1/32 John Deere 9860 STS, CaseIH
AFX 8010 and New Holland CR970 have been a big hit with
collectors. Because of these combines both 1/16 and 1/64
collectors have started looking at 1/32 with true interest. Ertl
will offer a 1/32 Frontier Grain Cart to match the 9860 STS in 2004. |
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| Toy
Farmer surprised collectors in March 2003 with the announcement of the
1/32 7020 as the 26th National Farm Toy Show Tractor. For 25 Years
Toy Farmer has offered 1/16 tractors. TF decided to try a new
series of 1/32 classic 4wds to kick off the next 26 years of the
National. How did the highly detailed 7020 with window cab,
windshield wiper and three point hitch go over? 10,700 models were sold
with a John Deere shelf edition 7020 and collectors edition 7520 too
follow in 2004. |
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1/64
Scale
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| Toy Farmer's Big Bud
16V-747's have been a big hit among collectors. We highlighted the
1/32 version in the 2002 Top Toys. TF followed the 1/32 with an
equally detailed 1/64 version. The Big Bud 16V-747 is one of the
most detailed full production models ever. It offers a opening hood,
impressive engine and other great details. There were three
versions offered. The 1977 Factory Version, Modern Williams Chrome
version and a signature edition. The model was produced by
Die-Cast Promotions. Next up 1/16 versions for 2004. |
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| The
new 1/64 Fall Farm Show John Deere 7920 and shelf edition 7820 raised
the level of detail in 1/64 in 2003. The 7920 was the first 1/64 Ertl
model to offer a 3pt hitch, gps and flood lights. A windowed cab
was also a plus. The nice thing about the 7820 is that it kept the
details like the gps and flood lights as a shelf edition. |
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| Scale
Models 1/64 Challenger MT-765 was also a hit. This model was also
offered as a Signature Edition and Fall Farm Show Edition. Its
best feature is the free rolling tracks. Often 1/64 tracks to not roll
freely but the Scale Models MT-765 can transverse just about any carpet
farm with ease. |
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| The
large European tires that debuted in 2002 on the Euro John Deere 8420
carried over in 2003 to a John Deere 8220 and a Massey-Ferguson.
These large flotation tires offer a great variation. In 2004 we will see
a CaseIH MX 255 Magnum with the large singles. |
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| The AGCO
Challenger MT 665 set was popular among TTS voters. The new brand
offered 1/64 dairy farmers a new mowing team on the model farm.
The set also includes a yellow disk. |
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1/64
Historical Sets |
| The John
Deere Sound-Gard was the most awaited tractor set of 2004. The
wait was worth it for three of John Deere's most popular modern
tractors. The set includes a 4430, 4440 and 4450. The 4450 offers extra
detail with larger front tires, row crop duals and deluxe cab steps. A
4230 with a round baler will follow this set in 2004. Hopefully a
4455 with fwa and duals will be announced soon. |
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| CaseIH
had a surprise historical set at the end of 2003. IH and now CaseIH has
been well known for stand out demonstrator tractors. In the 1950's the
IH 60 series used brass tacks models to high light the new
tractors. Brass Tacks were placed on the tractors to highlight
their powerful features to farmers. Ertl replaced these brass tacks in
1/64 on the IH 460, 560 and 660. Each brass tack can be read in 1/64
making this a great historical set. |
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1/64
Implements |
| Gottman
Toys and Spec-Cast hands down won the 1/64 implement category with TTS
members. In September three 1/64 Kinze 1050 Harvest Commander grain
carts were released by Spec-Cast. These models include a large
flotation tires, row crop duals and track model. All three
models offers a wire mesh grated floor, authentic graphics, auger insert
and warning lights. The row dual crop model was featured in the
December 2003 Toy Tractor Times Magazine. Of the three the tracked model
was a favorite. The track model offers free rolling tracks that
pull across any surface, including carpet, with ease. |
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| CNH had
the best over all new 1/64 implement line in 2003. The CaseIH and
New Holland 16 row pivot planters were a big hot in the spring.
These planters offer realistic pivot transport and detail with vacuum
tubes and fans. The CaseIH AFX 8010 combine is the most detailed 1/64
combine to date from Ertl. It was offered a collectors edition and a
Fall Farm Show Edition with duals. The New Holland and CaseIH
mulch-till rippers with folding rear disc gangs were anther hit for CNH
in 2003. |
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| John
Deere also introduced a new 1/64 implement line in 2003. The
models include a 1790 16/32 planter, 2700 ripper and a 9860 STS combine.
These models were also popular with 1/64 collectors but not quite as
detailed as the CNH models. |
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| 1/64
collectors have clamored for a new self-propelled forage
harvester. The John Deere 7500 with a 10 row kemper head and clear
window cab was a great follow up to the 1992 John Deere 6910 with 6 row
corn head. |
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