Toy Tractors & Implements

[Grant Hildabrand]

Does anybody collect toy tractors, implements, buildings, trains, or stuff like that?  I started getting them as gifts when I was a little kid, and still like the toys.  I was just wondering what scale(s) you collect and why.  Which toy are you most proud of?

[John]

The dcp semi's and trailers have a lot of detail to them. Once you get hooked on them, your hooked for good in my opinion. Some are kinda pricey but i think they are worth it. I haven't been but you might check out the national toy truckin show in the summer months. I hear it's pretty awesome.

[Grant Hildabrand]

do any of you do much customization on the toy tractors? I always enjoy seeing them at the National Farm Machinery Show.

On another note, I always like seeing tractors and implements like Fendt, Krone, and Claas because they are things that we don't have in our area. Everybody is Deere, Case, Ford/NH, Cat, Kubota, or Zetor.

[Bronson Allred]

Grant,
Me and my dad used to do a lot of restoring to 1/16 scale tractors. My favorite one we did was a 1586 international that we made into a puller. We collect mostly 1/16 scale but still have some 1/64. We have a few precision models too a 1466 IH and a 1206 IH that was a replica of the 1206 Kristen Gall restored and I believe at one time we had a 4020 John Deere precision but I'm not sure on that one. Space is a big concern with these though we had to build a finished display case for them. Dad thought about restoring them for a small business after he did a few for some friends but I guess the need for it around here never really showed up.

[Grant Hildabrand]

I would like to get a few Ford or Oliver 1/16th's one of these days. mostly interested in sizes of tractors that we have or have had on the bigger ones though.

[Jenn Krultz]

My father began collecting years ago before it really caught on as a trend, so many of them were rather inexpensive and easy to obtain. I know he'd also bargain with kids if he saw a red tractor in their sandbox while doing concrete work, etc. I've continued the tradition myself. We typically looked for tractors that matched what was in our yard, like the Farmall H, 560, International 1066, etc. Most of our tractors are red and 1/16 scale, but there's some variety in our fleet. I did purchase an Oliver Super 99 gas model as the 2006-07 Wisconsin State FFA President passed away shortly after serving his term, and they made limited models of his favorite restoration project tractor. We also have a John Deere pedal tractor that my father received as a young child, but my uncles had painted it the "right color". Only when my father decided to salvage it from the rock pile several years later did he learn that it was a very valuable Deere. After that, they were usually red and 1/16.

[Glen Groth]

I'm a total sucker for farm toys, but my purchases have dropped off since I started growing the farming operation. I have to spend my money on the real thing now. I have 1/64 and a good collection of 1/16, especially MMs.