I bought several packages of Life-Like tractors at a train show this past week-end. My plan is to use them for flat car loads. Can anyone tell me what prototype tractor these are modeled after? The come in red(Farmall) and yellow/green(John Deere). I think they may be John Deere, but I would like to know if they are a copy any any certain model of tractor?
Jim Bernier
The Green and Yellow tractor that I bought is too dark green to be a John Deere. It is painted to match the older Oliver tractors.
I agree that the green tractor looks like an Oliver, probably a 70 or 77 from I’d guess the 40s or early 50s. The red tractor looks a lot like an International Farmall M or 300/400 model from the same time period.
Just sitting here reading about Life-Like’s miniature Olivers and what do I happen to be wearing??? My Oliver tee shirt! [:D]
Along these same lines…I’m modeling the 1970’s and being a tractor buff as well, would like to have some tractors from that era. Anyone know where I can get some HO Minneapolis-Molines and Allis Chalmers?
Mike
Model Railroader did a little article about turning these tractors into flat car loads…In maybe the past two years… The author had a pretty clear prototype in mind and a couple of modifiactions to make them exact. Maybe some one haa the issue date???
Guy
Jim,
It’s the July 2002 issue of Model Railroader, pages 64-65, “A flatcar full of tractors,” by Trevor Marshall. You may also be interested in:
“Tractor makes great flat car load,” Pete Moffett, NMRA Bulletin, January 1997, pages 30-31
“Rip Track/Visible Cargo,” Tim Persson, NMRA Bulletin, October 1982, pages 20-21
“Modelling Farm Tractor Loads,” Tim Persson, NMRA Bulletin, April 2001, pages 31-34
I recently bought 3 Waterloo Boy vintage tractors from Athearn for a load. They were absorbed into John Deere.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543
One small (or large) problem. Whether they are Farmall M’s or Oliver 70’s or 77’s. They are grossly out of scale. Look at the John Deere B from Athearn or the Ertl John Deere line (that used to only be available from John Deere dealers) They are all to big! I spent too much time as a kid on all 3 makes. The Deere’s (mostly model A’s, 60’s, and 720’s) dwarfed the M’s and 70’s.
Same thing goes for (notso) Life-Like’s Scenemaster pickups and cars. They look more like S scale, especially when parked next to comparable models from Williams Bros, Greg’s garage, Magnuson and others.