April 2006
This div will be replaced

Time for Spring
April means it is time to start tilling the soil and planting this years crop. This months issue focuses on the implements of spring.  

Collecting toy tractors is the most popular part of the farm toy hobby but what fun is a tractor with out an implement. Our authors have focused on plows, disks, harrows and planters this month. The articles cover classic implements of spring as well as mega rippers and field cultivators of the modern era.

A fun development on Toy Tractor Times Toy Talk this spring has been collectors taking their models outside to play in the dirt. Many collectors shutter to think about taking a model out of the box let alone putting it in the dirt. The pictures shown here sure look good. This months cover picture comes from Rob Lynch who is also featured in this months Wall Paper section. With Ertl painting their 1/64 models in mud the new fad in collecting may be dirty field ready models.

Toy Tractor Times TV has a new segment this month called "Farming Flash Backs".  This new video piece will present old commercials on tractors and farm equipment.  Toy Tractor Times will have a classic promotion video each month that relates to the issues theme.

We also want to take you out into the field to see real tractors getting the land ready for planting. Toy Tractor Times TV will take you to Garnett Farms in Hopkinsville, KY to see the all new 570 hp Challenger MT875B putting down Anhydrous Ammonia. Garrnett Farms plants over 10,000 acres of corn each year and that means big tractors like a Challenger are needed to get the job done. In addition to the big machines of the field we are starting a new article series by Jarrod Birch on crops.   This month Jarrod shares the story of America's first crop tobacco.  In the article readers will learn about the machines used to plant this labor intensive crop.

There are also lots of new toys heading to tractors dealers in April. Case-New Holland and John Deere toys are shipping. This month we look at the new 1/64 CaseIH toys for 2006 and the new John Deere 60 with corn sheller. By the time the May issue of Toy Tractor Times reaches your e-mail we hope the new 1/64 Authentic Series John Deere 8530 has hit dealers.

Next month The Toy Tractor Times will feature its annual issue on Haying and Dairy Farms.

 

 

 

Big Tractor Power
Applying Anhydrous Ammonia
Take a look at Big Iron in Hopkinsville, KY including the CAT Challenger MT875B.
Farming Flashbacks
International Plows


Linking Together the Chain of
Farm Toy Collectors

Model of 36 Row Kinze Corn Planter
Meet the NEW KINZE 3800 Forwarding Folding Planters. 
Radio Controlled Farming
This whole idea Radio Control(rc) farming came to me after I saw full function rc combine on Toy Tractor Time’s message board. 
Truck Stop
Spring is officially here. Like usual, we are usually slower to be able to get in the fields and do some spring field work.
Getting Ready For the Show - Part III
This is the final part of the three part series that gave tips on dressing up your IH 86 series tractor in your own special way to give that shelf appeal you want.
Toy Tractor Times Wallpaper
Disking
Disking is often carried out on fields to follow the rough finish left by plowing operations.
Under the Scope
John Deere 60 with 227 Mounted 2 Row Corn Picker & 50 Sheller (stock # 15816) - launches a new generation of Ertl 1/16 replicas.
The Literature Rack
Oliver Check Row Corn Planter
Planting corn just 60 years ago in the united states was a labor intensive process in the era of tractor power.
1/64th
Dan Adamson
There are no model numbers on these toys so they could be called 5020’s. The SM models are all plastic.

Keeping Current with the 64th
Ertl has just released the new 2006 CaseIH tractors. CaseIH has upgraded its Magnum and Steiger tractors with new looks and horse power. 

Springtime in Paris
Models of Intermat Equipment Show
Any time I get a chance to go to any type of construction or ag equipment show, I am more than happy to take it.

Collect It All
DMI 530B Rippers
For this issue I thought it would be interesting to look at the DMI 530B rippers from Ertl.

Down on the Model Farm
Chris Burmeister’s Display
Chris Burmeister has been building displays for several years and showing them at the National Farm Toy Show.
Raising A Crop
What is the first thing that pops into your mind when someone says the word tobacco? .Cigarettes, Cigars, Snuff, or maybe chewing tobacco?
Precision Perspectives
Expanding Detail
ERTL has met the demand of the collectors who previously had to look to 1/16th customizers.


Next 'Times
Are you ready to put up some hay? The May issue of The Toy Tractor Times will feature haying and dairy farms. Look for articles on the dairy side of farming and get ready for some exciting Toy Tractor Times TV on haying. 

 

Severe Weather in Toy Tractor Times Hometown
On April 2, 2006 Hopkinsville, KY the home of the Toy Tractor Times was struck by an F3 tornado.  A roof top camera of our hospital captured a picture of the tornado at 9:00 pm between lightning flashes.  The tornado path was 5 miles wide and 30 miles long. The storm produced 185 mph winds that's path took it through 488 structures destroying 88 and damaging 245.  The only blessing from the storm that no one was killed.