oct9650

Custom John Deere 9650

Andre Phillips has become well known over the past two years with his 1/64 custom combines featured on ToyTractorShow.com (http://www.toytractorshow.com/andre_phillips.htm) and in Toy Farmer Magazine. Andre has crafted a 1/64 International 1480, CaseIH 2188 and a New Holland TR 99. In the spring of 2003 Andre tackled his toughest combine project to date, a John Deere 9650. Andre has customized combines not offered on the toy market like the 1480 and TR 99. The John Deere 9650 is a popular model many collectors have hoped to see in 1/64. The 9650 was introduced in late 1999 and was John Deere's largest conventional combine until the release of the 9660 in August 2003. The 9650 is a Class VI combine that features a 275 hp engine, 240 bu. grain tank and can handle a 12 row corn head and 30ft grain head.

Many people may look at Andre's combines and think he waves a magic wand and these precision like 1/64 combines appear. Andre shared several pictures of his 9650 with TTS-Times including some of the pre-finish shots. The 9650 is much different from the 9750 STS. The 9650 has straw walkers so the rear end is much longer than a rotary model like the STS. Andrea had to modify a Maximizer combine offered by Ertl in the 1990's to create the 9650. He had to round out the frame to give it modern 50 series curves and he had to craft the engine and radiator area as it is much more rounded and sleek in appearance than the 9600 and 9610 was. You can see in the first two pictures Andre had to grind the die-cast and use brass to create the right look.

This custom 9650 took allot of body work to create. Andre also worked the cab for may hours using an Ertl Maximizer cab and cutting off the back wall, adding clear windows, an interior and gps. The combine turned out looking great with all the details you could want with lights, hand rails and even a fire extinguisher. Andre also built an 893 corn head for his 9650. This combine looks so good you would almost think it is a 1/32 Precision II to match the the 9750 STS offered by Ertl in that scale.

Andre has other projects in the works. The next combine will be a scratch built classic best known for its silver galvanized body.