Before we look at the combines I would like to review the corn heads offered on 1/64 combines.   The first 1/64 combine debuted in 1987.  It was a Deutz-Allis R-50 equipped with a 6 row head. This model was great because its head matched the 12 row 7200 John Deere corn planter released in 1986.  The 6 row head was a replica of the Gleaner Hugger head and only fits the Deutz-Allis R-50 and AGCO R-52.  One interesting note to point out is that the R-50's box showed a ink out line drawing of a Gleaner with a 12 row head on the back.   

        The second corn head was the 8 row head.  The 8 row was introduced on the 1/64 Case International 1660 released in 1988.  The 8 row corn head is a replica of the Case International 1083 corn head.  This 1083 head became the mold for all corn heads used by Ertl for the next 10 years.  The Case International 1660 and 1640 combines used it, the New Holland TR "96"  97 and 98 used it,  the John Deere "Maximizer" used it and the Gleaner C-62 and MF 8680.  The 8 row head posed a problem because Ertl did not offer an 8 row planter or 16 row planter during the 8 row's long run.  While some farms run 12 row planters and 8 row combines it poses a problem  because you run 8 rows up and 4 rows back.  

          In 1997 the new John Deere  9610 toy was released with the first 1/64 12 row corn head.  The 9610 was equipped with a decaled John Deere 1293 head. Having model numbers on the corn head was a nice extra detail following the generic red, green, yellow and silver 8 row head.  Following the 1293's release the the John Deere 9750 STS combine was offered with the head in 1999 and in 2001 the new CaseIH 2388 12 row ready combine was offered with a generic red version of the 1293.   Today all the modern 1/64 combines are being offered with 12 row heads.  This big new feature is great, although now all the new planters are 16 rows.  This leads one to wonder if the big new class 8 combines will come with 16 row heads or if we will see 24, 32 or 36 row planters?????

 Assortment of original 1/64 corn heads: 1987 Deutz-Allis 6 row Hugger head,  1988 Case International 1083  8 row, 1997 John Deere 1293 Corn Head 

      Since the mid-1990's the 1/64 combine market has really grown.  You can have a 6, 8 or 12 row harvester.  TTT will look at the modern offerings and models just out of production but still easily attainable.   We will run down the modern models talking about their availability, value, prize and real specs.  

2003 Case IH AFX 8010 with 2412 corn head.

2001 CaseIH 2388 with replica 2212 head.

      CaseIH has the widest range of of toy combines on the market today.  There is the new  AFX 8010,  12 row ready 2388 and kit 2366.   All three are in production and available at participating CaseIH dealers.  The AFX 8010 is powered by a 375 hp CaseIH (Iveco) engine, it can hold 330 bu., unload grain at 3.0 bu. per second.   The AFX 8010 is best suited to run a 12 row head although 6 and 8 row heads are offered by CaseIH for the real machine.  The 1/64 AFX 8010 has impressive detail with all the details a collector or displayer could want .  In the September issue of TTT we compared the CaseIH  AFX 8010 to the New Holland CR970 combine.  The AFX and CR have very little in common other than they are built in the same factory.  They do use the cane CNH heads.  Ertl offers the 12 row head on on the AFX. It is decaled as a 2012 but this is an early production variation as it should be a 2412.  A shelf edition AFX 8010 with out the collectors details will be released in December.  The collectors AFX 8010 is selling for around $15 and the Fall Farm Show AFX 8010 with duals is selling for $25.

     The CaseIH 2388 is one of the most popular combines in America due to its 25 years of proven Axial-Flow harvesting reliability.  The 2388 is powered by 280 hp turbo charged Cummins engine, it can hold 210 bu and unload 1.9 bu. of grain per second.  The 2388 can handel 6, 8 and 12 row corn heads.   In 2001 CaseIH introduced a 12 row ready 2388.  Since the introduction of the 1480 in 1978 Axial-Flow combines had topped out at 8 rows.  12 row ready means that the 2388 has a special weight package installed at the factory to handle the additional weight of the CaseIH 2212 12 row head.  The real 12 row 2388 uses a New Holland built corn head. In 2001 Ertl helped CaseIH promote the new 12 row  ready 2388 with a 1/64 replica.  The toy model used a red version of the 1/64 John Deere 1293 12 row head.  This option saved on tooling costs and helps keep the toy in a reasonable price range.  At this time it is reported that the 2388 will remain in production until 2006.  Ertl is still offering the 12 row 2388 and it normally sells in the $12 price range.

    The CaseIH 2366 traces its roots back to the original IH 1460 released in 1977.  The 2366 holds the honor of being the 100,000th Axial-Flow combine produced.  It is a 240 hp combine with a 180 bu. tank and  it can handle a 6 or 8 row corn head.  Like the 2388 the 2366 unloads a 1.9 bu. per second.  The 2366 was first offered in 1/64 back in 1998.  Today 2366's are offered by Ertl as a build it your self kit.  The 2366 is the last 1/64 Ertl using the original "1083"  8 row head. The late 90's 2366 and kit 2366 both sell for around $11.00. 

1998 CaseIH 2366 with replica 2212 head.

     Caterpillar's Lexion 485 combine is a big machine.  It is powered by a 365 hp  3176C CAT engine, holds 280 bu in the bin and can unload 2.5 bu. per second.   The CAT 485 as far as capacity is 20 bu. smaller than the John Deere 9750 STS and 50 bu. smaller than the new CaseIH AFX 8010.  Still the CAT 485 was a size leader in the late 90's and early 00's.  The CAT 485 is best matched to 30ft harvesting heads.  Its most unique feature is its CAT  friction drive belt tracks used on Challenger tracked tractors for over 15 years.  The CAT 485 features two rotors that use centrifugal force to separate the grain from the straw.  The Caterpillar Lexion 485 is a stand out toy.  It was introduced in 1999 by Norscott in 1/64.  The model was the first 1/64 combine to offer improved detail with a clear window cab and hand rails.  A Claas version was also offered in Europe.  This version  was only offered over seas and the few that made it to North America sold at toy dealers for around $55.  The CAT version has sold for $22-$24.  The CAT 485 is rumored to be out of production as a toy replica starting this year. A new 500 series from Lexion is due out in 2004 so hopefully Norscott will be able to offer a new 1/64 Lexion toy. 

2000  CAT Lexion 485 with 1230 corn head.

New Holland was the first company to offer a rotary combine.  Since the Twin Rotors introduction in 1975 over 25,000 combines have been built and sold by New Holland.  Ertl's first TR was  offered in 1/64 back in 1988.  Current models still readily available but out of production include the 1/64 TR 97 and TR 98.  Both will sell for $12 to $15.  The 1/64 TR 97 pictured in this article was offered from 1994-1996.  The TR 98 was offered from 1997-1999.  Unfortunately the  TR 99 was never offered in 1/64.  Both the TR 97 and TR 98 came with the generic 8 row corn head.  The real TR's  could handel 240 bu. were  around 240 hp and have an unloading rate of 1.6 bu. per second.  The TR offered a pivot unloading auger.

The CR series introduced in 2002 is the latest Twin Rotor combine from New Holland.  The CR 970 is one of the largest combines on the market today with a 330 bu. bin, 370 hp. engine and an unloading rate of 3.0 bu. per second.   New Holland offers a 12 row corn head and up to a 42 ft grain head for the CR 970.  In July 2002 Ertl released a nicely detailed 1/64 CR970 in conjunction with the release of the real CR's.  The collectors edition is a great model featuring a straw chopper, hand rails, mirrors and lights  with a new  12 row head and 30ft grain head modeled after the New Holland heads rather than generic one head fits all head like past Ertl combines.  A shelf edition CR960 was released in November 2002 and is still available for around $12.  The 1/64 CR970 was a limited run item and sells for around $40 now. 

2002 New Holland CR970 with 12 row corn head .

New Holland TR 97 with replica 8 row corn head.

       John Deere has been a market leader in combines for a number of years.   The latest combine from John Deere has been the STS 50 series combines.  These combines first debuted in 1999 and were just upgraded to the 60 series in the summer of 2003.   The 9750 STS was a big new combine in 1999.  It offers a 300 bu. grain tank,  290 hp. engine and an unloading rate of 2.2 bu. per second.   The 9750 STS was Ertl's first 1/64 combine with a clear window cab and detailed interior.  This model was also the first 1/64 to have a painted unloading auger guard.  The 1/64 replica was released in the fall of 1999 and remains in production as a shelf edition and kit.  The 9750 STS toy sells for around $12 and will  be replaced by a 1/64 9860 STS toy in 2003.  The new 1/64 9860 STS will use the current 9750 STS casting but will have new 60 series decal graphics and the new auger.  Sorry the new auger will not swing up like the new CaseIH AFX 8010 toys auger. 

1/64 John Deere 9860 STS due out in December 2003.  It will feature new decals and the 60 series unloading auger. 

        The other John Deere combine that can still be found fairly easily is the 9610.  The 9610 was introduced in late 1997 and was only offered by John Deere for 2 years.  The 9610 is a straw walker combine.  It holds  240 bu. in its bin, it is powered by a 275 hp engine and has a 2.2 bu. per second unloading rate.   Ertl offered a 1/64 9610 during the real machines production run. The toy 9610 was Ertl's first replica to offer a 12 row corn head.  This 12 row head was the first 1/64 corn head to have model number decals.  Today the 9610 can still be found through toy dealers and toy shows for about $25. 

1999 John Deere 9750 STS with 1293 corn head.

1997 John Deere 9610 combine with 1293 corn head.

In 1998 Ertl released a model of  C-62 Gleaner.  At the time Ertl was looking at offering a 1/64 R-72 or the Gleaner C-62.  The C-62 won out because it was AGCO's newest Gleaner and was also offered as a Massey-Ferguson 8680 combine.  OEM's also like to promote new products with toys and the R-72 was already 5-6 years old in 1998.  The C-62 is a straw walker combine.  It is a large class 6 combine with a 300 bu. bin the same as the John Deere 9750 STS and it is a 260 hp combine.  The C-62 has a turret unloading auger with an unloading rate of 2.2 bu. per second.  This combine should not be over looked for display purposes because it offers an 8 row corn head from Ertl and can handle a 12 row head made by Standi Toys.  It is not a well known combine so toy sales were low and production of the toy ceased after one year. Both the Gleaner and MF versions in 1/64 sell for around $15 today.  

1998 Gleaner C-62 with replica 8 Hugger corn head.

1995 Gleaner R-52 with 6 row Hugger corn head.

Hopefully this article will provide you with a good check list of the modern 1/64 combines available on the market today with real specs and toy prices, production dates and general casting options.  In future issues of TTT Dan Adamson will cover collectors editions and variations of many of these combines. 

Collectors Note:  In the September issue "Down on the Model Farm" featured corn harvesting and how to make a 1/64 corn field.  One of fields featured sweet corn harvesting.  TTT had several e-mails asking about the Byron sweet corn harvester in the article.  The corn harvesting theme for October is a perfect forum to feature the Byron.  The 1/64 Byron is a C&D Models product.  In 1999 C&D Models offered a Byron Harvester for $70 on their website and in their catalog.  This nicely detailed model is a Byron 8400 produced by Byron in the early 1990's.  The model features dual wheels, a life like mounting 6 row corn head, oscillating elevator and a Byron Dump Chief cart.  The Byron 8400 is a rare find these days as only 26 were made in 1999 by C&D.  The Byron 8400 will be doing some custom harvesting on TTS/TTT member Tim Grube's display at the National Toy Show this November.

1999 1/64 Byron 8400 model by C&D Models

TTT October 2003 Page 7

Back to the index