Big Bud 500 Still Big At 1/3rd Scale
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Charlie Glass built half-scale tractor models – until he decided to tackle a Big Bud. The monstrous size of the real tractor intrigued him when he saw one on a television program. When it came to building his own, the Mechanicsburg, Penn., model builder decided to go one-third scale.
“It’s still too wide for my trailer. I have to take two wheels (32 by 12-in.) off to haul it,” Glass notes about his finished model, which is 78 in. tall, 78 in. wide and 10 ft. long.
After purchasing a couple of toy Big Buds and downloading specs from the internet, he purchased a used, commercial, 4-WD Jacobson lawn mower. It had a diesel engine to sound like a Big Bud.
He used as many parts as he could off the mower and cut sheet metal to scale to resemble a Big Bud.
“It’s all hydraulic driven on every set of wheels,” Glass says. He marked and used the hydraulics from the mower and purchased hoses. The first time he hooked them up he discovered that the hoses were backwards on the back set of tires. It was a simple fix to switch them.
Using the swivel joints from the mower, he notes he didn’t have any problems with the articulation. Getting the cab door to open and shut properly was, oddly enough, the most challenging part of the project.
Glass admits that he isn’t a showman, though people who have seen his 1/3-scale Big Bud encourage him to take it to local shows. The retired welder and electrician finds satisfaction in the building process -not showing his results. Another collector purchased other tractors he built, but Glass is hanging on to the Big Bud for now.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Charlie Glass, 35 Gettysburg Pike, Mechanicsburg, Penn. 17055 (ph 717 766-2895).
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Big Bud 500 Still Big At 1/3rd Scale TRACTORS Made-It-Myself Charlie Glass built half-scale tractor models – until he decided to tackle a Big Bud The monstrous size of the real tractor intrigued him when he saw one on a television program When it came to building his own the Mechanicsburg Penn model builder decided to go one-third scale “It’s still too wide for my trailer I have to take two wheels 32 by 12-in off to haul it ” Glass notes about his finished model which is 78 in tall 78 in wide and 10 ft long After purchasing a couple of toy Big Buds and downloading specs from the internet he purchased a used commercial 4-WD Jacobson lawn mower It had a diesel engine to sound like a Big Bud He used as many parts as he could off the mower and cut sheet metal to scale to resemble a Big Bud “It’s all hydraulic driven on every set of wheels ” Glass says He marked and used the hydraulics from the mower and purchased hoses The first time he hooked them up he discovered that the hoses were backwards on the back set of tires It was a simple fix to switch them Using the swivel joints from the mower he notes he didn’t have any problems with the articulation Getting the cab door to open and shut properly was oddly enough the most challenging part of the project Glass admits that he isn’t a showman though people who have seen his 1/3-scale Big Bud encourage him to take it to local shows The retired welder and electrician finds satisfaction in the building process -not showing his results Another collector purchased other tractors he built but Glass is hanging on to the Big Bud for now Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Charlie Glass 35 Gettysburg Pike Mechanicsburg Penn 17055 ph 717 766-2895
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