Precision-Built Mini Tractor Models Really Work
When Gene Gregory’s hobby of building original replica pedal tractors became more of a job than enjoyment, he transitioned into something far more complex and much more rewarding. His projects now involve much more planning and because he can actually run them outside, they also provide a lot more satisfaction, Gregory says.
He first built a scale model articulated Deere 8020 and followed it with a Deere 5010 diesel pulling a Deere 400 pan scraper a year later. His next creation was a Cat D5N bulldozer and later a radio-controlled Peterbilt semi tractor.
All of Gregory’s creations are built to 1/4-scale with 12-volt motors for power. They ride on authentic rubber tires or tracks and are painted to match the original machines. He couldn’t locate a full-size 8020 for dimensions, so he scaled everything on his rig up from an Ertl 8020 1/16-scale toy. It took him more than 500 hrs. to build the Deere, which has a motor made of laminated poplar and motor mounts machined from aluminum. He made castings for the grille housing, the radiator and dashboard. Two 12-volt motors power the tractor, one in the front and the other in the rear. As it runs, a recorded soundtrack provides the sound of a real diesel engine, increasing in volume as the tractor accelerates. The rig weighs about 160 lbs. and measures 5 ft. long, 23 in. wide and 23 in. tall.
Gregory is a stickler for detail, especially when it comes to small features. One of the three 12-volt motors on his scraper operates the tractor pto, which opens and closes the floor slides and runs the loader chain. The other motors power the tractor and its steering mechanism. He made die-cast models for the hubs and the paddles connected to the loader chains. The completed replica measures 8 1/2 ft. long, is about 2 ft. tall, and weighs more than 280 lbs.
Gregory’s 1/4 scale D5N Cat is also a spitting image of a full size model, even though it weighs about 250 lbs. It took Gregory more than 1,000 hrs. to build, mainly because he re-created every cleat on the authentic looking tracks. Each cleat has 5 pieces, all secured with stainless bolts to the 41 total cleats needed for the tracks. The dozer has a miniature hydraulic pump that raises, lowers and tilts the blade side-to-side. Two 12-volt batteries create 24 volts of power that operate the tracks, with a jackshaft regulating the speed for each motor.
The Peterbilt tractor and drop-deck low boy are equal in detail and scale to Gregory’s other creations. Before starting them he took about 50 pictures of a full-size tractor and deck and made detailed measurements of all the major components, including the frame. He machined the tractor’s day cab from solid aluminum, scaling all details to 1/4 size. The rig has differentials for both rear axles, connected by a chain drive and powered by a 24-volt motor. Gregory made other tractor parts from 1/8-in. aluminum and die-cast the grille housing. He shaped the wheel covers on a lathe, added realistic looking bolts, and built the hood and fenders to scale. Even the interior carries features of a full-size truck.
Behind the tractor is an authentic looking drop deck trailer that’s built strong enough to carry either of the tractors or the Cat. The tractor and trailer are 10 ft. long when they’re hooked together and loaded, they run on 18 wheels, and move by remote control. Gregory says his 2-year project was worth every minute he invested.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Gene Gregory, Loudonville, Ohio 44842.
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Precision-Built Mini Tractor Models Really Work AG WORLD When Gene Gregory’s hobby of building original replica pedal tractors became more of a job than enjoyment he transitioned into something far more complex and much more rewarding His projects now involve much more planning and because he can actually run them outside they also provide a lot more satisfaction Gregory says He first built a scale model articulated Deere 8020 and followed it with a Deere 5010 diesel pulling a Deere 400 pan scraper a year later His next creation was a Cat D5N bulldozer and later a radio-controlled Peterbilt semi tractor All of Gregory’s creations are built to 1/4-scale with 12-volt motors for power They ride on authentic rubber tires or tracks and are painted to match the original machines He couldn’t locate a full-size 8020 for dimensions so he scaled everything on his rig up from an Ertl 8020 1/16-scale toy It took him more than 500 hrs to build the Deere which has a motor made of laminated poplar and motor mounts machined from aluminum He made castings for the grille housing the radiator and dashboard Two 12-volt motors power the tractor one in the front and the other in the rear As it runs a recorded soundtrack provides the sound of a real diesel engine increasing in volume as the tractor accelerates The rig weighs about 160 lbs and measures 5 ft long 23 in wide and 23 in tall Gregory is a stickler for detail especially when it comes to small features One of the three 12-volt motors on his scraper operates the tractor pto which opens and closes the floor slides and runs the loader chain The other motors power the tractor and its steering mechanism He made die-cast models for the hubs and the paddles connected to the loader chains The completed replica measures 8 1/2 ft long is about 2 ft tall and weighs more than 280 lbs Gregory’s 1/4 scale D5N Cat is also a spitting image of a full size model even though it weighs about 250 lbs It took Gregory more than 1 000 hrs to build mainly because he re-created every cleat on the authentic looking tracks Each cleat has 5 pieces all secured with stainless bolts to the 41 total cleats needed for the tracks The dozer has a miniature hydraulic pump that raises lowers and tilts the blade side-to-side Two 12-volt batteries create 24 volts of power that operate the tracks with a jackshaft regulating the speed for each motor The Peterbilt tractor and drop-deck low boy are equal in detail and scale to Gregory’s other creations Before starting them he took about 50 pictures of a full-size tractor and deck and made detailed measurements of all the major components including the frame He machined the tractor’s day cab from solid aluminum scaling all details to 1/4 size The rig has differentials for both rear axles connected by a chain drive and powered by a 24-volt motor Gregory made other tractor parts from 1/8-in aluminum and die-cast the grille housing He shaped the wheel covers on a lathe added realistic looking bolts and built the hood and fenders to scale Even the interior carries features of a full-size truck Behind the tractor is an authentic looking drop deck trailer that’s built strong enough to carry either of the tractors or the Cat The tractor and trailer are 10 ft long when they’re hooked together and loaded they run on 18 wheels and move by remote control Gregory says his 2-year project was worth every minute he invested Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gene Gregory Loudonville Ohio 44842
