His Hobby Is Making Small Scale Tractors
Eston Hoffman’s mechanical engineering company designs industrial machine parts and blueprints using sophisticated software. As a hobby, he uses the same equipment to create parts for and build scale model garden tractors, lawn mowers, snowmobiles, and other equipment. “It started as something I thought would be fun, and it’s turned into quite a sideline hobby,” Hoffman says.
Eston’s Hobbies and Restorations makes just 100 serial-numbered models of each piece it produces. “We manufacture detailed replicas with size-matched parts right down to fuel lines and dipsticks,” Hoffman says. “The process takes about 100 hrs. per item. I start by pulling a tractor, mower, or snowmobile from my collection to the engineering company, then measure and design every part and component. I do a 3D model in SolidWorks CAD, and the next step is programming and laser 3D printing each part, all in extreme detail. We have thousands of parts, including engines, pulleys, oil filters, seats, hoods, wheels, and tires for the tractors and other items we produce. Most parts are spray painted, and all the detail painting is done by hand. When they’re completed, we assemble and package them for delivery.”
Hoffman puts several images of his builds on the business’s Facebook page, and when they’re done, items are listed on the company website. “Normally, all 100 sell out immediately, and then we move on to the next one,” Hoffman says. “We only produce 100 units because that maxes out our production area. Each numbered batch usually sells for $100 to $120 each, which funds the next replica. We do this as a hobby, not a business.”
Hoffman has had the engineering business for 6 years and started making the 1/25-scale replicas a year later. “It’s just my wife and I, and even though it’s time-consuming, it’s a fun business.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Eston Hoffman, P.O. Box 14, Berrysburg, Penn. 17005 (Facebook: Eston’s Hobbies and Restorations).
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His Hobby Is Making Small Scale Tractors FARM HOME recreation Eston Hoffman’s mechanical engineering company designs industrial machine parts and blueprints using sophisticated software As a hobby he uses the same equipment to create parts for and build scale model garden tractors lawn mowers snowmobiles and other equipment “It started as something I thought would be fun and it’s turned into quite a sideline hobby ” Hoffman says Eston’s Hobbies and Restorations makes just 100 serial-numbered models of each piece it produces “We manufacture detailed replicas with size-matched parts right down to fuel lines and dipsticks ” Hoffman says “The process takes about 100 hrs per item I start by pulling a tractor mower or snowmobile from my collection to the engineering company then measure and design every part and component I do a 3D model in SolidWorks CAD and the next step is programming and laser 3D printing each part all in extreme detail We have thousands of parts including engines pulleys oil filters seats hoods wheels and tires for the tractors and other items we produce Most parts are spray painted and all the detail painting is done by hand When they’re completed we assemble and package them for delivery ” Hoffman puts several images of his builds on the business’s Facebook page and when they’re done items are listed on the company website “Normally all 100 sell out immediately and then we move on to the next one ” Hoffman says “We only produce 100 units because that maxes out our production area Each numbered batch usually sells for $100 to $120 each which funds the next replica We do this as a hobby not a business ” Hoffman has had the engineering business for 6 years and started making the 1/25-scale replicas a year later “It’s just my wife and I and even though it’s time-consuming it’s a fun business ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Eston Hoffman P O Box 14 Berrysburg Penn 17005 Facebook: Eston’s Hobbies and Restorations
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