"Big John" Phase One
Over the past six years I have been building every 1/24 or 1/25 scale model tractor I could find, and as far as I know have pretty much built them all (and posted the articles here on iModeler). Unfortunately, none of the available kits are models of the tractors we had on the farm back in the late ‘70's and early ‘80's.
For most of my youth, my dad had a Case 300 (“Casey”), a John Deere model MT (“Little John”), and a John Deere 3020 gas (“Big John”). Later on we added a John Deere 3010 Diesel (“the Diesel”). Up until recently, my brothers owned all three of the original trio - the Case only just recently being sold off to someone outside the family. There really hasn't been an opportunity to build any of these specific tractors - that is, until iModeler member Matt Minnichsoffer (@coondog) started creating his own farm tractors using CAD software and a 3D printer.
One of the wonderful reproductions he shared with us here was a JD 3020 diesel with a wide front axle, and after he did so, I wrote to him asking if he would be willing to create a gas 3020 with narrow front axle for me. He graciously agreed to do so, and my article today is the result of that project.
I'm calling this Phase One, because I want to recreate my dad's tractor from the mid-80's, not one fresh from the factory. However, I wanted to show off the great work Matt is doing with his 3D recreations, before I dirtied it all up with 20 years of wear and tear - which will be Phase Two. The only modifications I made to the beautiful kit Matt provided was to:
a) remove the side panels, since I never saw them installed on dad's tractor. This was kind of a permanent change, so I couldn't leave it for Phase Two
b) adding a starter, battery cable, fuel line and throttle cable on the left side
c) spark plug wires, fuel lines and some sort of tubing on the right side
d) rearward facing work light on a stalk
In Phase Three, I plan on scratch-building the archaic manure loader (originally used on dad's early Model G John Deere), and Phase Four will be a scratch-built cab. Hope you all like it!
Really cool. Your tractors are always terrific. Looking forward to phase 2.
Thank you for your comment, Eric! @eb801
That’s great, Robert, with Matt’s help you’ve created a unique model that brings back the memories of your Dad’s tractor.
Thanks, George @chinesegeorge. I can still recall the last time my brother drove Big John up the lane, right before we sold the farm. It recalled all the times dad drove up the lane, coming home from a day in the fields.
Amazing result, Robert! How wonderful that Matt created this!
Congratulations and looking forward to the next phases!
Thank you, Spiros @fiveten. Matt does really great work, I'm blessed to be able to build a memory.
In summer of 1967 I worked on my uncles cotton farm in west Texas and I drove a JD 4010 all day every day. It was hot dusty monotonous work. I credit that 4010 with inspiring me to college and graduate school and law school.
Your model is excellent.
Thanks for your comment, Mark @markhedrick. My dad didn't really like farming, and so didn't encourage any of his 7 kids to pursue that line of work. A lot of good memories, along with the hot, dusty monotonous stuff.
Absolutely wonderful, Robert @robgenev665
Great work on the printing by Matt as well.
Looking forward to the "used" part.
Thank you for your comment, John @johnb. Matt gave me an excellent platform to build what I see in my mind.
@robgenev665 that really turned out great! Had I known you were pulling the side shields off I could have saved you time by printing it without
Proud to be a part of helping you create scale model family history.
Again great work and thanks for the mention.
@coondog That thought crossed my mind as I was carefully grinding away those panels! Even so, I was impressed with the level of detail behind them! Great work you are doing!
Always like looking at your tractors. Well done, Robert
Thank you, Gary! @gwskat