N Scale Farm Tractor Comparison

I thought it would be interesting to see how the new Artitec Ford 5000 tractors compared to a couple of other N scale tractors in which the physical sizes of the prototypes were very similar. From left to right in the photo below is the Artitec Ford 5000, the Preiser Deutz 6206, and the Athearn John Deere 50.



While the prototype Ford 5000 was built from 1965 to 1967 (or early 1968 for US production), the production of the John Deere 50 occurred a decade earlier (1952-56), and the production of the Deutz 6206 occurred a decade later (1974-81). We don't have a lot of ready to use N scale farm tractors suitable for a North American themed layout, so I for one really appreciate the Artitec Fords.

More information on the models and the prototype can be found in this message at the N Scale Vehicle Association's Group.io. https://groups.io/g/NScaleVehicleAs...,0,0::recentpostdate/sticky,,,20,2,0,81161158

Carter

 

Not quite a "Tractor" but it does fit North American prototype. GHQ at it finest.

 

That Artitec Ford 5000 looks good when you put it next to some similar style models. Now we just need a Farmall to make that a quartet.

 

Nice tractors.
I personally like the Oxford Die Cast Ferguson TE Farm Tractor.

Its metal and not really all that fragile and the detailing is pretty darned good. The complaint I have with most n scale vehicles is...I havent found any with 'trailer hitches'. How can ya have a pick up truck or tractor and no trailer hitch ???
It wasnt that hard to fashion one that works with the farm equipment I also bought or built myself.
.

 

Artitec is coming out with a Fiat 750 farm tractor, which was marketed in North America as a White 1470, Oliver 2465 and Cockshutt 1465.

Carter

 

We do have the Herpa McCormick D-326 and GHQ Farmall Super M.



I had thought about including the GHQ Super M in the comparison photo, but then I decided it might be better to just have a comparison of "ready to use" N scale tractors.

Carter

 

Are you asking about prototype ag tractors, or N scale models?

As far as N scale models go, Busch makes a Lanz Bulldog that dates back to the early 1920s. This link is to the model. https://www.busch-model.info/000008366.3?c=6 And this link is to Wikipedia for more information on the prototype. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanz_Bulldog

And for North American prototype N scale models go, the Athearn John Deere Model D dates back to 1926.

However, Holgate & Reynolds makes (or made) and old looking farm tractor that I was never able to find a prototype for. Shown below is the Athearn John Deere Model D with the Holgate & Reynolds tractor. I am guessing the Holgate & Reynolds tractor is undersized, but without knowing the prototype, it is difficult to know that with any certainty.



Carter

 

A load I made some years ago. I didn't want to glue the tractors in place nor put glue on my Erie flat, so all is removable and the tractors stay put while they ride.

 

Aritec stuff is great. They also made an old International/Massy? combine with the open cab that looked fantastic, to this day I still see these setting around barnyards as junk. The engine on the Ford looks like some black wash has been applied to bring out the details, nice!
It would be great to have some standard wooden wagons like those farmers used for years that were painted to match the rest of the equipment. My uncle and my neighbors had the same wagon but my uncle's was grey to match his Ferguson and my neighbor's was green to match his John Deere. What I have seen have been too large or out of scale. Now days farm equipment is so expensive that what I see, including my wife's family farm is more mix than match.
Ralph

 

The John Deere 50 was also known as an "A" model. My grandfather had one of those on his dairy farm, and that was the first thing I ever learned how to drive when I was 12. Thanks for posting the pictures!

 

Don't forget Oiiver, Allis Chalmers, Fordson. Massey Harris. etc.... I need the 1940s tractors and implements like corn shredders, pickers, binders manure spreaders, plows disc, planters... it's a long list...

 

http://nscalevehicles.org/

Ralph,

The Artitec Massey Ferguson 830 combine was co-winner of the N Scale Vehicle of the Year Award last year. http://nscalevehicles.org/

Artitec also makes hay wagons like the one shown below.



But I am not all that impressed with the hay bales on the Artitec wagon.

However, Busch makes four different farm wagons. And I am impressed with the bales on the Busch hay wagon, even if they look a little more like straw than hay.



One of the wagons Busch makes does not have a load, so that one could easily be repainted to match the tractor pulling it.

Carter

 

Randy,

Other than the Athearn Model B (built from 1947 to 1952) there is not much out there for 1940s tractors in N scale (1:160).

If you could use a combine, GHQ states their John Deere pull type combine was introduced in 1940. https://www.ghqmodels.com/collections/1-160-10mm-n-scale/products/green-12-a-grain-harvester

When it comes to N scale tractor pulled farm implements, there really is nothing to speak of available for any era. Marks Metal Classics had a few implements that were basically horse drawn equipment that could have also been used behind tractors. I keep hoping someone like Showcase Miniatures will add some farm implements to their excellent line of models. A multiple section spike tooth drag harrow seems like a good candidate for an easy to build etched metal kit.

Carter

 

I did pop off the straw/hay load on my Busch Hay Trailer and gave it a light coat of rattle can green spray paint to make it look more like hay then straw ! LOL

 

'Oxford' makes some really nice diecast Farm tractors...Farm trailers...including a livestock trailer...and even a few different hay balers.

 

That Farmall Super-M is a lovely model. Unfortunately it's missing two things. The first is the throttle lever on the right side of the of the steering column. The second is a lever on the left side of the steering column to transfer the engine from gas to diesel. OK, that would make the Super-M into an MD. The MD was my favorite tractor ever. That beast could break more plow points on Vermont granite than any other post-war three-bottom tractor I remember.