Post by putsie on Jun 19, 2012 18:12:39 GMT -5
Projects are easy to come up with, and start on, but finishing one before taking up another is usually the issue I run into. This is a project that was started this past winter and finally took the time to finish up. It will be a part of my "Leeville Farms" display in the future.
When I started coming up with a plan for Leeville Farms I knew I wanted a 4020 Deere to be a part of the lineup. The problem is that to be truely accurate of a western prairie grain farm it's got to be a wheatland model to be believable, and there is no wheatland/standard version available yet. I've always liked the looks of big fenders and nonadjustable front axles so I decided to just build my own.
This tractor took parts from 3 different models and features scratch built cab (including window "glass" and door handle) and a standard axle made from both styrene and brass and is steerable. The fenders, operators platform and dust shields came from a JD 5020 and actually fit remarkably well after a bit of grinding. The front shields are a touch long when compared to some of my (real) reference tractors but for the most part it still was accurate enough to leave as is without looking out of place. The original drawbar was removed and a more accurate sliding version built. There was a pto shaft and a pair of hydraulic remotes added to the rear as well. They were drilled to accept 28 gauge wire (hydraulic hose) for display purposes. The rear wheels and exhaust were scrounged off a JD 3010 and fitted with the original Ertl tires. At this point the cab has yet to be permanently fixed so I can continue to add cab details such as levers, etc... as time (and ambition) allows. Also at some point there will be other misc details added down the road such as fender mounted lights, etc... As for the remainder of the body work, the seams were fill and after a couple of frustrating tries the OEM JD paint was applied to a somewhat satisfactory result. I won't be using Deere OEM paint again if I can help it. With the paint on and myself feeling somewhat "defeated" by the painting process, I moved on to apply the decals. Again, I'm not real happy with the results. Mostly the John Deere lettering more than anything, but we'll just have to try again and take a different approach on the next one. Not a big deal, just a little disappointing. I was filled with inner conflict over the location of the Model #. You see piles of these tractors with the decal location as I have it but I've never been a big fan of it anywhere but on the rear engine panel. Nonetheless the front panel won out and wound up looking better than I first thought it might.
Anyways you all most likely have moved on to the pics by now anyways so I'll just shut up and let them do the talking from here
Hope you enjoy...
Comparing the finished project from where I started.
For those of you that just can't get past that ugly cab...lol
The real version that provided the influence.
May as well hitch it up to something eh?
When I started coming up with a plan for Leeville Farms I knew I wanted a 4020 Deere to be a part of the lineup. The problem is that to be truely accurate of a western prairie grain farm it's got to be a wheatland model to be believable, and there is no wheatland/standard version available yet. I've always liked the looks of big fenders and nonadjustable front axles so I decided to just build my own.
This tractor took parts from 3 different models and features scratch built cab (including window "glass" and door handle) and a standard axle made from both styrene and brass and is steerable. The fenders, operators platform and dust shields came from a JD 5020 and actually fit remarkably well after a bit of grinding. The front shields are a touch long when compared to some of my (real) reference tractors but for the most part it still was accurate enough to leave as is without looking out of place. The original drawbar was removed and a more accurate sliding version built. There was a pto shaft and a pair of hydraulic remotes added to the rear as well. They were drilled to accept 28 gauge wire (hydraulic hose) for display purposes. The rear wheels and exhaust were scrounged off a JD 3010 and fitted with the original Ertl tires. At this point the cab has yet to be permanently fixed so I can continue to add cab details such as levers, etc... as time (and ambition) allows. Also at some point there will be other misc details added down the road such as fender mounted lights, etc... As for the remainder of the body work, the seams were fill and after a couple of frustrating tries the OEM JD paint was applied to a somewhat satisfactory result. I won't be using Deere OEM paint again if I can help it. With the paint on and myself feeling somewhat "defeated" by the painting process, I moved on to apply the decals. Again, I'm not real happy with the results. Mostly the John Deere lettering more than anything, but we'll just have to try again and take a different approach on the next one. Not a big deal, just a little disappointing. I was filled with inner conflict over the location of the Model #. You see piles of these tractors with the decal location as I have it but I've never been a big fan of it anywhere but on the rear engine panel. Nonetheless the front panel won out and wound up looking better than I first thought it might.
Anyways you all most likely have moved on to the pics by now anyways so I'll just shut up and let them do the talking from here
Hope you enjoy...
Comparing the finished project from where I started.
For those of you that just can't get past that ugly cab...lol
The real version that provided the influence.
May as well hitch it up to something eh?
