A model partially self-built in over 200 hours of work. The starting point is an Ertl-branded toy reproducing a John Deere 8030T model in 1:32 scale, a model in turn crossed with an old reproduction, also Ertl-branded, of a John Deere 8030
Two hundred hours of work with the help of two specialized collaborators to transform a toy into a high-quality model.
This, in a nutshell, was the challenge that Giorgio Galloni, one of the most famous model makers specialized in the agricultural sector and a contributor to the magazine, had set himself. Already the owner of an Ertl Britains replica series “Precision” dating back to 2006 and reproducing a John Deere “8030”, but fascinated by the “T” version, the tracked one, of the same machine, he decided to self-build the latter by crossing together parts from both models. After dismantling them, he then worked on the replica of the tracked vehicle by completely stripping the metal pieces and sandblasting the plastic ones, so as to guarantee the correct shade of the final paint.
The entire undercarriage of the “T” was then modified in order to eliminate the reproduction of the engine made from a mold and insert in its place a real reproduction of the American six-cylinder.
For this purpose he recovered the radiators and conveyors from the wheeled model and built the engine starting from photos, measurements and surveys in the field so as to be able to obtain the various components from a block of brass and by milling and lathe processing. The track trolleys were instead taken from the toy model, also stripped and worked in order to eliminate everything that was reproduced by casting and replace it with original pieces.
Painstaking work to which two other modelers, Luca Cavicchi and Moreno Paveri, also contributed, with the former creating the rear lifting group using resin and plasticar reproductions and the latter cutting the walkways that allow access to the cabin with a laser. Needless to say, the latter was also completely redone inside.
The final result of the work is a replica so precise and faithful to the original that it can be confused with the latter if photographed without references that allow its dimensions to be understood.
Title: John Deere 8030T Model: From Two, One
Translation With Google
