toy tractor 1/2 scale 8N

[txdon]

And it disc up the ground also!!!!!!!!!?
Did he really disc the ground? I am simply amazed! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Any other implements on the drawing board?

 

[bandit67]

Wow, that turned out great - it doesn't look like your average toy made while tinkering in your spare time.

I'm sure you wouldn't want to take away from the uniqueness of your son's awesome toy, but I'd bet you could make yourself a nice little living building and selling those tractors. You've already got the mold fabricated. Those plastic pedal tractors cost up to $250, and they don't compare to that one. There's plenty of kids out there that would love to have a toy like that.

Better stop showing folks your handywork, cause you're gonna get a lot of requests to purchase one of your little tractors. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[ger]

The machine will actually disc and pull things- 4 concrete blocks up a major hill.... The handicapscooter mech gets all the credit there!

I've toyed with the idea of making some more- commercially- by the time components are sourced, line set up, warranty, liability etc is it worth it?
I could make one or two a year in my spare time I guess- sell them as a one-off toy... or just make bodykits available- let people make their own mechanism.

 

[Malibu]

SWEET

Proportions are great.

Beautiful job.

 

[markct]

i think making body kits would be great, im sure they would be a great start for building a simular machine, thats the hardest part is gettin the sheetmetal looks right, and you have a mold that looks great, musta taken a while to make that mold

 

[Villengineer]

Very impressive. My son would love to have one like it. He's only 1 1/2 and already thinks that dad's tractors are actually his. Now that I think about it maybe I'd like him to have one, too.
From a commercial standpoint, you could probably sell quite a few of those hoods to people who just want to customize their lawn tractor. They sure would look better than the goofy looking front ends a lot of them have now.

 

[RHughes]

That is absolutely AWESOME! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Best of all your son will remember that tractor and the time he's spending "farming" with dad, for the rest of his life.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Very cool indeed! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[LWFrisk]

<font color="blue"> My first impression was "this boy has a ton of talent." But then after a closer inspection I decided it was not so much talent as him having fun. And he's having as much fun as anyone I know.
</font>

Harv

While I agree that ger is have the fun, I also think he has a tremendous amount of talent. I could really have fun doing what he is doing, but definitely do not have the talent to do what he is doing with the precision he is doing it.

I know you would have as much fun as he does and you have the talent to do it. I am sure we are all waiting to see what your new grand son Ethan gets to play with.

I complement ger not only for having fun, but for starting early to teach his son responsibility and the "know how" to do things. I would give him my vote for "Dad of the year on TBN", and specially because he has fun doing it.

Leo in San Diego

 

[Ozarker]

That is a great little machine.

I'll bet you can make a little money just putting together a set of plans with pictures, detail drawings and parts list and selling it on e-bay.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Leo my talent remark was totally with tongue in cheek. There's obvious talent.

But there's also someone enjoying the heck out of themself. One can't be doing that without wearing a grin you can't take off with a jackhammer.

As for the marketing. I think the real market is in the plastic components. Most of the people that would build one of those are handy and independent enough to come up with their own components. But few people have the facilities, knowledge, and talent to make those fenders and hood assemblies.

It is neat. Won't be long and we'll be seeing these puppies with tots at the controls doing pulls. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Of course a mold with Deere or Kubota would really get some hearts beating double time. And not just those in the legal department of said dealers.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I think the real market is in the plastic components. Most of the people that would build one of those are handy and independent enough to come up with their own components. But few people have the facilities, knowledge, and talent to make those fenders and hood assemblies. )</font>

Many years ago, I remember you could get new hoods for your beetle that had a rolls look about them. Perhaps the market is in selling a hood replacement for lawn tractors (or larger?) that gives tham a 8N look. I think that would be very cool.

Cliff

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> Perhaps the market is in selling a hood replacement for lawn tractors (or larger?) that gives tham a 8N look. I think that would be very cool.</font>
While I agree with you, I imagine the percentage of people who own garden tractors who also know what an 8N is and don't think it's a dyslexic bingo number, would be kinda small. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[bobodu]

I wouldn't question the salability of the design and/or hoods too far.After all,I see people spend their money on lots of things that I do consider foolish.I'd rather spend a few hundred dollars on a working ( meaning that I could use it for work) tractor replica than spend several thousand dollars for a 200 hp motor for my fishing boat /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif It is a wonderful job nonetheless.

Also reminded of the dyslexic soda jingle

"He's a Pepper..She's a Pepper..We're all Peppers..

Wouldn't you like to be a Pepper....Seven".

 

[slowrev]

Great job, that is one lucky kid there. Would ya trade that for a full size 8N. I believe I would rather have yours.

 

[ger]

talent? I dunno- resourceful maybe and with contacts that made the bodywork possible. The 1/2 scale hood is too small for even small riding lawnmowers but something in fibreglas to suit a riding mower would sell a signficant number, I think.
But I agree, most people interested in something like this 1/2 scale unit could do the work themselves.
It ended up at 1/2 scale because I measured the height of the rear tire and compared it to my 8N. Next I measured the width and wheelbase and went from there. Most of it is angle grinder and stick welder (don't look too close!).
Basic electricity knowledge sorted out the scooter controls and mechanism.
The body was basic woodworking and patience ( a lot of scuplting/interpreting required.. That ford hood is not as simple a shape as it first appears!). A friend has a large vacformer and did it for me free.

I bet if the boy drove around a tractor show with body kits on a trailer-they would sell on impulse- we all have projects we're going to get around to- some day!

I'd be happy to help anyone interested in doing something like this, I've sorted through a lot of deadends getting to this point.
Here it is without bodywork (jpeg)

 

[Golfgar4]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I bet if the boy drove around a tractor show with body kits on a trailer-they would sell on impulse- we all have projects we're going to get around to- some day!
)</font>

Your profile doesn't mention where you're from, but I'd be willing to bet there must be a few fairly good sized flea markets in your area. We have a number of them in my neck of the woods that operate one weekend every month in various county fairgrounds. I bet if you showed up at a good flea market with even just a couple of the completed tractors, or even just those bodies, you'd walk away at the end of the day with whatever you brought having been sold, and a pocket full of orders. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[RonR]

Curious where you found the scooter parts? I would guess those would be very expensive.

Did you get them from a wrecked (?) scooter?

THANKS.
ron

 

[LWFrisk]

ger

I hope you don't mind, but I posted the photo on this post and a link to your project over on the WeekEndFreedomMachines.org forum. Lots of young guys with kids that I am sure will like what you did. Of course, there are a lot of grand dads that will like it as well. They will probably try to talk you into a John Deere model. I think you have a good thing going here. You may want to give some thought to contacting a toy maker to see if you can "sell" them your idea. Of course, it is nice that you and your son have a "one up" that everyone will be a bit envious of.

Leo in San Diego /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

Here's the perfect trailer for the perfect toy tractor.