Projects In Metal

Scale Models

This 1:16 scale model tractor was built by my dad some years ago, and resides in my toy collection along with two other variations of the WA 14 Wagner that he built.

My dad who farmed in southern Saskatchewan for many years never strayed far from his roots, and always loved farm machinery and in particular farm tractors.

In fact his very extensive collection of farm toys included many scale model tractors that he built from scratch in his shop.
He was widely known throughout the farm toy collectors fraternity, and his custom built 1:16 scale articulated model farm tractors were highly sought after by collectors, and are the center attraction of many farm toy collections located throughout Canada and the US.

This model Wagner is based on the full scale Wagner farm tractors built in Portland Oregon for many years and found on many large farming operations located throughout the world, although more prevalent in the western US where many large farming operations are located.
The model weighs in at 20 pounds and is approximately 18" in length, 12" in height, and 18" in width.

Once my dad had measured up the full scale tractor and reduced the measurements to 1:16 scale, the model then started out as raw aluminum castings that my dad had cast in a foundry from patterns developed in his shop at home.
Once he had the castings back in his shop, he would grind them smooth on a belt-grinder, then assemble them by tig-welding the various componets together.
Then more grinding on one of his many belt grinders was required before he would be satisfied with the finish.

He would then proceeded with building the various other components like the Cummins turbocharged engine that was also cast from aluminum and then detailed with the parts that make up the complete engine.

He would then build all the other components that make up the tractor, like the exhaust stack, air-cleaners, air-horns, cab-details inside and out, ladders for either side of the tractor, guard-rails, lighting front and rear, and many more details to numerous to mention here.

Once the tractor was completed to his satisfaction, he would disassemble it for painting.
He used only the best epoxy paints that he mixed and applied in his custom-built paint-booth with a top-quality spray gun leading to a perfect finish on the model.

Once the paint was cured, he then reassembled the model and the final step was to apply the custom made decals he had made locally that were made to scale from drawings of the full size tractors, and included the builders plate with the serial number for the model.

6N4A9697