finally got these up, fellas!
The pic of my kids and dog has the "before" picture of the wagon you see behind the John Deere LA. My kid's Great Grandpa made the wagon several years ago. The front is a JD manure spreader and the rest is just a metal frame he welded up. The axel is from a Model A Ford. All it ever had was a piece of rotted ply wood and a couple boards on the sides. I pulled it out of a hedge row along with lots of brush. I had some larch sawn up and I planed the lumber with my brother-in-law's help. I wire brushed the frame, primed, and painted it, then threw on a coat of BEAUTIFUL John Deere Green!!!
The kids love riding in it. My neighbor scrounged up the Ford V8 hub caps for the wheels.
The cub is the one I got for my daughter this summer (wrote about it when I joined the board). I don't think the grill is the fine mesh. I have it all stripped down as far as body work and only broke one screw off in the threads in the process! the seller just gave me the rear light with the red lens reflector inside it, which is pretty cool. My Rotty in the pics is our other son and quite the ham. It's a wonder I can get a picture off without him in it!
The odd-ball pic is of my 1968 M274A5 "Mule" as released from the USMC. It has an M40A1 106mm Recoilless Rifle with M8C .50 cal. spotter rifle mounted on it. It's all demilled ATF safe in case anyone gets worried!
These were used in Vietnam right up into Beirute (SP?) It's a full-time 4x4, 1/2 ton truck that can haul 1000lbs (it weighs about 950lbs). This one has the original data plate and paint with matching registration numbers. It has a two cylinder Hercules engine rated at about 12HP. It's a pull start, but there are electric starter kits the military used. I also have a four wheel steer kit, but haven't had time to put it on.
The kids and Wifey (and me!) like taking this up the tractor trails for picnics and family time. I know it doesn't fit with this site, but I included it because it's part of my collection and I'm proud of it. I almost bought a FV432 fully tracked APC (similar to our M113 APC) from England this last summer, but went with the tractors as it's a much less expensive hobby than military vehicle collecting. Actually, Wifey made my mind up for me!
So that's my collection, er... "investment," Honey! Hope you guys like them! By the way, the sign hanging off the barrel of the 106 says, "Pray For And Support Our Troops" in case you can't make it out. You can see the size of the 106mm round (just over three feet long) standing on the deck of the Mule. That, too, is an inert practice round. And no, I'm not nuts.
forgot to add that the bendix on th Deere's starter went and I'm gonna have to have that rebuilt. Right now the Deere is sitting in my wife's parking space in the garage. Hope I get it fixed before the snow flies! When Mamma aint happy, NOBODY'S happy!
