300 Scale Models And Counting

300 Scale Models And Counting Don Campbell has brought his and others’ farm equipment memories to life as 1/5 and 1/2-scale models more than 300 times. Many of his models have been custom-made, mostly based on personal memories, while others resulted from machinery he saw on trips. His creations have appeared in FARM SHOW over a dozen times, and he has gathered more than 15,000 members in his Don Campbell Model Maker Facebook group. He has uploaded over 500 videos to his YouTube channel, which has 16,000 subscribers. His videos explain how to do what he does.  Recently, he shared with FARM SHOW that he’s cut back on his model building. “I’m now 73 years old and slowing down,” says Campbell. “I still love the toy building hobby, but I no longer build special toys for other people. The last couple of years, I’ve been adding to my personal collection.” Campbell’s past work includes 20 1/2-scale working models based on garden tractors. Some were equipped with plows, others with push blades or other attachments. “I loved our 4020s the most,” says Campbell. My first mini was a 4020 based on a Deere 430 diesel riding mower. I loved it so much, I built a mini 4010 from a 110 riding mower and then another 4020 from a 140 riding mower. Those three were the beginning of five years building minis.” Campbell also built hundreds of 1/5-scale models of farm equipment, construction equipment and even locomotives. Many were based on equipment he remembers from his boyhood farm or that of neighbors. Others were built for friends, like the Big Bud with a DMI 21-bottom plow. His friend owns the real thing. “The plow alone consisted of 2,000 pieces,” says Campbell. The Deere B, D and a recently added 530 were based on farm memories, some of the earliest he can recall. In the case of the 530, he still owns the original full-size version. Other memory-based models include a Minneapolis-Moline corn sheller from his home farm. A Case 1200 was based on one a neighbor owned when Campbell was a boy, and they still own. “Most of my toys had a special memory for the collectors I built them for,” says Campbell. “Even the old corn sheller had precious memories for me.” A year ago, Campbell sold two of his remaining minis. One was a Deere 9630 equipped with a Degelman four-way blade. The other was a Deere 730. The 9630 was based on a Steiner 430 Max compact tractor. “I still have seven minis along with three trailers and a scooter,” says Campbell. “I decided I needed to cut back on the number, as it’s hard on stuff when it isn’t used or driven.” Although he no longer creates custom work or builds models to sell, Campbell invites new members to join his Facebook group. It’s the best place to see his upcoming projects, like the Koehring 1066E excavator. “I’m currently building a Mack truck and an IH Payhauler truck,” says Campbell. “I hope to keep building machinery. It’s been such a wonderful hobby, and I’ve met so many great people.” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Don Campbell (www.facebook.com/groups/doncampbellmaker; YouTube: @DonCampbellMaker).

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