mr moto Posted March 4, 2014 Posted March 4, 2014 We've probably all seen the little Wheel Horse tractor that comes in the old MPC Indy Turbine car and I decided to build it. Little did I know that I was about to learn more than than I thought there was to learn about Wheel Horse tractors. It turns out that there's quite a community of WH enthusiasts out there - who knew! Looking for reference pictures and such I stumbled onto the Wheel Horse forum known as Red Square. It's inhabited by a great bunch of guys who are more than happy to give help and support to a model builder. What I found out is that the tractor in the kit is a 1968 early production Charger 12. You can tell that it's early '68 because Wheel Horse was still using leftover 1967 Kohler K-301 motors in the Charger and that's what is in the kit. After looking around the WH forum for awhile I decided to convert it into an Electro 12 which is basically a fully loaded Charger with electric PTO clutch, hydraulic mower lift, chrome wheel covers, etc. This is the end result - a 1968/69 Wheel Horse Electro 12. The mower deck is scratch built based on photos and owner's manuals from Red Square. What's the point of having an Electro 12 with hydraulic deck lift if you don't have a mower deck? I had already built the engine as it was in the kit before I found out about that leftover '67 business. It originally was like this: But after I stripped it down and updated it it looked like this: http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb10/mr-moto/electro%2012/IMGP0932.jpg http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb10/mr-moto/electro%2012/IMGP0931.jpg The hydraulics were all scratch built also. These tractors had automatic transmissions and the hydraulic system used pressure from the transaxle. http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb10/mr-moto/electro%2012/IMGP1027.jpg The wheel covers were made from those bumps on soft drink lids. http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb10/mr-moto/electro%2012/IMGP0904.jpg http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb10/mr-moto/electro%2012/IMGP0934.jpg All the decals (and there are a lot of them) are homemade and I have to give thanks to "Vinyl Guy" on the WH forum for offering high quality .pdf images of the graphics that I needed. His business is making reproduction vinyl stickers for Wheel Horse restoration. This was a really fun project and I learned a lot that I never expected. BTW, the little round decal on the right rear fender is the logo of the Harrison Elementary Garden Tractor Club in Warsaw, Indiana that I discovered on Red Square. They're restoring a Wheel Horse as a club project. http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb10/mr-moto/electro%2012/1234365_10202118253945613_1428019736_n.jpg
Ramfins59 Posted March 5, 2014 Posted March 5, 2014 Manuel, that looks really great. Excellent scratchbuilding.
TooOld Posted March 5, 2014 Posted March 5, 2014 Now that is very impressive work ! If it wasn't on your cutting mat I'd never have guessed it was only 3" long ! Great job !
flat-top Posted March 5, 2014 Posted March 5, 2014 Very nice, awesome scratch-building. Looks like your ready for spring.
1930fordpickup Posted March 5, 2014 Posted March 5, 2014 The deck makes this thing great. Best looking mower in scale . The picture of the kids is cool, nothing better than teaching kids how to handle a wrench. Have you sent the kids a picture of your Mower with their sticker on it ?
jeffs396 Posted March 5, 2014 Posted March 5, 2014 Super nice work! I think that mower deck would be a GREAT seller in resin
bobthehobbyguy Posted March 5, 2014 Posted March 5, 2014 Super nice. Very clean. Great scratch building. Looks like it was a fun project.
Baugher Garage Posted March 5, 2014 Posted March 5, 2014 Amazing detail!! My dad's got an old Wheel Horse he uses quite frequently for mowing, etc. Not nearly as nice as your model though!
Joker Posted March 5, 2014 Posted March 5, 2014 Who sez one can't learn a thing or three from our wonderful hobby. Great write up and tractor...the mower deck is gorgeous . Thanks Manny for posting/sharing.
GeeBee Posted March 5, 2014 Posted March 5, 2014 What a superb little build, love your scratch building skills ....
mr moto Posted March 10, 2014 Author Posted March 10, 2014 (edited) Weird! I had a computer problem and I didn't think this this thread had actually posted so I put up another one. Now here it is! Thanks, everybody. If you've looked at this topic there's not much need for you to look at my other Wheel Horse post. Edited March 10, 2014 by mr moto
espo Posted March 10, 2014 Posted March 10, 2014 Could you give me the exact address for the Wheel Horse sight? I have a neighbor who has had on for years and still uses it to plow his driveway. He should enjoy looking in on the sight.
mr moto Posted March 11, 2014 Author Posted March 11, 2014 This is the address for "Red Square": http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/ I hope your neighbor enjoys it!
Apriliadan Posted March 16, 2014 Posted March 16, 2014 Perfect, everything, the tractor, story the sticker, just everything.
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