Post by JasonB on Feb 2, 2016 23:37:06 GMT
In 2002, AGCO and Gleaner introduced the new R5 Series Gleaner combines, which included an All newly designed cab, and interior layout which offered better visibility for the operator. Its hard to believe the R5 series Gleaners are over 10 years old now since the introduction.
Scale Models soon followed with a 1/24th version of the R65 Gleaner combine. They produced two versions of the 1/24th Gleaner R65's initially. The fist version was a Special Collectors edition. On the cab roof, it said: "2002 New Product Introduction" and featured silver chrome wheel rims, handrails, and mirrors. The combine also came with both a grain head and an 8 row corn head. The introduction version of the R65 in 1/24th is starting to get hardier to find. Shortly afterwards, Scale Models released a 1/24th "Shelf" Version of the R65 Gleaner combine. It also had both grain head and corn head, but had the grey wheel rims. Unlike previous shelf models that Scale Models produced, the Shelf version of the R65 Gleaner had handrails, but they were painted black. No mirrors were on the shelf version of the R65 though. Both the Introduction R65, and the shelf version of the R65 combine did have straw spreaders that rotated like most of the previous 1/24th Gleaners.
If your lucky enough to attend one of the Fall or Spring Farm Shows, sometimes you get to the show and discover a show model was produced. In 2004 we attended the Farm Progress Show in Iowa and when we got to the AGCO tent, I discovered that Scale Models had produced a 1/24th Gleaner R65 combine with a special logo on the cab roof, it said: "2004 Farm Show Edition" and was only available at the Fall Shows. The Show Edition was basically the same as the shelf version of the R65 but with the special inscription.
In 2006, for the Louisville Farm Show, Scale Models brought out a 1/24th Gleaner R75 combine with just the 8 row corn head only. The 1/24th R75 Gleaner has also became a very hard to find version of the R5 series of toys that Scale Models produced.
In the next thread, I will cover the 1/24th Gleaner A5 series of Gleaner models that were produced.