Scale Models & the 1/24th Gleaners from the Duetz-Allis Era

In 1986, The Allis Chalmers Farm Equipment Division was acquired by KHD out of Germany and the new company was in turn called "Duetz-Allis". Starting in 1986, DA and Gleaner introduced the new "R" series of Gleaners, which consisted of the R5, R6, and R7 combines. It was not long afterwards that Scale Models introduced a 1/24th Gleaner R6 combine which initially was released with the Grain head only, and the first production run of the R6 Gleaners in 1/24th used up the remaining old N6 Gleaner box's but with the Duetz-Allis name on the box. The rarest version of the R6 Gleaner in 1/24th, is the one with the White Cab roof. This version is the hardest to find of the R6 variations. Scale Models used up a few remaining "White" cab roofs on a few R6 combines to get them released before the correct roof was made. The Correct version of the R6 with the Grey roof shortly followed and was also only sold with the grain head only but in a yet another different style box. The final 1/24th Gleaner R6 combine was released with both the 8 row corn head and the grain head. I guess dealers were wanting a toy combine with both heads, and so did the collectors and farm kids.

Like almost everything, the R series were short lived, and soon DA introduced the new R0 series of Gleaners which included the R40, R50, R60, and R70 models. Not wanting to be left behind in the toy world, Scale Models introduced a 1/24th Gleaner R60 combine with the green stripe decals, 2wd rear tires, positional unloading auger and both headers. Like the previous 1/24th Gleaners, they did not have a clear cab interior, but instead had blacked out cab "glass" to hide the empty cab. Still Scale Models was filling a void in the toy model market with the R60.

In 1989/1990 Duetz-Allis introduced the new "Hawk" series of Gleaners, which included the R40, R50, R60, and R70 combines. The real deal had a "Hawk" logo incorporated into the decal on the combine, plus the cab interior on the real machines were changed from Brown/Tan to a new Grey/ White cab interior. The new P1 or P2 Processor was introduced on the "Hawk" series Gleaners. Duetz Allis had Scale Models commission a Special Silver Chrome finish R60 Gleaner "Hawk" edition combine in 1/24th for the DA T.A.P.S sales training program in certain states. The model was limited to 300 produced and has a serial # on the cab roof. For example my R60 DA T.A.P.S Program R60 Gleaner is numbered 163 out of 300.
The Silver Chrome finish R60 for the DA T.A.P.S Program is a very hard to find version of the R60, and usually brings a good $$ as its so limited. When Scale Models released the 1/24th Gleaner R60 "Hawk" edition combine, they did make some noticeable differences from the earlier R60 version that was released. The rear tires, were changed to the V tread tires to resemble the RWA option on the R0 series combines, plus they modified the casting to include a double straw spreader, that actually spins when you rotate it by hand. These two small changes really set the R60 "Hawk" version apart from the 1st release. When the production on the special Silver chrome finish R60 combine in 1/24th was finished, Scale Models took the opportunity to release a "shelf" version of the R60 "Hawk" Gleaner in 1/24th off of the revised tooling, except that it was released in the traditional DA Gleaner colors and supported the Green stripe decals. The RWA and Straw spreader remained on the shelf model, and like the Ltd Silver finish R60 and the real machines, the decal on the 1/24th version incorporated the "Hawk" logo into the decal. Unlike the Ltd R60 DA, T.A.P.S release which only came with the grain head, The 1/24th Gleaner "R60" "Hawk" shelf version combine came with both the grain head and 8 row corn head.

In 1990 other changes were taking place, the management of Duetz-Allis acquired the company from KHD and AGCO Corp was formed. Almost over night, the Spring Green paint disappeared on the 9100 series of tractors, and the R40, R50, R60, and R70 combines had the decal stripe changed from Green to Orange. Scale Models soon followed suite, and in 1991 Scale Models offered the 1/24th Gleaner R60 combine with the Orange Stripe Decals. Like the Silver finish Ltd edition R60, the Orange stripe R60 in 1/24th is Highly sought after by collectors as the real machine was only produced for 1 year with the orange stripe before the R2 series of Gleaners came out.
Scale Models made an even hardier to obtain version of the R60 Orange Strip combine in 1/24th for the 1992 Husker Harvest Days Farm Show. On the combine above the unloading auger it says: Husker Harvest Days 10th Anniversary. The decal is the only change, but it makes it an almost impossible version to fine. It is one version that I am still searching for to add to the collection. Both versions of the Orange stripe R60 hold their value well, and both have the RWA, and straw spreaders.

In the next post, we will move on to the 1/24th Gleaner R2 series that were made by Scale Models