This impressive model from Dennis Raper is an Athearn John Deere JD4020 farm tractor that he converted into a log skidder. This was a more common application in the past than it is today. In the South (of the United States), lots of farmers would farm with their tractor during growing season then use the tractor for logging during the fall and winter months. Most of them were very dangerous due to rollovers and falling objects. Many people have been killed on them because most didn't offer any protection. The farmer/logger who owns this tractor decided to make his a little safer. Dennis used styrene rod, tube, square, and sheet in making the boom and "snaking tongs" on the tractor and also a little bit of A-Line chain to attach the tongs to the boom. Krylon, PollyScale, and Testors paints along with Bragdon weathering powders finished it up.

Posted October 7, 2011