The 2010 Florida Flywheelers Show had an array of interesting antique tractors and even a few models that were created by talented individuals like Earl Overbeek of Allegan, Mich.

At this year’s show, Earl had three models on display near Hank Balder’s trailer and tent. Several IH Red enthusiasts were around sitting and shooting the bull and telling tall red tales. It was clear they were IH collectors not only by the tractors surrounding them, but on the side of Hank’s trailer written in bold letters was the phrase, “Why farm half when you can Farmall.”

Earl is a retired heat and cooling company owner. Since 2001, he has been assisted by Hank, his second cousin, on his farm in Hamilton, Mich.

Hank uses IH on the farm and farms with his son-in-law. The Balders work with around 4,000 hogs and 100,000 broiler chickens. Hank has several antique tractors.

Besides helping out Hank, Earl also started creating half-scale models. He is enjoying his retirement creating these miniature beauties. “To me, retirement is doing what you enjoy.”

Earl said he got the idea to build the models from an article he saw in Red Power Magazine and from a four-wheel-drive model he saw at a show. Among the models he created is an International Harvester 560 half-scale that was based on the real tractor owned by Earl and Ed Bouwns of Holland, Mich.

“I made it about four or five years ago,” Earl said, “and then two years ago I made the articulating 9170 model. Then, in 2008-2009 I built the miniature Super MD-TA. I had a diesel MD and gas that my dad bought new when I was a kid.”

This little Super MD-TA model really runs on diesel. “There were lots of gas versions but not as many diesels under production so I decided I needed a diesel.”

The toolbox on the Super MTA is original and the pedals are from an IH 300. The original Super MD-TA that Earl modeled his miniature from is owned by Hank Balder and of the three models he created he said the little Super MD-TA was a lot of work.
“It took about a year to build and the other two just over a winter,” he said.

Earl added that the hardest part of creating the models was finding the right parts. His models began as a Cub Cadet and he went from there.

The 9170 model is actually made of two Cub Cadet frames and was based on a photograph by Todd Merkel that appeared in the 2008 Sept./Oct issue of Red Power Magazine. The 9170 was photographed in Missouri at the Red Power Round Up.

“The 9170 drive shaft has a universal joint and drive shaft,” Earl said. “When I got into that one, I thought I bit off more than I could chew, but it turned out.”

The model turned out just great. Earl’s next plan is building a five-bottom trailer plow to pull between the 9170. “It will have a hydraulic cylinder to lift it, but it will be only for show.”

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.