A Transcript from ToyTractorShow.com's  Toy Talk's Live Chat on Tuesday December 04, 2001  8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT Question and Answer Night with Bill Walters Farm Toy Product Manager for RC/ERTL. 

34 People logged  into the chat. The Q&A session ran from 7:59 pm ET to 9: 30 p.m. ET. Thank you to everyone for making it such a success. Another ERTL  Q&A chat night will be announced soon. Many Thanks to Bill Walters for finding the time to chat with the collectors on TTS.  All questions for this chat were e-mailed to TTS owner Jason Hasert prior to the chat. A general chat was held at the end.

Bill Walters: Hello everybody. Jason, whenever you're ready..

J.Hasert: Bill I would like to start general and then run through brand ideas for OEMs

Bill Walters: That's fine. Thanks again for having me. I appreciate your help in setting: these chat sessions up..

J.Hasert: Why has Ertl stopped putting the historical information of models on 1/16 boxes.

Bill Walters: Good question.. We now have to put French translations on our John Deere  product. Trying to do translations on of historical information was very hard.

Bill Walters We are looking at trying to put information about the units inside the box.

Bill Walters: We are trying to decide what is the best way, whether a piece of literature like  we do for Precisions, or something else. We are still discussing..

J.Hasert: Sounds like good ideas Bill. We will like them for sure

Bill Walters When we went to our new graphics look, the historical information was not : incorporated, which was around the same time we were purchased by Racing Champions. We are trying to get the historical information back on.

Bill Walters: Jason, if the unit itself is not a true replica of an actual piece, we do not: put a model # on it. The backhoe is not a true replica of a JD backhoe, so we did not put a model # on it.    Sometimes we make product that we consider to be more play toys than replicas. The disk was considered a play toy more than a replica...

J.Hasert: A big collector issue. Precisions vs.. the Hamilton Authentics.

J.Hasert: What are the differences? ..

Bill Walters: For John Deere Precisions, there is no difference. Hamilton simply sells  our units through direct mail. They use the Hamilton name as they feel it has  credibility with people who buy through direct mail.

Bill Walters For Case IH items, we have made a distinction in that the Precision Series: number does not show up on the box or historical booklet. Case felt that  these units should be identified as Hamilton units versus the units that are  sold through the OEM dealer network. The actual units are the same.

Bill Walters: Did I answer your question...

J.Hasert: Very complete Bill. Thank you.

J.Hasert: The big concern seems to re-releasing old Precisions.

  Bill Walters: No old Precisions will be re-released going forward. You have my promise..

  J.Hasert: That will make lots of folks happy. On to AGCO and AC questions.

  J.Hasert: Any Possibility of an AC D-19 with a Hinker cab and possibly duals.

Bill Walters: Are you talking precision, or normal 1/16th?

J.Hasert: Just the normal 1/16.

Bill Walters Jason, D-19s are close to my heart. My dad still owns a D-19 and that's  one of the first tractors I ever drove. We have looked at modifying our  Hiniker Cab to fit the D-19. We will have a meeting in a few weeks and this  might come up as a possible new item. That's all I can say now...

J.Hasert: Sounds good. It would be a nice model

J.Hasert: Any chance of a precision AC D-21. Many here think it would be popular.

Bill Walters I would agree that this would be a very good Precision. It is on our list, but  we are going to be going to another AGCO brand for 2002. I'm sure : eventually we will do a AC D-21..

J.Hasert: Would Ertl look at a AC 190 or 7010 plowing dual set? Like the 4020 and 970

Bill Walters I believe our AC 190 tooling is no longer able to be run. Our 7000 Series  tooling is not valid as a 7010, so I would not see us doing either of those..

J.Hasert: Ok quick follow up. We had a request for an Oliver or M-M plowing set. Any chance for one of those.

Bill Walters We're thinking about it. good question...

J.Hasert: Would a precision AC front unload manure spreader, roto-baler or all-crop 100 combine, make a good precision implement? ..

Bill Walters Obviously not out of the question. We probably won't do anything AC for at : least a little while. Collectors of other AGCO properties want to see new  units as well...

J.Hasert: Any Ertl interest in a AC One-Eighty with "Year-a-Round" Cab

Bill Walters I believe one of our competitors did a One-Eighty. Maybe a 185??

Bill Walters: Of course, my dad owned a 185 as well, so I'm biased..

J.Hasert: People have e-mailed to say they like the new AC/NI picker ......

J.Hasert: Any chace for a wagon in 2002 or 03?

Bill Walters It was a long time coming, but I think it's one of our nicest ever...

Bill Walters: Sorry Jason, can't say too much about that...

J.Hasert: I would agree. The picker set looks looks great.

J.Hasert: Ok on to Ford/New Holland

J.Hasert: Will ERTL/New Holland  look at  making some smaller tractors like the TN or TS series.

Bill Walters: We are in talks with New Holland about these. I believe our competitors are  talking to them as well. We'll have to wait and see...

J.Hasert: What about a Precision Ford picker for the 901, Jubliee or the 5000

Bill Walters Jason, you should do a survey to see what the next Ford Precision item  should be. I would be interested to know. I believe the Ford pickers were : very good units and won some harvesting contests. That might be  a very good item...

J.Hasert: I am sure we can run a survey or poll on it soon.

J.Hasert: Could Ertl try a 1/16 Precision Ford 7710 with Cab and FWA

Bill Walters: I am sure we could get a license if we wanted to.. Is this requested often??

J.Hasert: I had two e-mails for a 7710, one 9700 and a TW 20. We could do a poll.

Bill Walters: Yes, you should do a poll....

J.Hasert: A top precision implement people have asked about for this chat is a JD 3940  chopper with both headers..

J.Hasert: We had several e-mails and posts on it. Maybe a wagon too.

Bill Walters: I will put it on the list and start asking others what they think...

Bill Walters: We are getting requests for a 100 Chuck Wagon...

J.Hasert: There were a couple for a wagon. No model #. Maybe a 100, 216 or a 716?

J.Hasert: Any chance of a 6 row 7000 planter with liquid tanks for the 4440?

Bill Walters A planter would be nice, but we've already done a planter. We will have to  do some additional research on that.

Bill Walters: We're getting requests for a manure spreader now that we did the 720 w/Ldr..

J.Hasert: Yes I had a few e-mails on that too. The R was requested most often to match the 720 loader set .

Bill Walters: That would be another great piece. Too many to choose from...

J.Hasert: Will there be a JD 9520?

Bill Walters: I'm sure you will see a 9520 at some point. Please be patient...

J.Hasert: Any chance for big implements for ERTL 4wds. 32FT + items?

J.Hasert: Collectors want to put their 9420 and 9420T to work with a disk, ripper or Field Cultivator.

Bill Walters This is probably our biggest request.. We are working on solving this...

J.Hasert: Good news

J.Hasert: What do you think of a precision think about a JD 5020, JD 6030

Bill Walters Our philosophy with Precisions has been to do models where we can get  at least two versions to help payback the tooling. The 5010/5020 would work : very nicely. The 6030 is a little tougher.. It is one of the most requested : tractors we get.. We are seriously looking at it..

J.Hasert: That helps for the next question. I  had several request for a Precision 4450 and 4455. Popular option requests were front wheel assist and removable duals.

Bill Walters Yes, these will probably be produced since they are somewhat close to: the 4440. Nothing in the immediate plans... Be patient..

J.Hasert: How about a precision 430?

Bill Walters Probably not... The 430 was one of the first original Ertl tractors. I don't : necessarily want to go there. There are many others that could be done...

Bill Walters Jason, what tractor won in your JD 4WD Precision survey?

J.Hasert: The 7520 did. It had 60.2%

J.Hasert: There were 93 votes. The full vote was as follows: 8010 5.4%
8020 20.4%, WA-14 2.2%, WA-17 11.8%, 7520 60.2%

Bill Walters: Thanks, that's interesting...

J.Hasert: The 8020 was second. But distant. What do you think?

Bill Walters: I'm wondering why they picked the 7520 over the 8020?? Better real  tractor? Had the same basic looks as the other New Generations???

J.Hasert: There is a real craze for the 7520. The original commands a hefty price new in the box. It is a sharp looking classic John Deere. It is a highly requested item for 1/16 and 1/64 on the message board.

Bill Walters: Let's go through the IH's. Then open up for suggestions

J.Hasert: Ok the #1 requested IH question was for a Precision 1086? It had the most e-mailed and posted requests.  Any chance for it?

Bill Walters: We did just announce that we will be producing a Precision 1466. I'm sure  we'll get to the '86 series eventually....

J.Hasert: Very good to hear Bill. How about the 1206.  The second most requested tonight.

Bill Walters 1206's are highly requested. I'm sure we'll get there too...

J.Hasert: Any chance we will see a Prestige IH 101 or 403 combine in 2002?

Bill Walters Not for 2002....We have some other things we are working on.....

J.Hasert: Would ERTL look at making a precision 1948 IH TD-24. IH was big with crawlers in the 1940's and 50's.

Bill Walters: We have not done Precision crawlers. That might be another whole new: category... We will have to talk to the OEMs to see...

J.Hasert: What about a regular 1/16 786 or 674 for utility work and haying work in the 1/16 scale?

Bill Walters: Possibly.... I'll have to see what we can do...

J.Hasert: IH fans like the last "Farmall"  5488 on the way. How about a Precision version?

Bill Walters Sure, that would be another great unit... Any other suggestions??

J.Hasert: Yes lots of requests for a 2+2. Any model would make IH fans happy.  Top requests came for the 6788 and 7488.

Bill Walters OK, we'll look into those as well...

J.Hasert: Any chance of a 1/16 Case 70 or 90 series 4wd? 2470, 4890, 4694 etc........

Bill Walters: We will look at what models can be made from the same tooling. That is probably a very good idea.... Thanks...

J.Hasert: Last Case question is for a thresher for the case steam engine?

Bill Walters This item is long over do. We are working on something along those lines..

J.Hasert: Here is one last question  for our southern friends. Is any there any hope for a 1 row or 2 row IH, JD, Allis cotton picker in  precision.

Bill Walters Ouch.....

Bill Walters: Never say never....

J.Hasert: Bill any questions for all of us?..

Bill Walters: Not really, just give me your #1 suggestion and we'll see what we can do...

TrevorSearle: Bill have you guys ever thought of building a MF 4900?

baffin: *Or anything cotton related

John Esche: MM G-1000 Precision.

Jim Murphy : Make  Precision 1206 or 1086.

kjp800: precision IH 5488

Matt B.:  My top pick is a Case 4690. I think Case 4wds are too over looked.

Hoot: Bring back the 3 point hitch - don't like the hitch adapter

cowboy1974: 1466 black stripe or white stripe?

SoCalDeere: any 1/6th or 1/18th truck accessories like tool boxes or fuell tanks for the

Bill Walters: We are talking about accessories, nothing further I can say..

David Sottong: with or with out the cab on the 1466

Bill Walters The 1466 will be a white stripe with white cab.

kjp800: JD chopper, disk, or chisel plow to pull behind the 4440 precision

TrevorSearle: Bill how bout potato or sugar beet harvester.

Bill Walters: Sorry, no plans for potato or sugar beet implements.

John Esche: Precision IH 1468, 720 plow or 370 disk.

Jim Simpson: Ever think of an Allis-Chalmers Air-Champ planter for precision. You have my vote for a JD chopper for the 4440.

SoCalDeere: Spray rigs like the RoGator, Spraya Coupe,  Terra Gator, SPX 4260 or JD 4710.

TrevorSearle: Any planters?

Bill Walters: Do you think a 1/16th SP Sprayer would sell, Socal??

TrevorSearle: I would buy it.

SoCalDeere: they look really neat with the booms extended.

J.Hasert: A 1254 Row Gator Might be cool in 1/32 Precision Bill. 

Bill Walters Since Ag-Chem was bought by AGCO, we will need to talk to them now... 

TrevorSearle: thanks for the info

Jason Saffert: Do you do all your own tooling in house?

Bill Walters We have our own manufacturing facilities in China where our tooling is done.

Jason Saffert: ok

baffin: Kinze, Brent, J&B, etc Grain Carts

austin sandford: a SP chopper would be nice

Hoot: Pull type New Idea picker - does not have to be Precision.

mark megan: A loader for the precision 4440?????

kjp800: what about a precision JD gator 6x4?

austin sandford: a JD pull type precision chopper would be nice

Bill Walters: Thanks everybody. I will read the transcripts and Toy Talk so keep those

Bill Walters: Until next time, thanks again.. Everyone have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...

J.Hasert: Thanks Bill. Hope our ideas keep you busy for awhile:)

kjp800: thanks Bill

austin sandford: You to

mark megan: thanks bill

Hoot: Thanks for coming tonight and for the heads-up, happy holidays to you

TrevorSearle: Bye Bill

Bill Walters: Thanks everybody. I will read the transcripts and Toy Talk so keep those suggestions coming.. I appreciate your comments, both good and bad..

Bill Walters: Thanks again Jason.....