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A Transcript from ToyTractorShow.com's Toy Talk's Live Chat on Tuesday May 15, 2001 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT Question and Answer Night with Bill Walters the Product Manager from Racing Champions/ERTL. 27
People logged into the chat. The
Q&A session ran from 7:50 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. J.Hasert: Good
evening Bill Bill Walters: How is everyone tonight? Cody From Rochester NY: Thank you Jay, Mr. Walters, when will we see a JD drill to go with the 1/64 1900 commoditiy cart? Bill Walters: Good question Cody, We're working with JD on this. You won't have to: wait long. Unfortunately the 1900 was supposed to come out with a drill, but JD had some problems. Shane Chaloupek: Bill I am wondering when is the 2388 combine coming out JDTRACMAN: When
are you coming out with a 1/64th MX Magnum with front duals? Bill Walters: For a person named JDTRACMAN, I'm surprised you're asking about CaseIH:tractors. Seriously, we don't have anything planned in the near future, but: we're looking at it... Again, within the next 12 months it should be ready. JDTRACMAN: Brand doesn't really matter to me. I just happen to prefer JD. JSchomburg: With the 1/64 Massey Ferguson 8280 that came out recently, will there be more: follow up Agco (Allis), and a White version using this same mold? Bill Walters: J, we only got permission to do the MF. Scale Models is doing the Allis and White versions. I would have liked to do them. We did do the 9675 Allis. JSchomburg: Thanx,
Bill Bill Walters: J
we really can't use the same mold. We would have to tool the Allis and White: by
themselves. With the hoods being different, we can't insert the tool : efficiently,
so we have to start over from scratch. Shane Chaloupek: Bill
I Was wondering when is the release on the 2388 combine. Bill Walters: I believe we have a late June/July timeframe. bigacres: Will Ertl ever come out with irrigation type equipment? Like pivots or pipes .:or volume guns? Bill Walters: I
don't foresee any irrigation type equipment being produced by Ertl. Bill Walters: I would be interested in getting more information, but right now I'm not knowledgeable enough to commit tooling to doing replicas. bigacres: Ok thanks J.Hasert: I had a few e-mails from people who could not make it J.Hasert: Would Ertl look at other Case 4wds crab steers newer than the 1470 or an IH 4166. Bill Walters: Yes,
we're always looking at other Case 4WDs. We look at how many different
models/versions we can get from the tooling. : Maybe
not a 4166, but other models would be looked at. C&D toys also do: these
types/models, so we would have to see what we could get approval to do it. Baffin: Cotton Equipment, other than pickers they have nothing.: What about modual builders in buggies?: Need some equipment to go along with the picker? Baffin: Its something to look into to help sales, I can get more info after tonight to J Bill Walters: I would be interested to see this product. We have talked to both Case and JD about additional Cotton equipment. Right now we have not heard any information back. Baffin:That
may be because they don't offer any other than the cotton picking machines Bill Walters: You're right, but they are also our best means of selling the product. Bill Walters: Without the OEM dealers selling our replicas, we would be hard pressed: to get some projects to pay back the tooling expenses. Baffin: Thanks, I'll get some info to look into it. joe in ct: Any
hints from the precision implement line other than mounted corn pickers Bill Walters: Sorry,
no hints allowed. I got in enough trouble for the info I spilled during the
last chat. Shane Chaloupek: Bill
I was wondering are there going to be any 4X4X8 baler that are in the works. In
the 1/64th scale Bill Walters: It
is on our long range tooling list. Obviously nothing I can announce yet. Bill Walters: You
should see some additional hay/forage equipment by the end of the year. Shane Chaloupek: Thank you Tyler Hall: Are
there any plans to produce any models of popular equipment in the 70's and 80's
like Hesston SP choppers and such. Bill Walters: If you're talking strictly hay/forage of the 70s/80s, the answer would be no. Tyler Hall: Anything else from Hesston? Bill Walters: We
are working/talking with Hesston right now. Nothing I can say yet..... Tyler Hall: Ok
Thank you Bill Walters: Just a follow up Tyler. All the OEMs want us to concentrate on their current line up.: Well, but priorities shift every day, especially when you're dependent on that Company to get licensing rights. Tyler Hall: Yeah
I know. Its too bad we cant get some equipment from days gone by. Thanks Combine King
Will Ertl ever look at
building an MH 135 combine in Precision. Bill Walters: Combine King, all I can tell you is that after the D17 w/Picker, you will see :different color Precision than what has been done in the past. I have to leave it at that. Bill Walters: Actually,
we get more requests for a Precision AC D-21 than just about any other
AGCO owned license. Hoot: Bill,
did you get a chance to check if the New Idea picker has caster wheels under
the husking bed? Bill Walters: We reviewed our information again. The model we are replicating does not have the caster wheels. Bill Walters: We do have to get this unit approved through AGCO. And we did get the parts manual, so I'm sure it will be right. Hoot: Ok, is there a chance of a pull type precision New Idea picker in future? Bill Walters: That
all depends on how good this unit does. I personally would love to do it. Bill Walters: Obviously
we love to re-use tooling, but we don't re-use tooling just to do another unit.
If the first didn't sell, you don't spend more money on another. Bill Walters: duals. Are you also asking about other tire manufacturers? J.Hasert Here
is another question from e-mail. Would Ertl ever look at adding other tread
spacings or other tires sizes . Bill Walters: The new MX135 has row crop duals, also a JD tractor that will be announced shortly. J.Hasert: Does that mean space between the dualed tires? Bill Walters: Yes D.B.M.: Bill, will ERTL produce more livestock/forage items, such as: calving barns, 1 ton balers, NH SP Square bale picker, round bale picker etc? Bill Walters: Unfortunately
nothing on your list is high on our priority list. Cody From Rochester NY: Since
you make the 1/64 STX 4wd, will you make the 1/64 new NH 4wd since they are
common platform models? Bill Walters: They might be common platforms, but with the changes to the hood, fenders and: cab, we would have to start over. We are still deciding how to proceed. Bill Walters: Should
we or shouldn't we? Cody From Rochester NY: YES! the STX is a HUGE hit, I know the NH 4wd will be just as big. The farm I do part time work on uses NH 4wd's and 2wds Cody From Rochester NY: So
you will be making it? Bill Walters: No decision has been made? Are NH 4WDs popular enough to spend the tooling models? Also, since they are only wheeled models, our versions are reduced in half. : I can tell you we are not doing the 1/16th version. Scale Models has been building 1/16 NH 4wds like the current 84 series Versatiles. :
joe in ct: Will
Claas, Valmet, or Fendt ever come to the Ertl lines Bill Walters: Most European tractor models are done by Britains, which we own. Bill Walters: If
they ever become an important part of the North American ag scene, we: will
take a look at them. Right now there is not enough interest by any of our accounts
to bring product into the U.S. We'll keep trying..... Fendt: has
a chance, and maybe even Steyr. We'll have to see. Bill Walters: With
the close relationship between Caterpillar and Claas, I don't see anything in
the near term for them. J.Hasert: A follow up from the cattle chat from last time from another e-mail.... J.Hasert: Will Ertl offer bulk cattle packs with different breeds and genders, 1/64 like Holsteins, steers, beef Bill Walters: It's
hard to understand, but I am not in charge of the Collectible Cattle/Horse Bill Walters
LLong
Story
Bill Walters: Hopefully....
Again, we'll have to wait and see. Dale Sprunger: Is there any chance Ertl will make a thrashing machine to go with its fine Millennium Classic Case steam traction engine? Bill Walters: Dale,
we get many requests and we are looking at it. Dusty Kirschmann: 2 things..on the 9750 why is the grain header short of 30ft. : and are you going to bring back some grain trucks. Bill Walters: I assumer you're talking the 1/64th 9750. I guess I felt it was a 30ft. Maybe : I'm mistaken. Also we have a grain semi and a Ford F-750 grain truck. Dusty Kirschmann: yes..We all noticed it fits inside the Standi headers.. Bill Walters: So
are we short or is Standi too long? Just take the width and multiply by 64. : That
should give you the width in inches.... Dusty Kirschmann: You are short by about 1/2 foot Dusty Kirschmann: 29.5in in 1/64 Bill Walters: If
so, sorry, but there's nothing I can do about it now..... Dusty Kirschmann: I know..I was just wondering if there was a reason..dont worry about It still looks good Bill Walters: No
reason that I'm aware of... It should be 30 foot. Obviously I'm not doing my
job... JSchomburg: Are you looking at doing anymore 64 scale Stieger 4wds in the near future. Like the older green models, and the lower hp ones like the 9130, or 9350's Bill Walters: J,
I know C&D is doing some of these, we would have to see what we could: get
for licensing. They would be interesting models. Dale Sprunger: Will
Ertl look at making more grain carts beyond the generic C&J carts or cotton
buggys. Bill Walters: A
cotton buggy is probably a stretch. A grain cart would be good. I'll take a: look
at what we can do. I see that Parker is now owned by Unverferth. Cody From Rochester NY: With the new CIH 2388 12 row ready combine you told us last time, will there be : a 30ft grain head with it? Bill Walters: No. D.B.M.: Have
you guys ever thought about getting a license to produce toys from Bourgault,
(very popular in Canada) Flexi-Coil, Highline, Degleman & Brandt? Bill Walters: We
have talked to Flexi-Coil and Degelman, but not the others. D.B.M.: Bourgault
produces large grain carts, tillage equip, air drills & harrows D.B.M.: You can find their products at www.bourgault.com. Check it out. Bill Walters: Thanks, I will. Matt Havlovitz: what's
your opinions on older IH and Case Equipment? Bill Walters: We
see more interest in older IH product than Case, and our sales back that up. Matt Havlovitz: Sounds good Bill Walters: Obvioulsy IH was the #1 tractor manufacturer up until the 1960' J.Hasert: Bill could you explain what the Prestige series is. Like the 1/16 JD 45 combine Bill Walters: For some larger units, it would be too expensive for us to tool as Precisions, We wanted something between the Precision and the Collector edition. J.Hasert: Bill could you explain what the Presteige series is. Like the 1/16 JD 45 combine . Bill Walters: We chose the name Prestige. It is more detailed than our normal units, but we use more plastic than on a Precision. We get a better cost and hopefully keep as much detail as we can. J.Hasert: Will the combine have two heads. Looks like a good model Bill Walters: For
the JD 45, we will initially only have the corn head. But we're always looking
for another version/unit to do. Bill Walters:
LLook for more news at a
further time. JDTRACMAN Will
Ertl ever make JD scrapers to pull behind the 1/64 JD 9400 4wd. Bill Walters: As far as scrapers. We had that on our tooling list, but it was overcome by : other events. LT: Any
chance of a loader on the JD 7810 FWA? or 7610 FWA? Bill Walters: LT,
When we tooled the 7000 series, we didn't make the inserts for a loader. : We
really messed up and I'm trying to fix this. I agree we should have done it. LT: What
will come to pull behind the JD comodity cart - no till or hoe drill? Bill Walters: Can't
say... By our license we have to let the OEM dealers know first. LT: thanks
- looking forward to the drill either way Baffin: What about 3pt. equipment, thats a major part of tractor,and Ertl has overlooked. I know its going to be hard to make, but its kind of funny nothing was ever made . Bill Walters: What scale are you talking about Baffin? Baffin: 1/64 Bill Walters: We have done limited plastic product like a sickle Bar mower, cultivator Baffin: Is it out of the question, for row crop tillage, cultivators, planters, etc Bill Walters: We
have not done much. Essentially we have to make it push on to the: hitch
we have. It's tough to make it look anything like the real piece. Baffin: I know its a start, but the real thing that some custom builders have produce Bill Walters: Anything is possible.. Good question.. Baffin: Thanks I have a 100more if you interested LOL J.Hasert: Well Bill we are almost a 1 and 1/2 hours. Thank you for another good chat Baffin: Thanks for coming Bill Walters: Yes, this was great. Also, you can leave suggestions and comments on D.B.M.: Thanks for the info Bill! Hoot: Thanks Bill joe in ct: thanks Bill Walters: our RCERTL.com website. I review them all. J.Hasert: Bill Thank you for spending another evening chatting with the collectors on ToyTractorShow.com. Thank you to everyone for following along and keeping in line on posting rules. Bill Walters: Thanks everybody. Maybe Jason will invite me back sometime for another one. J.Hasert: Anytime Bill you are always more than welcome Bill Walters: Goodbye,
thanks for the suggestions..
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