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Cat 797F Mining Truck finished by Gaylord artist Don Campbell., originally uploaded by Don Campbell Models.
Toy Trucks- Growing up as a little boy I never had even one toy dump truck. I remember going to the neighbors and playing in their sandbox even when the neighbor kids were not home. They did have toy dump trucks and I loved filling them with dirt and making fresh wet roads after scraping the dry sand away and making tracks in the dirt . I remember even at 10 years old looking at the realistic looking tread on the tires and liking them. I never had a toy tractor either until I was married and Nicole was born and we bought a couple very small ones to put on a shelf. I remember being embarrassed buying a toy tractor at my age.
The first year I started making toys I never told anyone because I thought they would think I was weird making toys at my age.
But after setting up at the National Farm Toy Show my first year I saw their were hundreds and hundreds of weird grown ups just like me , ha,ha.
It’s still hard to believe I have actually built some the worlds largest all steel , welded and bolted hand built one of a kind static models.
The best part now is I don’t have to look on E-bay or go to toy shows , I can just make them myself . (:>). I am even sometimes amazed looking at my webpage pictures and seeing all the variety of machines I have built with my own two hands.
Todays picture of this Cat 797F Mining truck is another one of a kind piece of metal art made in my little workshop with my crude tools. Little did I know that this little boy who never woned a toy truck or a toy tractor would be known all over the world for my handmade toys, ha,ha. Funny how life is sometimes.
Over the years people have told me to mass produce some of my one of a kind creations , but I have absolutely no interest in building more than one of anything. My goal is always to keep each new project new and exciting to me. I’m sure the day will come when I will build my last model but not quite yet. (:>).
P&H 5700 XPA – Today I ordered the first 6 sheets of steel and 120 feet of square tubing to get me started on what is another very exciting one of a kind Monster Model. It is such a rush to see these monsters take shape from a flat piece of metal.
Have a great Monday
