Otsego County Man’s Toy Building Hobby draws visitors from around the World. Don Campbell just finished the cab for this latest Michigan 675 Loader model.
Posted by doncampbellmodels on 31 Jul 2007 at 11:57 am | Tagged as: From the Workshop
TEN YEARS OF BUILDING TOYS- When Don Campbell from Gaylord , Michigan ran out of winter projects 10 years ago , he decided to try building toys. This model of a Michigan 675 Loader puts him over the 175 number of different machines he has built models of in the last ten years.
Don started out building farm toys the first seven years. But wanted to try something else like building models of ships or trains or construction machinery.
He did start building one ship model and never completed it, and he did design the first train model on paper , but never cut out the first part, then he sat down and designed the first construction toy and couldn’t stop . He said he just loves the construction equipment !
Three years later Don is still excited as the day he built his first model. Because he builds one of a kind models, each new model is a brand new challenge. Over the last Ten years Don has also been very helpful to others starting to build their own toys.
He always tries to give others tips to get started. Don said he knows of 12 people who are now building toys today from him helping them get started with his tips.
Don is a very friendly person and says his models are far from perfect, but he says it is a labor of love.
His tiny workshop and minimal tools make it pretty amazing the finished pieces that come out of that little space behind his garage.
The one thing he is amazed at the most is that he considers himself ( almost famous ) and he laughs about it.
In a way he is , as he gets regular visitors each week from every state in the U.S. and regular visitors from 90 countries around the world.
When asked how long will he continue to build them, he says he doesn’t know for sure. His real dream is to build half sacle working models/ machines he can actually drive . But for now he is busy working on this latest creation.
Article by Jimmy.
MICHIGAN 675 LOADER CAB UPDATE- I got the cab interior completed and now I will start working on the left rear fender/tank.
Don and Debbie Weight loss progress- Day 17 and we were up early getting our first 3 mile walk in. 90 degree temps the last couple days so we been driving out to the State Park to walk . Much cooler with a nice breeze off the lake.
LOSING WIEGHT AND LOSING FRIENDS- It’s kinda sad as we struggle each day to try to keep going, our friends kinda got mad at us. We can see they are not happy for us, but almost mad. This is not easy to do. We know they are also very heavy and they know they need to do this too. Deb and I will try to get through today and continue to take it one day at a time and we understand how they feel.
I got 3 lbs. of Jelly Belly Sour Jelly Beans in our refrigerator.
I JUST LOVE THEM , Everytime I open the frig, they are calling for me, Eat ME, Eat Me !! And I look down at my big belly and look back at them, and remember two weeks ago and think of my double vision and chest pains, and look at them and nicely say, not today, maybe tomorrow. (:<). NOT !!!!!!!!!!!! They are just jelly beans and they don't know the difference, LOL.
Have a nice Tues.