Don Campbell Models

Don ,and Noah’s first time on a John Deere.

Don ,and Noah’s first time on a John Deere.

Don and Noah enjoying a moment.

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Northern Michigan Toy Builder starts a Cat 980B Loader Model.
 

Northern Michigan Toy Builder starts a Cat 980B Loader Model.

It’s been 4 years since Don Campbell sold one of his models at a toy show. These days he makes the models all year, and delivers them to the collectors and has none to sell.
Every year he thinks he will get a few exta ones built to put on a table to show and to sell. That is not a bad thing though, Don says he is very grateful to the toy collectors that continue to buy his one of a kind, all steel, welded and bolted models.
This Cat 980B Loader is the next one to be built and roll out of his Mini Toy Factory. I asked Don the other day if there is one machine out there that stands out on his list of models to build that will stand out as his biggest model. It did not take only a minute for him to answer. He knew exactly the model of all models , the model of his career. It is known as ( THE SILVER SPADE ) . He said it will be the Biggest, Baddest Model he will ever build in his lifetime.
He didn’t say anything else, he just got a little tear in his eye and gave me a big smile. I didn’t pursue it anymore as he went back to cutting out more parts out of steel . But today there will be no Silver Spade coming to life , instead The first parts for this beauty of a Cat 980B that will make it’s way to N.Y.C. one day. As I walked away , I thought he has a pretty interesting hobby.
Jimmy
LAST DAY OF DIETING - 46 , Deb and I were talking about quitting-
last night , Deb and I had a bad night and talked about giving up . Deb was actually the one who said she wanted something good. And that was all it took , before she even finished the sentence , I was in the car ready to head to KFC, or the Chocolate Haus. Sadly , she came out and said she was just having a thought of it, she didn’t really want too. So I got back out of the car and said, whoo-pee , I am so glad you really didn’t want too, (:<). So off we went on our second 3 mile walk of the day. Whoo-pee !!
After 45 days of no resturants, no pop, no junk, no candy, and no grease, you would think we would never want that nasty stuff again. But you would be very wrong. It is still in the back of our minds everyday like a drug as fun, fun, fun. Sure wierd how it works. We heard last night on the news that 90% of Americans are unhealthy. 70% of Americans are overweight and 60% are obese. And still we have those thoughts of wanting to go back to being that way too. It’s almost like a magnet to a piece of metal. Today we are doing fine again, but we know it never gets completely out of our minds about eating for fun. One day at a time is all we can handle . If we can both lose 25 more lbs. , we will feel so good. We are only half way . Baby steps is the only way.
Austin-Western Crusher is now painted- I will let it set to dry a few days now.
Cat 980B Loader Progress- I got the axles made and I cut out the first ten pieces so far.

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Don Campbell is amazed at another 1/2 scale Cat model out of wood that Fred Heim just completed.

Don Campbell is amazed at another 1/2 scale Cat model out of wood that Fred Heim just completed.

Fred Heim from New England- Usually when someone tells me about someone building crafts out of wood, I always think that would be fun to work with wood too.
But when somebody tells me that FRED HEIM just completed another project out of wood, you can bet I will be looking into it.
I have a video of Fred and I in the Video section on my webpage showing me and Fred checking out his 1/2 scale semi truck with the 1/2 scale Cat Dozer on the 1/2 scale Lowboy. It was just amazing. Fred let me climb in the cab and it made me drool like I was eating a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken, (:>).
It’s just mind boggling to think this is all wood, he even made the tires out of wood.
But the real surprise is that the excavator and the Dozer were static models.
But this Loader is a RC working loader !!! It has a 6.5 hp engine with hydraulics and everything. JUST AWESOME FRED You are my HERO !!!!!!!!!!!!! (:>).
My Brother Dan and his Wife Debbie Harley-Davidson accident Update- Deb and I talked to Dan’s wife Debbie yesterday. She sounded like her old self again. She is starting to walk with a cane, and said they should be back home in 8 more weeks. They are still at their daughters house being cared for .
Debbie said the doctor told them this week they are way ahead of his projected recovery time and is very pleased. Debbie said they have been out to eat at Applebees and to Sams club and go for rides in the car. She said Dan is walking to town and back every morning , but is limited to any lifting yet. She said Dan spent the day on Sunday having fun at a area air show. Debbie said they go over to their house two or three times a week for short visits. We plan to stop and see them on our trip back from D.C.
Austin-Western Screen Plant Sanding - I am sanding the screen plant model today and will get it primed this afternoon.
FORTY-FIVE DAYS OF EATING HEALTHY- Well, we made it through another day closer to being healthy. We know our golden years are winding down. We officially ruled when we turned 45 years old, we began the beginning of our ten years of goldenness ? I am now 55 years old and this is our last year of our Golden years. Starting next year it is a bonus. I also thought I would only live to be fifty years old. So I am on 5 years of bonus living right now, (:>). I see so many people who waited too long to do anything or go anywhere together and one of them gets sick . Then it can never happen. After this year, if one of us gets sick , we at least got our full 10 goldenness years used up. (:>).
We can then sit back and enjoy our antique years without any regret. The Antique Years start at 60. So we got 5 years of who knows !! just to goof off, LOL !!!!!!!!!!
FRED’S WOODEN BUCKET- The picture below this one shows the framework Fred made for the loader bucket.

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