TMN: MiniArt's Industrial Tractor Standard N Mod. 1936/8 coming soon...

(Twin) rubber meets the road with MiniArt's latest Industrial Tractor Standard N Mod. 1936/8 in 35th scale. We look at the CADs, kit features & the real tractor in our preview...

MiniArt's Industrial Tractor Standard N Mod. 1936/8

coming soon...

Industrial Tractor Standard N Mod. 1936/8

Kit No. #38102

1/35th scale

The kit has four marking choices

Product Link on the MiniArt Website

The subject: The Fordson Model N 1936/8 tractor

Between 1936 and 1938, the Fordson Model N underwent significant development at the Dagenham factory in England, transitioning from a basic agricultural machine into a more robust and efficient tractor. A major technical improvement during this period was the replacement of the earlier, troublesome water-bath air cleaner with a modern oil-bath air cleaner, often featuring a distinct tall inlet pipe for improved air filtration in dusty conditions. Furthermore, the engine received a substantial upgrade with a higher-compression cylinder head, raising the power output to roughly 30 horsepower and enabling better performance on Tractor Vaporising Oil (TVO).

This Fordson was seen in the '60s still serving a purpose – the twin rubber is a bit beaten, and maybe these wheels & exhaust had already been changed.

Visually, this era marked the end of the traditional blue colour scheme, with Dagenham-produced models adopting a distinctive orange paint scheme in 1937, aimed at creating a more modern image and improving visibility on roads. The overall design became more refined; the earlier, large rear wings (mudguards) were often replaced by shorter or narrower wings for better manoeuvrability with mounted implements. The gearbox was also modified during this time to incorporate a standardised Power Take-Off (PTO) unit, which, although introduced in 1935, became a more integral feature on 1937-38 models to power trailing machinery.

Here's a mod you could try – this 1936 Fordson N with a home-built cab!

By 1938, the Fordson Model N was established as the primary, dependable tractor for British agriculture, with production geared towards maximising food production for the approaching war effort. These later 1930s models featured simplified, more accessible mechanicals—such as a redesigned cylinder head with evenly spaced spark plugs rather than grouped ones—ensuring they could be easily repaired in the field. The combination of optional pneumatic tyres, stronger front axles, and higher compression engines made the 1936–38 Model N a vastly improved, reliable workhorse compared to its "water-washer" predecessors.

This is another way-out mod – the Fordson industrial tractor fleet No. 351X, registration number CUC192, 1937

This new boxing from MiniArt:

This model represents the tractor that worked in the streets and yards of industry from the thirties onward. This kit recreates the tractor’s heavy pressed-steel build, exposed four-cylinder engine, and signature dual rear wheels, making it a perfect slice of civilian or military life for any 1/35th scale farm or even military use/WWII diorama.

Included in this kit:

Plastic parts for the main body of the kit...

- Clear parts for head- and work-lamp lenses

- Photo-etched parts are included for extra realism in the thinner parts of the kit & a small decal sheet with three vehicle markings included

CADs showing the look of this new variant of the Fordson from MiniArt

- Attachments for the plough and other machinery are included.

The main visual difference from the earlier Fordson tractors is the large rubber tyres that replace the steel wheels on the front and back of the tractor. Rubber was in short supply and expensive in the thirties, and these tractors were a harsher ride but less expensive and worked better on paved, tight roads and industrial yards.