To mark the 75th anniversary of Dinky Toys, North Yorkshire tractor enthusiasts have created the ultimate homage – full-size replicas of two of their models, complete with display boxes. They go on public display for the first time at Newby Hall’s tractor rally on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2009.

Peter Dean of Galphay, near Ripon, created a display box for his 1950 Massey Harris 744 tractor, a full-size version of the Dinky toy version, right down to the colour of the packaging. The size of a single domestic garage, the display box is made of wood and painted in the same style as the original Dinky version, owned by fellow enthusiast – and the man behind the idea – Maurice Craven.

“People will think we’re mad for trying to do this, but with 2009 being the 75th anniversary of Dinky Toys, there has never been a better time to recreate the Dinky model at actual size,” says Maurice.

“Really, we have just done the reverse of what Dinky are famous for; they take a full-size vehicle, miniaturise it and put it in a box. We’ve taken a miniature box, increased its scale and put it around a working vintage tractor.”

It took several weekends for Peter – a joiner by trade – and his son, Mark Dean, to build the boxes and paint them in the Dinky style.

The second model is an orange Field-Marshall Model Series IIIa, dating from 1953.

Organisers are expecting up to 1000 vintage farm vehicles, engines and machinery at the rally, making the show the largest outdoor display of vintage farm machinery in the country, plus a collection of other dinky tractors and toys, including David-Brown, Leyland and pre-war Fordson Tractor models.

The event runs from 10.30am to 5pm, with admission prices of £8 for adults, £7 for concessions and £6.50 for children.