Meng D9r Dozer...maybe

[smokeriderdon]

Well, I have a couple other projects I am trying to wrap up now. An F-15EX and an F4F Corsair. Not sure if I will be able to get to this any time soon and certainly not sure about finishing it before deadline.

BTW, what IS the deadline??? LOL

[Twokidsnosleep]

Well, I have a couple other projects I am trying to wrap up now. An F-15EX and an F4F Corsair. Not sure if I will be able to get to this any time soon and certainly not sure about finishing it before deadline.

BTW, what IS the deadline??? LOL

Do it!!!
You have from September 1 2021 to January 31 2022
But deadline schmedline, do it and enjoy it (‘cause it is in my stash and I wanna see how it goes together)

[smokeriderdon]

Oh well Brad Pitt. If it's until 31 Jan, I should be good then. Just won't be started for a couple weeks.

[smokeriderdon]

Alrighty. Got the F4U-1 done. Iffin ya wanna see, its over in my portfolio.

So I took all the stuff out of the bags. Good grief! Enough parts???/ Im gonna be building this damn thing forever.

[digger303]

Alrighty. Got the F4U-1 done. Iffin ya wanna see, its over in my portfolio.

So I took all the stuff out of the bags. Good grief! Enough parts???/ Im gonna be building this damn thing forever.

Those sorts of builds have a real mile stone when you can dispose of a empty sprue. I always look forward to that..

[smokeriderdon]

OK, so I got a start on this thing. First, a couple pics of the real thing. I will be doing the USMC version, not the the Israeli. Though the Israeli one DOES have a mounted machine gun on top.

First pic is of the sprues. EVERY OTHER MANFACTURER, and I mean EVERY DAMN ONE, needs to look at how Meng does the sprue ID tabs. Nice big clear letters that you can fill in with a sharpie so you can easily see them. This one thing alone makes them the superior company above ALL. This makes life SOOOOOO much easier.

Next pic, I actually got some building done. I pre painted a bunch of stuff on the sprues as its mostly one color. Ill go back over it as I finish stages. Doing this a little different than I do planes.

[digger303]

That don't look like a dozer

[Tomcat64]

That's an impressive looking piece of kit - really looking forward to seeing how this one develops

[MrBowcat]

I keep looking at this kit and might just have to buy it, I am admittedly a bit of a Meng fanboy.

I kinda want to do it in Cat yellow though.

[digger303]

A dozer group build....

[Tomcat64]

Or a Meng group build...

[Twokidsnosleep]

Or a Meng group build...

Say now, that is an idea

[smokeriderdon]

I have to say, it is going together really well. If I hadnt had other stuff to do, Id be done with building I think.

[smokeriderdon]

OK, got ripper attached to the main body. Very neat. It articulates and everything. I am really liking this kit.



And check this out. the level of detail is awesome. They actually molded in the freaking weld. Not the best pic, but you get the idea.



next up is the "cockpit".

[digger303]

OK, got ripper attached to the main body. Very neat. It articulates and everything. I am really liking this kit.



And check this out. the level of detail is awesome. They actually molded in the freaking weld. Not the best pic, but you get the idea.



next up is the "cockpit".

The weld does look very real and the kit overall. How did you approach the chrome work ?

[smokeriderdon]

One of the silver craft pens. Not the black one everyone talks about (can't remember the name) but the same kind of thing. I made it glop out and used a brush to apply it.

[smokeriderdon]

And I just looked at pics of the real thing and realized I silvered parts I shouldnt have. Ill have to get them when I go back over it with the AB. So far I have just rattle canned everything.

[Twokidsnosleep]

That weld detail is amazing
Cool kit

[smokeriderdon]

That weld detail is amazing
Cool kit

It absolutely is. I am wondering if the Bronco Buffalo is gonna be just as nice. Whenever I get to it. LOL

Got the cockpit done. Next up is the cab body.

[smokeriderdon]

Got a couple of the cab walls done and realized I needed to spray more parts. So didnt complete the cab yet. But a pic of all I have done.

[digger303]

[Tomcat64]

Superb work on the cab interior - and yep those weld seams look awesome

[smokeriderdon]

Progress made. Almost at the point of putting the roof on. So since you wont be able to see much, here are some shots to see how it looks.

I am drawing close rand closer to the part I dread the most. The tracks.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Looks very good
Could you not cement the roof and make it removable?

[smokeriderdon]

Looks very good
Could you not cement the roof and make it removable?

I was thinking about that. There are an awful lot of fiddly bits on the roof though. Would just be asking to knock them off.

[digger303]

I suspect the tracks will be a easier task than you think.

[smokeriderdon]

A little more progress. The roof went on. Hatches and handles and stuff put on and test fit on the body. Next up are the hydraulic hoses and then I believe the cab goes on for good.

[Tomcat64]

That's coming along really nicely

Shame you couldn't leave the roof detachable but you definitely don't want to risk knocking stuff off.

[DRUMS01]

Looking great so far, keep up the great work!

DRUMS01

[DRUMS01]

Looking great so far, keep up the great work!

DRUMS01

[smokeriderdon]

That's coming along really nicely

Shame you couldn't leave the roof detachable but you definitely don't want to risk knocking stuff off.

Which I have done already. A couple handles are replacements I had to make and one part is irrevocably lost. I posed the window open, so can get a bit of a look inside.

[digger303]

It needs it's shoes, but nice work .

[aur0ra145]

Nice work so far!

[smokeriderdon]

OK, so the hydraulic lines are on as are all the handles. Cab is now mounted for reals. Putting together the drive wheel stuff. Those tracks are looming ever larger.

[RangerNeil]

Impressive interior build- must admit I too wondered about leaving the roof loose but having seen it I appreciate why you didn't.
Don't worry about the tracks - they usually find their own way.

[smokeriderdon]

So I got the drive wheel assemblies done. Next are the tracks. I am doing the weathering first though. Get the body done and then put on tracks and stuff so I make sure I can get behind them and the like.

[digger303]

Sounds like a viable plan

[Tomcat64]

Great to see your progress on this - and yep I'd tackle the tracks in the same way (same as I do on an afv) so you can get to the hull behind to dirty it up without knocking anything else off

[aur0ra145]

Those hyd lines are awesome!

[DRUMS01]

Lookin good so far...

Ben

[smokeriderdon]

Annnnnnd, done with this thing. Not completed, but done. Boxed up. Screw this.

F%^& these tracks. There is no way I am going to get 40some odd sets of these links together...wait, two tacks so like NINETY, the way they are designed. And then the actual tacks attached...NO. This is insanity. Seriously, no way.

If someone wants this thing, message me. We can work out a price and I will send it to you.

[digger303]

Annnnnnd, done with this thing. Not completed, but done. Boxed up. Screw this.

F%^& these tracks. There is no way I am going to get 40some odd sets of these links together...wait, two tacks so like NINETY, the way they are designed. And then the actual tacks attached...NO. This is insanity. Seriously, no way.

If someone wants this thing, message me. We can work out a price and I will send it to you.

Shame I thought you were going so well, I didn't think it was p ing you off.
I've got one, but I think Scott was interested in getting one.

[smokeriderdon]

Oh, it absolutely was not lubricating the flower beds me off. I was actually enjoying it. But there is no way on God's green Earth that I am messing with these tracks the way they need to go together.

[digger303]

Oh, it absolutely was not lubricating the flower beds me off. I was actually enjoying it. But there is no way on God's green Earth that I am messing with these tracks the way they need to go together.

I dug mine out to take a look and I can see what you mean there is a bit of clean up to do with 3 parts per link and the attachment points. That's TV modeling time They'll look good once finished, but you'll make someone very happy.
How did the hydraulic cylinders go together was there a lot of seam work to do ? AND were the rods a tight fit ?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Shame I thought you were going so well, I didn't think it was p ing you off.
I've got one, but I think Scott was interested in getting one.
@digger303

I already got one!

[smokeriderdon]

Oh, it absolutely was not lubricating the flower beds me off. I was actually enjoying it. But there is no way on God's green Earth that I am messing with these tracks the way they need to go together.

I dug mine out to take a look and I can see what you mean there is a bit of clean up to do with 3 parts per link and the attachment points. That's TV modeling time They'll look good once finished, but you'll make someone very happy.
How did the hydraulic cylinders go together was there a lot of seam work to do ? AND were the rods a tight fit ?

The clean up is not so much the issue as getting the links together with one little butt join to glue. And keep them the correct width etc etc. THEN turn around and have to fit the cleats on. Sorry, but thats just too damn much. Give me rubber band tracks and I will be happy.

As for the cylinders. You need to test fit and try them out. I had one that was tight but mostly they move freely. A little seam stuff, but nothing ridiculous.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Oh, it absolutely was not lubricating the flower beds me off. I was actually enjoying it. But there is no way on God's green Earth that I am messing with these tracks the way they need to go together.

I dug mine out to take a look and I can see what you mean there is a bit of clean up to do with 3 parts per link and the attachment points. That's TV modeling time They'll look good once finished, but you'll make someone very happy.
How did the hydraulic cylinders go together was there a lot of seam work to do ? AND were the rods a tight fit ?

The clean up is not so much the issue as getting the links together with one little butt join to glue. And keep them the correct width etc etc. THEN turn around and have to fit the cleats on. Sorry, but thats just too damn much. Give me rubber band tracks and I will be happy.

As for the cylinders. You need to test fit and try them out. I had one that was tight but mostly they move freely. A little seam stuff, but nothing ridiculous.

? Can you get an aftermarket track set to fit

[digger303]

I dug mine out to take a look and I can see what you mean there is a bit of clean up to do with 3 parts per link and the attachment points. That's TV modeling time They'll look good once finished, but you'll make someone very happy.
How did the hydraulic cylinders go together was there a lot of seam work to do ? AND were the rods a tight fit ?

The clean up is not so much the issue as getting the links together with one little butt join to glue. And keep them the correct width etc etc. THEN turn around and have to fit the cleats on. Sorry, but thats just too damn much. Give me rubber band tracks and I will be happy.

As for the cylinders. You need to test fit and try them out. I had one that was tight but mostly they move freely. A little seam stuff, but nothing ridiculous.

? Can you get an aftermarket track set to fit

Yep....metal ones
Easy Metal Links
EML35-007

[smokeriderdon]

Yeah, I cant find them in the US and the ones I do find will cost me about 100 after shipping

[digger303]

Yeah, I cant find them in the US and the ones I do find will cost me about 100 after shipping

oh yeah not cheap.