D9R Armored Bulldozer

[Scale-Master]

This is a Meng 1/35^th scale kit.

I started with the tracks even though they are one of the last steps in the instructions.  I wanted to make them fully articulated.  Each link is three pieces.  There's some clean-up time since it needs 86 links for both tracks.  Then the assembly process is slow because you have to cement two pieces together per link and let them dry fully.  Then add three more pieces and only cement one of them in place and let that dry.  Then after you have a handful of those links they get connected (carefully) and the treads start growing.  I found Tamiya Thin Cement used sparingly worked very well.

This is several hours work spread over several evenings and I'm not even near the halfway point yet.

A few days of the same process yielded a full set of tracks.

 

[Gary Chastain]

Whoa, that is time consuming 

[cifenet]

No doubt it can’t be fun doing this type of work, but the tracks do look real and quite detailed!

[Scale-Master]

Actually, with the right mindset, it's enjoyable.  After doing CAD work that requires a lot of concentration all day, this was kind of relaxing.

[Scale-Master]

I figured I should build the running gear next due to the similar process of cleaning up quite a few of the same pieces.  And I thought it would nice to see how the tracks fit too.

[gotnitro?]

Very nice kit, I built one several years ago. Wonder if they fixed the saggy track issue, if not you'll need to change the length of the " tube " that slides  into crawler frame, I recall  extending  mine around 3/8.

Otherwise a very detailed build

The blade and ripper  is a kit itself ! 

[Scale-Master]

I guess it's time to start building from the beginning of the instructions. 

[Scale-Master]

The ripper was the next subassembly, it is a working feature.

[Scale-Master]

The interior was fun. It doesn't look like much will be visible after the model is done though.

[BK9300]

Huge amount of detail in that cab interior and your ‘worn’ seats look quite realistic - well done!

[slusher]

Lots of great detail!

[Scale-Master]

I thought I had the track tension issue rectified when I was dry fitting it all, but when I went to do the final install they had more slack than I wanted.  I cut each of the running gear sets in two and removed the section that represented the tensioner piston, and then I machined new aluminum pistons and added them to both sides. 

It "rolls" pretty well.  There is bit of play in each link and that adds up, so the slack on top can still be fine-tuned by bunching up the tracks on the ground or pulling them apart.  This is the loose "setting".

 

[BK9300]

That’s a real brute of a machine - would be humbling to stand beside one in real life!

[cifenet]

The tracks look wonderful!  Nicely detailed machine too, good work!

[slusher]

Very nicely done!

[Gary Chastain]

Nice detail

[Scale-Master]

The cab is about ready to be installed to the tractor.  I made a custom decal as a tribute to honor a friend. 

[cifenet]

Great interior details!  I really like the tinted glass here, did you paint the clear part? 

[Scale-Master]

The kit comes with clear and slightly tinted "armored" windows.  

[Scale-Master]

The cab fits well and some of the hydraulic hoses for the ripper have been installed.

[Scale-Master]

I scratched the blade with a wire brush before painting.

Then I added some wear to the surfaces.

[freightshaker2]

This looks different than the one Marvin Heemeyer ran lol. But I like it! Great job on the weathering and what a detailed build!

[cifenet]

I like the subtle weathering work throughout the build.  Good work!

[Scale-Master]

For the parts that should be Caterpillar Yellow I used Tamiya Camel Yellow.  I figure once I'd matted out and dirtied up the parts a bit it should work fine.

[slusher]

Very nice progress since my last visited, coming together..