This is a Meng 1/35th 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.
Looks good though! Nice job @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.
Thanks for the tip. I went a different route. Instead of using the “master links” on the A shot, I used only the track parts from shot C and they seem to be just about right.
Digging it! Yes I did mean the pun! I would have done what you did too. Right to the tracks, I think assembling them and weathering that model would be the most fun for me. Can’t wait to see your progress.
I guess it’s time to start building from the beginning of the instructions.
The ripper was the next subassembly, it is a working feature.
The interior was fun. It doesn’t look like much will be visible after the model is done though.
Great stuff - It’s sometimes tricky to find images where the undercarriage isn’t obscured by the blade arms, but that method holds up nicely against the real thing…
Nice work. That’s a kit I’ve thought about picking up a few times.
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. Thanks to Heavy Arty’s suggestions I had an understanding of what needed to be done. 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”.
Nice job. Looks good.
The cab is about ready to be installed to the tractor. I made a custom decal as a tribute to honor a friend.
The cab fits well and some of the hydraulic hoses for the ripper have been installed.
That is coming along nicely @Scale-Master ! Can’t wait to see it finished.