I’m returning to the hobby after a few decades of military and life interferecne. I’m still disheartened that,in my opinion, the primary focus is on military scale models. I’ve seen the semi-trucks, trailers, fire trucks, automobiles, etc. But what I can’t figure out is why manufacturers do not make Caterpillar Tractors, Bulldoozers, Road Graters, Farm Combines, Case Tractors, farm implements, etc. This bewliderment was enhanced while watching a series of European YouTube videos of large scale R/C equipment. Those Euorpean modelers are incredible. Now granted, these are R/C controlled vehicles, but their general fascination with heavy equipment and R/C scale working towns, is incredible.
Do we have these clubs and scale models/scale R/C kits in the “States” and I am just not finding them? Is there a group of modelers with the same passion for these other scale model formats as me?
Hasegawa, Aoshima, and Fujimi have also started producing forklifts and excavators in 1/32 & 1/35. Hasegawa has a crazy twin armed excavator, and just released a steam roller! Noboby has yet kitted really large equipment, save for those old ERTL kits, but never say never. A big Cat excavator or one of those gargantuan mining dump trucks would be cool. I’d also like to have a Road Tech “asphalt eater” thing that looks like a robotic dinosaur.
Miniart has 3 1/35 D-7 dozers and two WW2 time Case tractors, and Heller has a 1/35 Ferguson TE-20 tractor which is the same as the Ford-Ferguson 9N/2N.
Yeah, it’s unfortunate that heavy equipement is not mainstream as 1/35 kits.
I’ll have all the Hasegawa before too long. I’m eyeing Balaton Modell items but those are expensive and challenging.
For civilian kits more generally, Aoshima and Fujimi have trucks and buses.
Now, some good 3d options are becoming available. Aladin Modell released an STL file (https://www.scalemates.com/kits/aladdin-model-00184-pacific-p16--1694278) of a log truck that was recently featured in a video by Nightshift.
