I have a 1/83 diecast model of a Cat D7 bulldozer that came with rubber tracks. The tracks look very toy-like and I’d like to replace them. Short of scratchbuilding my own-- which I have no desire to really do, as this is not a life time project for me-- is there something available that I might kitbash or jury rig (since it’s an odd scale, I’m thinking 1/72 or 1/87 might work for a replacement) to make this look better? Painting the track helped a bit, but the paint has made the track sticky, which on top of everything else is annoying.
Well you have an oddball subject in an oddball scale, for armor. So aftermarket is not likely an option. My only suggestion would be to look for a mainstream kit (preferably inexpensive) of traditional AFV kit with similar looking and sized tracks. Perhaps a WWI tank or Soviet BT comes to mind. Buy the kit, use the tracks on your dozer, and consign the rest of the kit to your spares bin. Or sell the parts off.
Or search the HO train suppliers for a similar Dozer. HO=1/87 so that might work.
You could probably use 1/87 Tiger or Sherman tracks . Or Woodland Scenics makes a Dozer you could use the track units from .
But you want them to look at least similar, the only tank tracks I see like that are World War 1.
D7:
Mark IV Female:
Less than $ 10 online:
Of course you’ll have a trackless tank. Or maybe you’ll only need some of it and can do a one sided model.
Thank you one and all. The problem with getting a similar dozer in 1/87 scale is that for the price I’d pay, I’d be better off just using the 1/87 one. I’ve looked at the Sherman, Tiger and USSR BT tracks, but I think the WWI tracks would probably be a closer replica. I’m sure that I’ll be able to find a number of uses for the leftover parts, so that’s no problem.
Every good D7 needs a couple of machine guns!
LOL! I know some construction workers who would agree!
Machine Guns !
Aren’t you forgetting the 50s and a flamethrower or rocket launcher , to be on the safe side ?
I would suggest looking for a different companies kit of the WWI tank. The Airfix kit comes with rubber band type tracks that are likely to be of the same quality as to what needs to be replaced.
In going through all my parts drawers (yes, drawers, plural) I came across a set of tracks from a 1/72 Panther that might do. They’re a bit wrinkled though. Is there a good way to straighten them? They appear to be standard rubbery plastic (vinyl maybe?) that such tracks are usually made of.
A bulldozer with the Panther tracks would look odd, I guess.