Jump to content
The Great LSM Twins Group Build ends July 3, 2024 ×

YEP! Another project scratch built 1/25 Cat 374F L excavator


Recommended Posts

Hey all 

  I'm at it again...lol. yes it's another project. Actually it's a load for my XL Specialized HD130 drop nose RGN lowboy trailer, XL 80 jeep, dual nitrogen charged booster/stinger and Peterbilt 359 heavy haul tractor.

  It's going to be a Cat 374F L excavator almost completely scratch built. I ordered a Cat C15 resin engine from Moluminum and I'm using some tracks I got from Bruder toys. 

20210127_144119.jpg

This view shows the real Cat 374F L.

20210127_143728.jpg

This view shows a closer look at the body of the excavator.

20210127_174550.jpgthis view shows my scale drawing of the big Cat 374.

20210127_173227.jpgthis is a plan view of the big Cat. I don't have all the pictures of the 374 that I need, but I do have a 1/50th scale Cat 390F L and a Cat 349F L to use for references.

20210127_132944.jpghere is a view of the Bruder tracks. These are actually for there mini excavator in 1/16 scale, but work out perfect for the big Cat 374.

20210127_132917.jpgview of the other side of the tracks.

20210127_132848.jpgside view of the tracks.

20210127_132826.jpgend view of the tracks. They work out to be 1.25" wide which is 31.25" in 1/25th scale or 30" in 1/24th scale.

20210127_131948.jpgthis is my temporary undercarriage setup that I made to figure out all the geometry.  

20210127_133000.jpgmore of a top view of the tracks. I have a feeling that this is going to take quite a while to get finished, but I'm plugging along...lol. well that's it for now be back with more updates soon.

Ron G 

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, mark31 said:

OMG i like that one:wub:

will try to follow you thats somthing i whant a big excavator

nice work on the tracks:popcorn:

 

Mark

Hey Mark 

  I didn't make the tracks, they are from Bruder toys. There a kind of nylony plastic, but definitely workable. Everything else except for the C15 Cat engine will be scratch built.

Ron G 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey all 

  Small update for you all. I have the bodys base pretty much done. I made it out of some 0.06" thick black plastic sheet.

20210128_173248.jpgthis is a view of the operators side. 

20210128_172930.jpgsame view, but more from the side.

20210128_172911.jpgrear view of the base.

20210128_172852.jpgview from the front of the base.

20210128_173113.jpgthis view is from the side opposite of the operator.

20210128_173223.jpgtop view of the bodys base. The cab area is in the upper right. The hydraulic tank is on the opposite side at the front. The area in between them is were the boom pivot and boom cylinders will be, also the swing motors will be here too. The rear most area is for the motor and in front of that is were the hydraulic hose stand for the boom and stick will reside. Well that's it for now be back with more updates soon.

Ron G 

  • Like 5
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys 

  Small update for you. I have the main boom pivot and boom cylinders mounting/pivot bracket done.

20210129_173236.jpgthis view shows the pivot bracket in place on the body base. I also added the main deck to the base.

20210129_173215.jpgview from the front of the boom pivot in place. I made this from some 0.06" plastic sheet glued to 0.03" plastic sheet in order to get to 0.09" thickness for the 4 sides.   In between these I added some 0.04" x 1/4" plastic strips to form the 2 uprights. I glued these to a piece of 0.06" thick plastic sheet to create the pivot bracket. Well that's it for now be back with more updates soon.

Ron G 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey guys 

  Another update for you guys. I've done some more work on the base. I added the main pivot bearing to the bottom of the base. I made it so that it attaches with a 2-56 bolt that will allow it to rotate. I also made the 2 swing motors.

20210130_173450.jpgthis view shows the bottom of the base with the bearing surface added.

20210130_175546.jpgthis view shows the bottom of the base with the pivot pin area for the undercarriage sitting in place.

20210130_175734.jpgthis view shows the boom pivot bracket, the pivot pin part for the undercarriage and the 2 swing motors.

20210130_175717.jpgthis view is of the pivot pin area that will eventually become part if the undercarriage frame.

20210130_175659.jpgtop view of one of the swing motor.

20210130_175634.jpgside view of the swing motor.

20210130_175607.jpgthis view shows both of the swing motors. I had to grind the bottoms out of some 1/8" thick plastic sheet. The rest is made from 1/2" & 5/16" plastic tube and some 0.03" thick plastic sheet pieces. The bolts are from Meng, 2.2mm and 1.8mm heads,  that I had to individually cut off of the plastic piece they come on and install with some CA glue. Sounds complicated but it wasn't that bad.:brickwall::hsmack:;)

20210130_175527.jpgthis view shows the swing motors in place on the boom pivot bracket.

20210130_175507.jpgthis view shows the boom pivot in place on the base.

20210130_175447.jpgtop view of the whole thing temporarily sitting on the tracks. Well that's it for now be back with more updates soon.

Ron G 

  • Like 4
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey all 

  Well not so great Mark. You know the old saying 1 srep forward, 2 steps back. Well after rechecking my drawings and photos i found out I  made an error...:omg:. When I  started to draw the rear view in order to get the counter weight right I found out I made the base to narrow. I had it at 9' 0" which put the boom pivot bracket off center, plus it just lookedway to narrow, opps! So after some calculations I ended up making it 10' 6" wide, with 10' 0" track gauge instead of 9' 0" that I had. It looks way better now. Hey Jeff definitely going to need permits for this one...lol

20210131_191340.jpgthis view shows the newly reworked base.

20210131_191414.jpgtop view of the new base.

20210131_191314.jpgthis view is of the bottom of the base, you can see the piece that I had to add to the middle of the base 

20210131_191237.jpgthis view shows the new base with the boom pivot bracket sitting in place on the base. Hopefully I won't mess up again, yeah right! who am I kidding.;):lol::construction:

Ron G 

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey all 

 Small update for you all. I have the front idler wheels done.

20210203_161300.jpghere it is, I made this from a piece of 3/4" P C pipe.that is 1.07" O.D. plus some plastic strips glued on the center of the wheel for the track guide. Then some 7/32" & 9/32" plastic tube for the hubs.

20210203_161239.jpgthis view shows both of the idlers.

20210203_161220.jpgthis view is were I'm at up to this point. It doesn't look like much but it was a real challenge to figure out and build.

Ron. G

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey all 

  Another small update for you all. I have one of the drive sprockets done.

20210205_164624.jpgthis view shows the drive sprocket and the idler together. I made the sprocket out of the same 3/4" PVC pipe that I used for the idler. The teeth are made from some 1/8" thick plastic sheet glued together to make it 1/4" wide. I drilled out the notches for the track link pins with a 1/8" diameter drill bit, all 20 of them. I then ground out the center of the sprocket teeth to the OD of the PVC pipe. I glued this to the center of the peice of pipe, I then sanded it to the correct diameter.  I added a piece of 1/8" thick plastic sheet cut to the ID of the pipe and glued on to the outer edge of the sprocket and some 7/32" & 9/32" diameter plastic tube to create the hub. To this I added some 2.6mm Meng bolt heads, and presto chango you have a drive sprocket...lol 

20210205_164553.jpgmore of a side view of the two.

20210205_164519.jpgend view of the idler and the drive sprocket.

20210205_164946.jpgthis view shows them next to a scale.

20210205_164921.jpgthis view shows them sitting on some of the track peices.

20210205_165355.jpgthis view shows the idler and the drive sprocket in place in the tracks. Well that's it for now be back soon.

Ron G 

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 hours ago, CrankyCrafstman said:

Hey all 

  Another small update for you all. I have one of the drive sprockets done.

20210205_164624.jpgthis view shows the drive sprocket and the idler together. I made the sprocket out of the same 3/4" PVC pipe that I used for the idler. The teeth are made from some 1/8" thick plastic sheet glued together to make it 1/4" wide. I drilled out the notches for the track link pins with a 1/8" diameter drill bit, all 20 of them. I then ground out the center of the sprocket teeth to the OD of the PVC pipe. I glued this to the center of the peice of pipe, I then sanded it to the correct diameter.  I added a piece of 1/8" thick plastic sheet cut to the ID of the pipe and glued on to the outer edge of the sprocket and some 7/32" & 9/32" diameter plastic tube to create the hub. To this I added some 2.6mm Meng bolt heads, and presto chango you have a drive sprocket...lol 

20210205_164553.jpgmore of a side view of the two.

20210205_164519.jpgend view of the idler and the drive sprocket.

20210205_164946.jpgthis view shows them next to a scale.

20210205_164921.jpgthis view shows them sitting on some of the track peices.

20210205_165355.jpgthis view shows the idler and the drive sprocket in place in the tracks. Well that's it for now be back soon.

Ron G 

:omg:

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...