CrankyCrafstman Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Hey all Well here I am again with another build thread. A little history first. I started this kit almost 16 years ago. I had plans to convert it into a modern D9T high drive, I even scratch built part of the D9T drive mechanism, but alas I came to the tracks. These are really bad and it's why I shelved this kit back then. The tracks connect together in a way that AMT most of thought of on one of there acid trips! Because they don't connect anywhere like the prototype. These are done like tank tracks. If AMT would have gotten this right it would have been a superb kit. The other bad part of the kit is the grill. There isnt one! Well there sort of is you get a plastic part but there is no grill opening not one hole. You get a sticker with dots that are supposed to represent the grill, pretty poor AMT. The newer kits have decals (3) different ones for the grill. Ok enough ranting, on with the build. Like I said I started this a while back and had two kits to work from. I bought a third kit today in order to get one more ripper blade. The kit only comes with one but has postions for three and I want three on mine. The left over parts I will make into another dozer later. Here are the kit tracks You can see they don't go together like the real thing at all. They even have numbers cast into them, on every track all 84 of them!!! They just don't look real and unless you completely cover them in mud and gluck they look like crap. "So what do you do" you say, well I found a cure for the crappy tracks, albeit a little expensive. $112.00 per set, thats 100 links. Now these are really sweet! They are for a newer D8T, but they are almost perfect for the D8H. There a little wider by about a 1mm, but they actually were made for someone who used the AMT kit parts to create there D8T from so they will fit the drive sprockets, idle wheels and rollers. There are 50 links per set, I only need 42, so there will be some extras. They even have the 4 bolt heads on the upper or outer side of the tracks, these represent the bolts that hold the shoe to the actual links. There from a guy on Shapways who designed them for a customer. [DW Toys] I also found a place in Canada with some stuff [pappyhobby.com] that has a photo etch set for this kit. You get a grill, you have to cut out the opening in the kit part so you can add the photo etch grill over the cut out. You get a photo etch fan shroud that looks just like the real ones wire shroud, you have to modify the kit part to make it work. You also get pedels and some other small bits, I'll know more when it gets here. these is the photo etch set. here is a picture of the grill installed on some ones model I got from the internet. I have some more stuff done. I started on the engine and have it mostly put together. I painted it yellow but it didn't come out very good, I'll look at it Tomorrow and see how bad it is. I'll post some more later, right know I'm beat. Ron G 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axeman Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Looking forward to seeing this one, especially the tracks. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted June 25, 2020 Author Share Posted June 25, 2020 Hey all Next installment. Like I said I started on the engine. here is the engine and some engine parts. Some I have modified. this is the intake turbo. You can see the round white plastic cover plate that I added to cover up the void in the kit part. I also added 8 small hex bolts. To the right is the exhaust pipe I made from 7/32" round plastic tube. Below these are the pipe that connects the intake turbo to the intake manifold. Also the exhaust manifold with the exhaust turbo and the piece that is attached to the exhaust manifold that connects to the exhaust pipe. this view shows the plastic cover I added to the exhaust turbo to cover the void in that part. Also another view of the part that is attached to the exhaust manifold and to the exhaust pipe. another view of the exhaust turbo. view with the exhaust pipe on. this is a view showing the fuel pump. The silver colored nuts I added are for the fuel lines which will be made from the brass 0.04" wire above it. view showing the nuts where the fuel lines connect. view showing the intake manifold. This view also shows the six brass fittings that I added to the head for the fuel lines. close up view of the fuel line fittings. Also you can see the part of the intake manifold where the small bent pipe connects to the intake turbo. view showing the fuel pump on the engine. this view shows the pieces that I added to the front cover for the upper fan belt pulley. AMT forgot to add this to the kit, go figure. view showing the fan belt with the alternator attached and the small bolts I added. view showing the fan belt attached. view showing the fuel lines attached to the head fittings. this view shows the fuel lines connected to the fuel pump. These are supposed to go under the water manifold, but to late to fix it now. More to come later as soon as I get back to modeling. Ron G 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 Awesome stuff, Ron, man your attention to detail is fantastic.............. now I have to ask the stupid question, and may as well get it out of the way now so as not to embarrass myself later on.................. the silver and brass nuts.................... where did you get those? They look like they fit the bill perfectly..... I may have to invest in some... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted June 25, 2020 Author Share Posted June 25, 2020 Hey Jeff Its RB motion, but for some reason his site is down right now. Ron G 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 4 hours ago, CrankyCrafstman said: Hey Jeff Its RB motion, but for some reason his site is down right now. Ron G Thanks Ron............... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted June 26, 2020 Author Share Posted June 26, 2020 Hey all Small update. I scratch built the blade lift cylinders. The kit ones weren't up to snuff. I used pieces from them along with some brass and aluminum tubing and some plastic tubes and a piece of 1/4" x 1/4x piece of plastic stock. I still have to add the hoses and the piece of pipe that runs from the upper end block down to the square block at the end. Well that's it for now. More later Ron G 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harv Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 Wow, great as usual....harv 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted June 26, 2020 Author Share Posted June 26, 2020 Thanks everyone Well got some more done. I assembled the frame work, except for a few pieces, this is so I can install the engine later after I paint everything. I have it partially put together, but just temporarily for photo purposes. here's a view from the front looking back. this view shows the cutout in the grill shell thet I did with my Fordom tool. I added some black screen from an old truck model kit, this is only temporary. I have a photo etch grill coming in the mail. intake/exhaust side of the engine. the other side shiws the water manifold and fuel pump with the lines. view from the rear. The ripper will attach here. I bought another kit, so now I have three ripper blades to put on. It's going to look cool with all three rippers installed. I couldn't resist so I temporarily put on the exhaust manifold, intake turbo and air cleaner then added the exhaust stack. better view of the turbos. OH. I almost forgot to add these photos. This is a picture of the photo etch grill. And this is a picture of the photo etch fan shroud. These photos are from Pappyhobbys. Thats it for now more later. Ron G 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted June 26, 2020 Share Posted June 26, 2020 Ron................. you are a MACHINE!!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted June 27, 2020 Author Share Posted June 27, 2020 Hey all I'm back with more updates. I worked on one of the blade cylinders, added a pipe from the back of the cylinder to the front of the cylinder, as per prototype. I added some hydraulic lines, I'm not sure if I have it right or not, but I think it's pretty good. I also started on the blade tilt cylinder. The kit doesn't have this option, so I reworked one of the support rods for the blade into one. view looking down on the top of the Dozer. view showing blade cylinder. The dark copper wire is the pipe I added. this view shows the oil filter I added to the trans cooler. view showing hydraulic lines from hydraulic pump (the grey part at the rear of the engine) to the hydraulic manifold on the blade cylinder support tube. I scratched this from spare parts. And the lines from that manifold to the blade cylinder. view showing the hydraulic manifold on the support tube. Also the cylinder lines. I had to modify this side of the blade so I could attach the blade tilt cylinder. this is the blade tilt cylinder I made from one of the blade support rods. Still needs work. this is what it will look like when I'm done with it. Thats all for now be back with more soon. Ron G 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vandy1 VX-4 Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Looking great Ron!! Did you see my response to your question on the Liang Weather Stencils? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harv Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Wow Ron, this is awesome detail !......harv 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted June 28, 2020 Author Share Posted June 28, 2020 Yeah Vandy I did, thanks Ron G 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 Hey all Small update, did some work on the engine. I added some pipes and removed the exhaust turbo and mount so I could rework them so they fit correctly. They were pointing down toward the front, which caused the exhaust stack and air cleaner to not line up with the holes in the hood. I also did some painting and started some weathering. this view shows the intake turbo now painted steel. The pipe that goes from the part between the exhaust turbo and the intake turbo down to the side of the block. This is a piece of plastic rod bent to shape. I painted the starter black. I added a piece cut from a truck air cleaner and fitted it to the air cleaner on the Dozer and painted it silver. I painted the fan belt rubber black and the pulleys and fan Cat yellow and I painted the alternator silver. this view shows the hydraulic pump is now painted Cat yellow and the filters are painted an off white. I added the pipe that goes from the area between the turbos down to the part on the block. this view shows the fan and fan belt. this is a close up view of the air cleaner and the wing nut I made from a piece of plastic card stock. You can also see the strap that I made for the alternator. You can see the pipe from the turbo to the side of the block, I made the small plate/fitting that it goes to, and the two nuts that hold it on. Thats all for now be back soon with more. Ron G 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 Hey all Just another small update. I worked on the blade tilt cylinder and the blade connection arms. I cut off all the pins on the kit parts because they were to small for the holes in the connection arms and the small plate pieces that attach the arms to the blade rear piece. I replaced them with 3/32" & 1/8" dia. Plastic rod pins. view showing the left side blade mechanism. this view shows the blade tilt cylinder. this view is of the real thing. close up view of the tilt cylinder, this is totally from scratch. I added the small aluminum nuts, this are from RB Motion. view showing the rear of the tilt cylinder. this is a mock up view. Well that's it for now be back soon with more. Ron G 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators JeroenPeters Posted June 30, 2020 Administrators Share Posted June 30, 2020 Impressive stuff! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axeman Posted June 30, 2020 Share Posted June 30, 2020 Amazing work. Love the scratch built items. When I do that and add the wires etc and show my wife she rolls her eyes and says “so it Actually runs now?” . Tim 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted June 30, 2020 Author Share Posted June 30, 2020 Hey Axeman Yeah, I don't show my wife the stuff I build or modify, because she just goes off on how much money I've spent and I have to run away back to my modeling cave. Ron G 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axeman Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 Hey all I'm back, the 3D printed tracks showed up today. They are really nice, I wish I could have gotten them in the high resolution resin, but that would have made them $230.00 bucks! So I got them in the standard versatile white plastic. When you get up close and look at them you can see the roughness, but with the right paint, rust and weathering they should do the trick. They were printed as an assembly that is supposed to work, but because I got them in the white plastic instead of the resin, they are stuck together. I have tried twisting them tobfree them up, but some of the pins broke. I think if I soak them in some Isopropyl alcohol they might free up, we'll see. Here are some pictures. these look so much better than the kit parts. Also way more realistic. the whole side view. full side view of the track system. ok, here are the new tracks on the left and the kit parts on the right. view of the other side of the tracks. side view of the kit parts. side view of the new tracks. more of a detail view and you can see the roughness of the printing process on the cheaper white plastic. I outlined them with a pencil so you could see the detail. Ron G 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted July 7, 2020 Author Share Posted July 7, 2020 Hey all Small update, just pictures. here's a view with the other sides tracks on. same thing different view. same different view. view from the top. view looking aft at the blade. Thats it for now be back soon with more. Ron G 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted July 7, 2020 Share Posted July 7, 2020 Lookin good Ron ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrankyCrafstman Posted July 19, 2020 Author Share Posted July 19, 2020 Hey all Just a small update. I'm doing some work on the CAT D8H's tracks. The new 3D printed tracks are a little taller than the kit parts, so the track frame lower slide guides where to high. I cut off the kit ones and added a 1/8" spacer, then I reattached them. I made a new rear slide around the drive sprocket. Here are some pictures. this is how they looked before I changed them. this view shows how I made changes to them. I still have to add the bolt detail back on. Thats it for now be back with more soon. Ron G 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Drennen Posted July 25, 2020 Share Posted July 25, 2020 Nice improvements Ron 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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