Cat D9R Armoured Bulldozer "Fluffy Bunny"

[zenrat]

While demilitarised this still has some armour and so IMO fits in this part of the forum.

Cat D9R

Once peace had come to the Middle East following the signing of the Patterson Accord, the new secular government of Palestine set about divesting itself of the massive amounts of surplus military equipment it had inherited from the previous governments of the region who had been so definitively rejected by the people.  They were particularly keen to rid themselves of the former IDF's armoured earthmovers due to their association with purely destructive uses.
Acting on behalf of zenrat industries subsidiary Javelin Engineering, the Nederland based Smallbeer Enterprises BV purchased 30 Armoured Cat D9R bulldozers at scrap rates.  These formed a small part of a cargo of materiel shipped from Haifa to Westernport in the PDRV on board Smallbeer's transport European Trader (formerly the Tarawa class amphibious assault ship USS Saipan).
Overhauled, stage 1 demilitarised and painted during the voyage the D9s arrived ready to work.

The machine pictured, "Fluffy Bunny", is one of a number modified en-voyage to carry the crane from an armoured recovery vehicle in lieu of the usual rear ripper.  It is pictured at the time of it's transport  back to Javelin's central maintenance facility for a 2000 hour overhaul, stage 2 demilitarisation and a repaint.

Stage 1 demilitarisation consisted of removal of any weapons mounts and the replacement of armoured glass with standard glazing.  The paintjobs undertaken on board ship typically consisted of a wash, minimal masking and a heavy coat of the chosen top colour (in this case zenrat industries Azure).  They didn't last long.
Stage 2 demilitarisation was a much longer process that would see the replacement the heavy armoured radiator shell, bonnet and cab with much lighter composite replacements.  Operator safety would also be increased by the fitment of a ROPS and their comfort catered for with air conditioning (Javelin management were not very popular with their workforce for neglecting to install AC during stage 1).

The Model.
Meng 1/35 Cat D9R Armoured Bulldozer.
Crane from Hobby Boss 1/35 AAVR-7A1 fitted on scratchbuilt mounting.
Hairspray weathered but not dirtied as it is to be displayed in transit and (in Victoria anyway) earthmoving plant is always cleaned before transport.

[PR19_Kit]

Looks like you have it employed working in your garden there Fred? NICE one! 

What scale is the model please? It looks HUGE!

[zenrat]

1/35.  But the D9 is a huge machine.  I used to work with D6s which weigh a mere 17 Tons and used to make the shed shake as they passed.  I can only imagine what a D9 passing would be like.

[Captain Canada]

What a great looking build ! Love the crane idea, and why not ! Not like you'd need any outriggers on somat that heavy 

[Weaver]

That looks great - nice one! 

[chrisonord]

Like that, construction machinery is a favourite of mine, as I used to drive it too. Those D9's are huge pieces of kit!!
Chris.

[NARSES2]

Nice work mate 

[Old Wombat]

Good one, Fred!

Is that the Sir Les Patterson Accord?

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.
A crane is always useful.  Rippers can only tear things up.
Yes Guy.  For a professional like Sir Les bringing peace to the Middle East was child's play...

More pics.




And inside the cab, behind the crane operators seat there is a pin up.

[PR19_Kit]

And inside the cab, behind the crane operators seat there is a pin up.

Love it! 

I once pasted a pin-up inside the crane operator's cab of a Skycrane I did. Shrinking the scanned original down to that tiny size ruined all the 'fine detail' sadly............ 

[NARSES2]

I can see that in a Disney or Pixar (whoever makes them now) cartoon feature. Not as the hero but as his slightly "thick" sidekick  Could probably even keep the pin-up given the latest version of Beauty and the Beast 

[PR19_Kit]

I can see that in a Disney or Pixar (whoever makes them now) cartoon feature. Not as the hero but as his slightly "thick" sidekick 

[Arnold Schwarzenegger voice on]

'Hey, you wan' me to lose that shopping mall yet?'

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.
When I built the Dragon 1/35 Huey as an Australian Army bird I thought the troops would appreciate pin ups showing what they were fighting for.  So I reduced some hard core pron images and printed them as decals.
For this I really wanted a pic of Kari with an AK47 but couldn't find one so an RPG had to do.

[Rick Lowe]

AK, RPG, whatever - as long as we get to see more of Ms Byron, I'm not going to complain... 

[rickshaw]

Yes Guy.  For a professional like Sir Les bringing peace to the Middle East was child's play...

The mind boggles!  I can just imagine Sir Les taking all the representatives down to the local Rubbity-Dub for a drink or two to discuss matters in a more congenial atmosphere!