Construction, Combat Engineer, and Bridging Equipment

[kitnut617]

Will we ever see a modern bulldozer in 1/35th scale?  For that matter, what about other modern construction equipment.  The WWII era bulldozer kit is not going to work for a modern setting and the only other current offerings are the Revell of Germany "EasyKit" snap-together kits of the skip loader and the power shovel in 1/32nd scale. 

I know these aren't plastic and the closest scale is 1/34 but check this site out Jeff.

http://www.3000toys.com/?refer=google&cater&gclid=CO3y7-3a1ZICFQQxgwodxg3i9w#

[Hobbes]

JCB has a range of military construction machines. The interesting thing about them is that they're based on the JCB Fastrac tractor, which means that unlike other construction plant they're are capable of 80 km/h (50 mph) 

One of them is this HMEE backhoe:

The US Army has purchased a batch of these recently.

Another is the HMUV truck, which is even faster at 110 km/h (65 mph):


http://www.jcb.co.uk/Defence/DefenceProduct.aspx?PID=96, also check out the PDF brochure at http://www.jcb.co.uk/Defence/DefenceHome.aspx

http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/vehicles/jcb/

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Will we ever see a modern bulldozer in 1/35th scale?  For that matter, what about other modern construction equipment.  The WWII era bulldozer kit is not going to work for a modern setting and the only other current offerings are the Revell of Germany "EasyKit" snap-together kits of the skip loader and the power shovel in 1/32nd scale.

I know these aren't plastic and the closest scale is 1/34 but check this site out Jeff.
http://www.3000toys.com/?refer=google&cater&gclid=CO3y7-3a1ZICFQQxgwodxg3i9w#

Actually way ahead of you, been looking through that site as well as several others after tweeking my google search description to actually give me something on bulldozer models.  The scale (1/34th) is so close that it is silly to even worry about the difference, same with 32nd or 36th scale, it would not really matter.  The real problem is that most of the bulldozer type equipment is either too foreign or too small, I am looking for something in the Caterpiller D9 size or larger. 



One possibility is the Bruder #02659 (http://www.3000toys.com/catalog/item_detail.aspx?itemfind=BRUDER02659) 1/16th scale Mercedes Benz tractor with flatbed trailer that includes a bulldozer as the load.  The bulldozer does not appear to be in the same scale as the truck and trailer.  I have sent an eMail to Bruder Customer Service inquiring about the scale of the bulldozer in that set and hopefully there will be a response back with a better description of the bulldozer and what scale it really is.  It would be swell if it were that simple but I am still skeptical. 

*** Bruder Customer Service replied to my inquiry, they state that the bulldozer is also 1/16th scale.  Hard to judge by the forced perspective view of the image and the Bruder web page has nothing better by which to evaluate.  The bulldozer is also available as a separate purchase under another stock number and the image for that item is not any better.  So the search will continue for a decent 1/35th scale compatible bulldozer.

[Martin H]

makes a change to see a JCB in a color other than yellow.

Mind u the Fastrac has been in service with the RAF on the Harrier force for quite a while now they replaced the old merc Unimogs as genral purpose all terrain towing tractors, for when they go up country to play soldiers

[GTX]

I actually spent a few days talking to some of the JCB people last year at DSEi 07 - their display stand was directly opposite mine.  Nice chaps - we've even discussed doing some business together.

Regards,

Greg

[Jeffry Fontaine]

I know these aren't plastic and the closest scale is 1/34 but check this site out Jeff.
http://www.3000toys.com/catalog/item_list.asp?nsql=contains(*,'dozer')

According to the web page, these things are plastic which is good.  Maybe there is an alternative after all.  If they can be taken apart and detailed and assembled again without the oversized fittings for the hinges being so obvious there is a good chance that a decent bulldozer model could be created from one of these things.

After doing a bit of searching on-line, I found the following 1/32nd scale bulldozers (both of these models are reasonably priced @~$24.00 and come with what appear to be one piece rubber tracks):
Fiat Hitachi FD175 Dozer in Orange
http://www.3000toys.com/catalog/item_detail.aspx?itemfind=ROS-AGRITEC000223

Unidentified bulldozer in yellow
http://www.3000toys.com/catalog/item_detail.aspx?itemfind=ROS-AGRITEC000544



This next bulldozer is a bit more expensive at $47.95 but still cheaper than the WWII vintage resin bulldozer kit.
http://www.3000toys.com/catalog/item_detail.aspx?itemfind=ROS-AGRITEC000766

Not too sure about how accurate the metal tracks are on this model but they do function. 

[Brian da Basher]

Nice find, Jeff! Just when I was starting to regret my mom tossing all my Tonka toys way back when.

Brian da Basher

[jcf]

The second dozer is also a FIAT-Hitachi.

Here is a PDF on the third machine, now following mergers the New Holland/FIAT-Kobelco D180.

http://construction.newholland.com/files/tbl_s22ProductText/PDFFile90/8905/D180-T3A_INB.pdf
The model doesn't look too bad.


Its big brother the D350 is pretty wicked looking.


Jon

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Jon,

Is there any way to determine what these are equivalent to in a Caterpillar model such as the D7, D9, D10?  With the exception of the resin WWII era dozers, this appears to be the only way to obtain a decent 1/32-1/35th scale bulldozer without going broke in the process. 

[GTX]

Speaking of Construction Equipment take a close look at the hull on this picture:



Regards,

Greg

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Old tanks never die.  The just get converted into construction equipment and soldier on! 

Certainly an interesting adaptation of a King Tiger hull.  Wonder if they ever considered a bulldozer?

[jcf]

Old tanks never die.  The just get converted into construction equipment and soldier on! 

Certainly an interesting adaptation of a King Tiger hull.  Wonder if they ever considered a bulldozer?

The Madill company built log-yarders on old Sherman chassis for years.
I used to see them all the time in the Madill yard outside of Kalama, WA.

Jon

p.s. I think that's a Panther hull.

[GTX]

King Tiger or Panther?

Regards,

Greg

[Mossie]

Airfix are soon to release two Shaun the Sheep sets, both in 1/12.  One contains a Ford Tractor, thought it had a bucket with it but doesn't seem to.  It's a lttle bit cartoony, obviously, but otherwise it's a damn good likeness.  You might be able to use it as a basis for a beefier excavator in another scale.
http://www.forbiddenplanet.com/products/33163/Shaun_The_Sheep_Shaun_The_Sheep__Tractor_Kit/Animation/Kit/Wallace_And_Gromit/Shaun_The_Sheep/Product.html

The other set has a Land Rover, again, might be useful if not in the context of this thread.
http://www.forbiddenplanet.com/products/32864/Shaun_The_Sheep_Shaun_The_Sheep__Land_Rover_Gift_Set_Kit/Animation/Kit/Wallace_And_Gromit/Shaun_The_Sheep/Product.html

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Hauke Ahrendt has put together a rather impressive 1/35th scale M48 AVLB based on the Tamiya M48 hull with some very serious multi-scale scratch-building and kit bashing that really needs to be seen and appreciated.  The last image on the page shows Hauke's 1/35th scale M48 AVLB and the old Revell 1/40th scale M48 AVLB side by side so you can really appreciate the scale differences between the models. 
You can go directly to the article by clicking on the thumbnail image.



Here is a link to the page translated into English IF you wish to read about Hauke's project.  Sadly babelfish does not do a stellar job of translation so be aware of the limitations brought about by translation.