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Idf cat d9t

Old 04-28-2016, 02:51 PM
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Default Idf cat d9t

I've been wanting to have a go at an IDF Dozer for years, and stumbled upon the Bruder CAT Large Track Type Tractor. A quick check of the dimensions given in the Amazon description confirmed that its 1:16 scale (or close enough that you'd not notice).


Its unfortunately clipped rather than screwed together, so some brute force and a not a little harsh language is needed to bust it open...


The tracks look to be pretty good - plastic links, look like snap fit, but don't feel like they want to come apart without a fight. Time will tell how well they hold up in sand, etc. but I doubt I'll run it that much so I think it'll be ok.
The idlers at either end rotate but the inner 'wheels' are molded dummies - perhaps if I had a lathe I could turn down some new rollers, but for now they will have to do "as is".

What I thought would be the hard part - mating the drive sprockets onto a HL style gearbox - actually was the easiest! The sprockets were a light push fit over a scrap set of Mato Sherman inner halves that I had laying around.


Gearbox mounting required a good deal of work with a razor saw, but the high drive position really helps with locating the gearboxes away from the confines of the lower hull, and will leave me space for bolting the track units together (you have to smash the clips to get them apart).

I tried a few different gearboxes, the low profile Mato ones would be the best fit in terms of height, but are too wide to fit:


HL Stug ones are a better fit, but the gearing is going to be way too fast for what this model needs:


I settled on a Taigen 4:1 set, with the 360 cans from the low profile Mato set. Unfortunately these will require me to carve a sizeable hole in the cabin floor to accommodate their extra height, but I suspect that once the armoured cab is done, you probably won't see them...



Wired up with a Scorpion HX ESC:


Size comparison with an M3 Lee. Its quite an imposing model even without the top on



Moving under its own power
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEy7sZigxPY

Last edited by Ex_Pat_Tanker; 04-28-2016 at 02:55 PM.
Old 04-28-2016, 04:01 PM
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Looks like a fun project, keep the photo's coming.
Old 04-28-2016, 04:21 PM
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WOW ! Very impressive conversion. I think Bruder makes great stuff !
rex
Old 04-28-2016, 04:49 PM
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There is a company in Spain that makes the sprocket and tracks in metal for the bruder excavator. Conveniently they are the same saze as the Bruder D10
Old 04-28-2016, 07:08 PM
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Originally Posted by trackmech81
There is a company in Spain that makes the sprocket and tracks in metal for the bruder excavator. Conveniently they are the same saze as the Bruder D10
Yup, Magom HRC. I have their Liebherr 574. Pretty cool for entry level construction r/c. Cool project Martin! You can also spend hours looking at rctruckandconstruction.com. There may have been a couple conversions of that bruder if you need any ideas, accessories, lighting, etc.

http://www.magomhrc.com/en/

Last edited by TheBennyB; 04-28-2016 at 07:13 PM.
Old 04-28-2016, 07:54 PM
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That looks really great, Martin. Can't wait to see it painted and in the field.
Old 04-29-2016, 07:18 AM
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That is the coolest project I have seen on this board yet. My opinion of course lol!
Old 04-29-2016, 10:43 AM
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After a quick session with the razor saw, the top fits!




If the weather co-operates over the weekend I might try a coat of enamel and see how well it sticks...
Old 04-29-2016, 12:02 PM
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Years ago I did Krylon camo green on a Bruder dozer, not that model, the next size down. The paint stuck okay, but over time it chipped off and the bright yellow shows through. I did not clean the surface or primer it, that may help a lot.

I've used Bruder stuff as props in pictures before, but only in still photos. This project is cool and I would love to see a movie of it when it's done, you have me looking at my Bruder (my son's) collection and my spare HL gearboxes in a new light.

Let's see... the semi, or the dozer, or the backhoe, or the trash truck!
Old 04-29-2016, 12:32 PM
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From what I have seen, the IDF have the same problem with the yellow showing thru - so we should be good there
I have seen JCB Backhoe's in military config with bar slat armour etc, go for it!
Old 05-07-2016, 04:04 PM
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I decided to pick up the 1/35 scale D9R Meng kit as a reference, and get working on the details of the engine grills and cab:


Old 05-07-2016, 07:16 PM
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Too cool Martin! Get any trials done on the lower?
Old 05-07-2016, 07:33 PM
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Not since the first run - as the whole thing is clipped together I want to limit the amount of assembly/disassembly to avoid breaking the latches. It seems like the dozer was designed to be smooshed together and never taken apart, and I'm real worried about the latches on the bogie halves giving up the ghost and forcing me to glue them permanently.

After some research I found that the Bruder is actually the larger D11 bulldozer, and not the D9 model - the difference is only about 5mm in all directions tho, so close enough. It will require me to take a few liberties, but overall its still not going to be as bad as some of Heng Long's efforts (I'm looking at you, M41 Bulldog) and only the most picky rivetcounters will notice the fudges needed to make it all work.
Old 05-08-2016, 11:56 AM
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Done a bit more, be nice if I could get this done in time for our trip to Munster but I doubt that's going to happen...



Old 05-11-2016, 08:00 AM
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Looks nice so far!!!
Old 05-22-2016, 08:22 AM
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Got a bit more done:



Old 05-22-2016, 08:53 AM
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thats really cool looking...nice work
Old 05-22-2016, 11:54 AM
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Very nice
Old 05-22-2016, 07:04 PM
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Oh, that rocks!
Old 05-23-2016, 12:19 PM
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Wow, primer on!!!!
Old 05-23-2016, 12:25 PM
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Looking great Martin, if your looking for a no fuss actuator for blade movement, Firgelli has some awesome stuff. Most is plug and play off your RX and they have built in endpoints so you won't burn out the micro motors in them.

http://www.firgelli.com/Default.asp
Old 05-23-2016, 12:27 PM
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Aaaaannnnnd, I've run out of styrene rod!

I've stolen an FN MAG off of another project, I'll have a bash at the mount for it tomorrow (busy unboxing / assembling that other project tonight...)
Old 05-23-2016, 12:37 PM
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oh gawd, you are giving me bad ideas Brett They even have a video of a Bruder conversion with lights and sound on that site
Old 05-24-2016, 06:16 AM
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Nice work Martin. Something different for sure.

Cheers
Old 03-11-2017, 09:01 AM
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Must be time for an update...



















There's a few more minor bits and pieces left to do, mostly around mounting the lights on top of the armoured covers on the hydraulics, and then its off to the paintshop again.
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