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D-7 Crawler w/ angle dozer blade
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2015 - 10:14 AM UTC
Hi, just thought to share an in progress project. This is the MiniArt kit with angle dozer blade. Terrific detail but very poor quality plastic. Most if not all the finer parts will shatter when removing them from the sprue :wall: . Have spent a lot of time replacing parts with brass wire or plastic rod. That said parts fit well and the instructions for the most part are good. Lots of parts - 800+ and opti-visor a must if your my age.
retiredyank
Joined: June 29, 2009
KitMaker: 11,610 posts
Armorama: 7,843 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - 03:32 AM UTC
The level of detail is amazing. Nice super detail. Every MiniArt product I have worked on had terrible plastic. However, it was easy to remove the seem lines.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 - 09:38 AM UTC
Made some progress. One setback was adding the floor plates and managing to snap off a foot pedal and two control levers. Will go back and replace those after everything else is done. I painted all the "insides" as they will be mostly covered later. All the control linkages was a waste since you can't see anything now 
gajman
Joined: April 02, 2015
KitMaker: 18 posts
Armorama: 17 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 23, 2015 - 02:14 AM UTC
I like the detail you've added Chris, it's looking very good.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Thursday, April 23, 2015 - 04:28 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I like the detail you've added Chris, it's looking very good.
Thanks. I haven't had to add much in the way of details. The kit is quite comprehensive. Really like this kit but it is a bit fragile and has lots of very small parts.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 10:42 AM UTC
Some more progress pics. Somewhat following the instruction sequence. I permanently attached the bottom plates but just laid the track plates down for the picture. Almost none of the details on the underside can be seen now. The cable pulley system for the R7 still need to be added. A word of warning if you tackle this kit - the small bits - you only get what the kits calls for, no spares. Have spent lots of time on search & destroy to find parts launched off the table.
Saw the announcement for new hydraulics activated dozer from MiniArt. Stoked, put me down for two. Maybe they will explore some other specialized attachments too.....
Saw the announcement for new hydraulics activated dozer from MiniArt. Stoked, put me down for two. Maybe they will explore some other specialized attachments too.....
Paulinsibculo
Joined: July 01, 2010
KitMaker: 1,322 posts
Armorama: 1,239 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 01:46 PM UTC
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your input!
I ordered the Mirror dozer in The Netherlands months ago, due to the remarkable supply system of kit companies, I am still without a dozer. Therefore, I was considering to order a MiniArt one, which is available within a few days! ( he, Mirror guys, take a look at your Dutch resellers!!!).
Your publication gives me a good impression of the high quality and I will order one of them.
Just one question:
Were the Cat dozers, used by the US military completely OD, or were they resprayed after being "drafted"?
If the last would be the case, did the underside and inside parts than show up in yellow?
Thanks for sharing your build, looking forward to see more,
P.
Thanks for your input!
I ordered the Mirror dozer in The Netherlands months ago, due to the remarkable supply system of kit companies, I am still without a dozer. Therefore, I was considering to order a MiniArt one, which is available within a few days! ( he, Mirror guys, take a look at your Dutch resellers!!!).
Your publication gives me a good impression of the high quality and I will order one of them.
Just one question:
Were the Cat dozers, used by the US military completely OD, or were they resprayed after being "drafted"?
If the last would be the case, did the underside and inside parts than show up in yellow?
Thanks for sharing your build, looking forward to see more,
P.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2015 - 07:33 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Chris,
Thanks for your input!
I ordered the Mirror dozer in The Netherlands months ago, due to the remarkable supply system of kit companies, I am still without a dozer. Therefore, I was considering to order a MiniArt one, which is available within a few days! ( he, Mirror guys, take a look at your Dutch resellers!!!).
Your publication gives me a good impression of the high quality and I will order one of them.
Just one question:
Were the Cat dozers, used by the US military completely OD, or were they resprayed after being "drafted"?
If the last would be the case, did the underside and inside parts than show up in yellow?
Thanks for sharing your build, looking forward to see more,
P.
Great questions. Will need to do some more research. From pictures including restorations it looks like they were painted OD everywhere. I do know they were manufactured to meet military contracts and that some were license built by American Car & Foundry, so I suspect they were painted at the factory.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Monday, April 27, 2015 - 04:08 AM UTC
A few pictures showing the blade assembly and engine hood set in place (nothing glued yet). I made a start on the tracks and they are a nightmare to work on. I'll need to come up with some kind of jig in order to get them together.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - 04:36 AM UTC
Almost ready for the overall base coat, markings and then dirt! Still need to figure out the wiring for the lights and add a couple more control levers and an additional pulley wire on the spade end. Tracks will be the last thing added. I've seen pictures with fabricated gas can racks on the side fender and a rifle holder attached to the overhead beam. May still do those as well.
and another daily distraction- the re-homing of an unwelcome visitor
[url=http://s1348.photobucket.com/user/c2fish/media/001_zpsivqro0qw.jpg.html][img]
and another daily distraction- the re-homing of an unwelcome visitor
[url=http://s1348.photobucket.com/user/c2fish/media/001_zpsivqro0qw.jpg.html][img]
justsendit
Joined: February 24, 2014
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,492 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - 05:04 AM UTC
Yikes! ... a crawler! 
Nice progress on the build so far! Thanks for sharing!
—mike
Nice progress on the build so far! Thanks for sharing!
—mike
edmund
Joined: November 10, 2014
KitMaker: 668 posts
Armorama: 456 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - 05:55 AM UTC
Just got the D7 with the towing winch, got to be the same type plastic , thanks for the heads up on the material .
DocEvan
Joined: August 09, 2014
KitMaker: 180 posts
Armorama: 180 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - 06:35 AM UTC
Yup, my thought exactly after building the GAZ-AAA kit. For those interested in anything MiniArt, I strongly recommend using a photoetch micro saw for removing parts from sprues.
Wonderful build all the same!
Hi, just thought to share an in progress project. This is the MiniArt kit with angle dozer blade. Terrific detail but very poor quality plastic. Most if not all the finer parts will shatter when removing them from the sprue :wall: . Have spent a lot of time replacing parts with brass wire or plastic rod. That said parts fit well and the instructions for the most part are good. Lots of parts - 800+ and opti-visor a must if your my age.
justsendit
Joined: February 24, 2014
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,492 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 - 06:56 AM UTC
The MiniArt GAZ-AAA kit ... soft plastic? ... and all along, I thought it was just me! LOL!
Even still, you guys have me really stoked on the MiniArt Crawler! ... Must put debit card out of reach ... must ... resist! 😇
—mike
Even still, you guys have me really stoked on the MiniArt Crawler! ... Must put debit card out of reach ... must ... resist! 😇
—mike
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2015 - 09:46 AM UTC
Overdue update on my D7. The tracks took far longer than I thought they would but finally they are done and attached. Needs some flat coat and then I can start the weathering process and paint the seat cushions. Still needs the hand holds and exhaust pipe.
OddBall84
Joined: May 20, 2015
KitMaker: 335 posts
Armorama: 266 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2015 - 12:59 PM UTC
Are those the kit tracks and how do they fit together? I ask because the Bronco Sherman tracks require quite some finesse to put together.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2015 - 04:36 PM UTC
These are the kit tracks. To be honest I had a lot of problems getting them together, very fiddly and the plastic will fracture easily. Parts needs tweaking and they took forever to finish. Very fragile and the fit is somewhat loose around the sprockets and idler wheels. Once I get them set in the final position I will lock them in place with Tamiya extra thin glue.
All that said, I love this kit and the subject. MiniArt will be releasing two more dozers and I'll be building those too, but I'm hoping that some aftermarket will step up with some replacement tracks.
All that said, I love this kit and the subject. MiniArt will be releasing two more dozers and I'll be building those too, but I'm hoping that some aftermarket will step up with some replacement tracks.
andromeda673
Joined: July 30, 2013
KitMaker: 584 posts
Armorama: 525 posts
Posted: Monday, May 25, 2015 - 07:58 AM UTC
nice job!!! can't wait to see your other builds.
165thspc
#521
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Monday, May 25, 2015 - 05:56 PM UTC
Super build and it looks like a super kit on the part of the manufacture. I have the Mirror Models offering and can't wait to get started on mine.
Nice job!
Nice job!
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 25, 2015 - 11:07 AM UTC
A long overdue visit with this build. First round of washes, filters and pigments. It will be dirty but not overly so.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Monday, October 26, 2015 - 09:21 AM UTC
Think I'm calling this one done. Debating if I'll do a scenic base or not.
SSGToms
Joined: April 02, 2005
KitMaker: 3,608 posts
Armorama: 3,092 posts
Posted: Monday, October 26, 2015 - 09:49 AM UTC
Chris,
Really,really,really nice work. Truly superb. Don't change a thing. I think a simple groundwork base would do nicely.
Really,really,really nice work. Truly superb. Don't change a thing. I think a simple groundwork base would do nicely.
27-1025
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Monday, October 26, 2015 - 10:28 AM UTC
Thanks a lot!! Ready to put this to bed and move on to something else - like my Mirror Models dump truck.
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