Crawler 1/35 scale freelance design with a touch of the Holt about it!

[Gordon Ferguson]

Ken & Andi thanks

Completely beats me why Marc just won't let me slap some paint on and then a quick dry brush with some white paint ........... ah the good old days.

Anyway just to break the monotony of the "green machine"  I gave the tracks their first coat  .............. hoping that it will be a good base for using some of the Games Workshop metallics which I found in the cupboard last night before applying some rust stains and gunge, etc, etc, ..... depending how it goes there may be a lot more gunge than I originally planned.

A better shot of what it looks like, tried to improve the lighting this time







What these pictures show is how thick  20thou (thickness of the tracks) is when you blow the image up to this level ......... need to work on that for the next one

   

[PuckHog]

  Hi Gordon,

    Would not have thought this kit would work in 1/35th but it looks terrific!

                  Randy

[michael mott]

Hi Gordon, the model looks great so far. what I am wondering is whether yo are going to pop the rivets into the holes in the tracks? In your close up picture it shows the two domed rivets which I am assuming (dangerous I know) that they are to hold components on the underside of the track.

Just asking.

[Gordon Ferguson]

Hi Michael,

no the plan is to leave the holes as I like the character it gives, they say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing therefore the Caterpillar officiandos will probably correct what I am going to say here.

Tracks were cast as one piece to include the underneath linkage , from the info I have the holes were to allow you to bolt on additional rubber shoes to improve grip or protect tarmac road surfaces. Guessing here but I think in some cases they just put bolts in without the additional shoes to stop either a) losing the bolts or b) to limit the amount of dirt/sand etc getting thro' in to the inside of the track with the subsequent increased wear.

If I could figure out how I would post a copy of the page from the PDF of the 2 ton manual which shows the different types of track and separate shoes that were available but I can't and the whole manual is 12.2 MB

[michael mott]

That makes sense Gordon, do you have a link to the PDF and the appropriate page.

Michael

[Malachi Constant]

If I could figure out how I would post a copy of the page from the PDF of the 2 ton manual which shows the different types of track and separate shoes that were available but I can't and the whole manual is 12.2 MB

If you're using a PC, open the page in question ... adjust the "zoom" or "view" on the pdf file to make a reasonable-size image ... or to make enough of the page visible on the screen, etc.

-- Hit the "Print Screen" button (which might say "PrtScr" or some other similar thing on diff. keyboards)

-- Open PC paint (it's already there on most PC's), click "Edit" tab and click "Paste" ... the screen image from the pdf file will appear.

-- Save that in "png" format for best resolution ... then you can select and edit just the section you want to post ... or send me the png file by email and tell me where to crop ...

(You may or may not be able to post png files here.  Those give the best resolution for working the image in PC Paint ... might have to save a copy as a jpg when done ... or send it to me, easier to do than explain sometimes!)  

-- If you're using an Apple, there's some easier way where you can just select stuff on the screen and drag it somewhere to do what you want ... or so I've heard.  

OOOH ... EASIEST version:
-- Open pdf file, go to page and adjust zoom/view so everything you want to share is visible on the screen
-- Hit the "Print Screen" key (or key w/ similar abbrev.)
-- Address an email to me ... hit "enter" a few times in the message area to create some lines.
-- RIGHT-CLICK on the first (empty) line and select PASTE ... the screen image will appear ... then click below the photo to get onto one of the other blank lines ... write a message about which part is needed and I'll crop.

PS -- Repeat as needed if there are multiple pages / images needed to convey the info ... more than happy to help a fellow 1/35 scale nut! 

Cheers,
Dallas

[Mr Potato Head]

I might be able to scan that page and post that picture? I have the actual catalog
MPH
Crawling along in Beautiful Idaho

[Gordon Ferguson]

Ok, thanks folks .............. think this may work

[Mr Potato Head]

that's it you beat me to it! 
MPH

[michael mott]

Thanks Gordon that clears it up then.

Michael

[Gordon Ferguson]

OK we have gone through number of stages now, bit of oil fading?, chipping, rust and wear stains and work on painting the tracks.







These were taken outside so the colours are just about spot on. bright but overcast day.

Going to spend a bit of time trying to refine what has already been done, then sort out the controls, gear stick and seat cushion.

By the way anybody heard from Marc, not seen or heard a thing since my last efforts in painting were posted ........... now getting a bit concerned  

[finescalerr]

The general blend of colors and subtlety of weathering are excellent. I assume you'll eventually tone down the whole thing since the green is still a little vivid. Overall, the model and the diorama it sits on are wonderful. The photos are good, too. A satisfactory effort thus far. -- Russ

[Mr Potato Head]

I think you need a greater definition of color between the body and the tracks, the base of the tracks needs to be a deeper base color and the tops of the tracks a lighter worn metal color
Good start!
MPH

[Gordon Ferguson]

Russ,

that "satisfactory" has been printed off and pinned above the desk 

Gil,

not sure I completely understand your comment, I'm guessing you are talking about the difference between the inside of the track and the outside ?

Those shots were taken early today and as always the case with my modelling they showed me more faults to correct ............. since then I have done a bit of work to polish up the running side of the track, which does increase the contrast ............ waiting for some oil and grease wash which when applied to the inside of the tracks, along the individual links should also help.

These are very cruel  closeups off where I am now





Pretty obviously I am going to have to give my paint station a good clean and be a lot more careful to keep crud off my painted models

[marc_reusser]

By the way anybody heard from Marc, not seen or heard a thing since my last efforts in painting were posted ........... now getting a bit concerned  

As you can see...your painting has caused me enough concern that I cannot focus properly during my other activities  






I think the track color is fine. Most people tent to model them too rusty and dark. A tractor that has been driven/used in dirt will get its entire track surface polished out very fast. Then once it is parked, you will tend to first see a build-up of orange surface rust...which will, if the tractor remains unused, over time, deepen into the deeper darker rust tones.

M