1/35 Hasegawa Hitachi Zaxis 135 us excavator.

[outrunner]

I now tend to shy away from things with tracks, but I could not resist this model as in my earlier days I spent a few years driving construction equipment. I will be building the model fitted with a bucket as that crusher looks a bit naff.
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Some sprue shots.
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I really should have taken some close up pictures as the detail and quality of the parts is amazingly good.
Here are a few shots of sub assemblies, the boom, dipper, bucket, rams, undercarriage and part of the dozer blade are glued up but the superstucture is just slotted together and it all fits perfectly.
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All bagged up so I don't lose the place with the build.
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The rubber tracks are the only inferior parts but they will probably be covered in muck anyway.

Andy.

[Guest]

Uncanny! I've been looking at this kit after seeing one built with a large bucket instead of the nibbler.

Will follow along with interest.

[outrunner]

I looked on the net for ages for one with a bucket to no avail then I discovered that the crusher kit also contains a bucket, job done.

Andy.

[Guest]

Just the job Andy, looks good. Those rubber tracks will be ok as you say plenty of debris to cover them.
Sitting at the front.

[outrunner]

Well that's it all primed up so we shall get some paint on and see if I can put it together without any trace of glue.
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It's all very complex and needs to be painted in sub assemblies before constructon as you could not paint it properly after building it.

Andy.

[outrunner]

Some of the larger bits painted a nice orangey colour, not exactly factory but as near as I could get. Perhaps a coat of gloss laquer will improve it, or not, we shall see.
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The paint is a Citadel layer colour, really thick and a bit of a bitch to get the thinning right to airbrush although to be fair it is designed for brush painting.

Andy.

[Lee Drennen]

Nice Andy I think I’ll pull up a chair

[outrunner]

I got a bit more done this afternoon, mostly the cab which has a lot of small decals which will never be seen when complete.
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And some detail on the engine which also will never be seen........................
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.........as it's covered by this.
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I could always prop the cover open I suppose but it would likely get broken off.

Andy.

[Ian M]

Looks like a good little kit. There seams to be a good few kits of contractors machines about.

[outrunner]

Looks like a good little kit. There seams to be a good few kits of contractors machines about.

It is a very good kit, great quality moulding and detail. In my opinion there is very little out there in the way of construction equipment kits in any scale. Hasegawa make a front end loader and vibrating roller and there are a few decent tractor kits but I have looked long and hard for anything resembling modern earthmoving/construction machines to no avail.

Andy.

[outrunner]

I had a great time today fitting a load of rubber and plastic hoses to the boom and dipper mechanism.
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I can not begin to describe just how much fun that was.
I also had a go with my first attempt at brush painting some chipping, not a lot, as all the pictures of the real thing I looked at had very little damage, not surprising really as it is the US version which has nothing to do with the USA but it means it is the ultra short version designed for working in confined spaces.
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It looks better in real life than in the pictures but I think I need more practise.

Andy.

[Guest]

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm about the hoses? :smiling5:

Scratches look to have worked well Andy and I really like the colour. Troll Slayer? I've been looking at that for a future project as it's also available in their airbrush range.

[outrunner]

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm about the hoses? :smiling5:

Perhaps just a bit, really time consuming job but it's done now.

Andy.

[outrunner]

I really must get on with this as people are starting to laugh at me now.
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Andy.

[yak face]

Excellent progress andy , the orange looks great and the restrained chipping is perfect . Like yourself, i cant understand why there arent more kits like this , its a very interesting genre and i reckon some decent backhoe loaders ( JCBs ) and bulldozers would do well. There are a few military dozers but as far as i am aware only the old AMT 1/25 in the civil field . I do a lot of deliveries for work to building sites and are always unloaded by the ubiquitous JCB telehandler , a fantastic machine , and wondered if there were any kits ( unlikely ) or toys to represent this . I found a 1/32 toy thats accurate if a little simplified and intend to strip down , repaint and add a few details . Keep up the excellent work , looking forward to the next instalment , cheers tony