Tamiya 1/48 Komatsu dozer

[jeaton01]

I thought it would be fun to pair this with a 1/48 Hasegawa Rufe I am building.  I had paint drying on 3 other builds so this afternoon I opened this one up.  What a fun build.  Two sprues of perfectly fitting parts.  Only two hangups, I dropped a headlight and spent 5 minutes looking for it (successfully) and found that the main color is IJN Grey Kure Arsenal,  Tamiya XF-75.  Not doing much in ship building I don't have it so Sprue Brothers got the call.  I took a photo at each step of the instructions with two in some instances.  The main assemblies are glued together but the dozer, hydraulic side frames, and the track assemblies are all just setting there in place.  If I take off the dozer frame everything falls apart for painting whenever that gets here.

One oddity of the kit is that the Komatsu emblem on the box art and on the radiator says Komatu, not Komatsu.  I thought it perhaps had changed at some time, like Datsun became Nissan, but after doing some research on the net it appears it's just a goof, as the Komatsu spelling has existed since the 1920's.

  

 

 

 

[moparmadness]

I’ve never seen this one. Looks interesting!

[stikpusher]

Lovely! Those 1/48 Tamiya vehicles go together so nicely! I am looking forward to seeing how you paint this John!

[kyledehart5]

What a nifty little dozer!! Look forward to watching this one go together.

[lyle]

Way too cool!

[dean48ws]

This is a very slick little dozer. Looks like it's a nice kit to put together.

[Tobi]

This would also go with an IJA aircraft, then the body color is a khaki tone.
Not sure however if khaki-iro or cha-iro (tea brown), or maybe even karekusa-iro (parched grass) later in the war?

[jeaton01]

Thanks, Tobi. The only color Tamiya calls out is the Kure Arsenal Grey, wish they had more options but for the Rufe the grey is probably best.

[jeaton01]

All done, fun to the very last drop, er, no dropping!

[keavdog]

Nice addition to your 1/48 field equipment John. I thought it was a great little kit. Nicely done.

[Tojo72]

Awwwwh,how cute 🥰

Good job John,a nice little build.

[kyledehart5]

Sweet! Nice little build John. That’s a great little build.

[dean48ws]

This is a nice bit of gear, the last picture helps give it proportion.

[tcoat]

Beautiful wear on the blade. The overall weathering looks relativity new and not yet abused.

[Leon]

Very nicely done John!

[buddho]

This is soooo cool. Alot of detail on that lil bugger!

[dukemaddog]

Beautiful work and thanks for the memories. I built one of those for a friend who needed it for one of his war games. Great mode!

[stikpusher]

Good looking build John! I like how you posed it with the Rufe and Kurogane for the photo.

[jeaton01]

Thanks, everyone, your nice comments are much appreciated! Sometimes I wonder why I build airplanes when tractors and trucks are so much fun. But then I remember there is no life without airplanes!

[keavdog]

Got a resume from a recent college grad today and under experience - Komatsu Mining and Construction CRM Applications, IT Intern
lol