Meng D9R - Front Edge of Weathering!!!

[AndyArgent.]

This is shaping up lovely. Such detail is sure gotta pay of in the finished model.
Bring it on

[Mence]

Stunning T, great kit, great build!

[Keith Christie]

This is coming along very nicely, looks to be a stunning little kit.

Best Regards

Keith

[406 Silverado]

yer done yet !!!

kidding of course bro. The cabin looks mighty fine with all the details. Looks like you finally got the book eh. Was nice of him to send it for review etc.

[TRM]

Andy - Thanks Brotha'!! I was thinking this might be a fun one to paint!!!

Mence - Thanks for hangin around on this one!!

Keith - Thanks Bud!! Really nice kit...this have been going together better than expected!!

Boss - LOL...funny!! I think once the cabin is set, it might be smooth sailing!!! Mike Mass, the author of the DEP D9 Book, is a really great guy for sending us the book! I am hoping to start some of the review tonight!! Mainly because I get to keep reading through it!! LOL!! There are a lot of great detail walk around shots in there!

[wbill76]

Nice progress T. Have to love the way they've done the ballistic glass as pre-tinted, makes for a very convincing look!

[Deleted]

This is way cool T! Just bought my copy from China. Always nice to see all the mistakes before they happen I put off the tracks till last, but you have a good point about endurance. Going to have to get the book also.
Hope I didn't miss this, but have you decided which exterior color, you'll be going with T??

[TRM]

Thanks Bill!! The glass is one of my favorites in this. Thick molds as well as super clear...the tint is a real treat if one is heading in this direction.

Thanks Bruce!! Nice to hear you have one on the way!! You will be most pleased I think! You can save the tracks til last if you wish, at the time of installation or the beginning...whichever you choose. They go together very simply!! Let me know when you are ready for them, There is a quick and dirty way to get each side assembled in about an hour...complete!

[rondriaan]

I have also one on the way so I`m follow youre build for istakes or other problems :-) but its looks good sofar.

[Deleted]

Thanks T! Will do. Tried to order the DOOBIE Book, but they're all sold out already.

[DeafStuG]

Great, is all clear plastic parts colour are greenish already ? So im sure of it so pretty of clear of greenish so colourful straight from meng kit box without painting so saving of your time.

[TRM]

Thanks Ron!! Glad to have you along for the ride! I am trying to cover everything I see or encounter. Only thing I see so far is the picture that covers the placement of the bolt heads on the hydraulics is a bit deceiving. It looks like the front and back of the top hydraulic cylinders need to have these bolt heads installed when they are referring to the top and bottom cylinders and only on the side that is facing the ripper. Of course, I placed them on the inside and the outside of the top cylinders...LOL!! I have a fix on the way though. I will be covering that soon enough.

Bruce - Nice! You will find the book helpful. I will have the review up tomorrow at some point I hope. I can guess that DEP is certainly trying to keep up with the demand for the book and would be working to restock as soon as possible.

Jeremy, there is two sets of glazing for this kit. Clear and tinted.

Attachments:

[imatanker]

Two sets of glass? Sweet, glad you went with the tinted. IMHO it looks a lot better than the clear.

[Teabone]

I would suspect the clear is for a civilian version.

Bones

[TRM]

Hey Jeff!! The tinted was in fact the IDF version, a good reason for choosing it....plus it look too cool!! LOL!!

Hey Bones!! The clear would be the USMC version. Not sure why this is that way on the real deal...could be supplier, could be application...could be lowest bidder.....

[TomN.]

Awesome build T, I really, really want one of these…When I first saw it was coming out I wondered if it could be built as a civilian vehicle, doesn’t look that way.

Would be cool if they released a civilian version…would come in handy for all those land fill dioramas I have planned…

Tom

[TRM]

Hi Tom!! Thank you sir! Yeah, it would have been nice to see the add-on armor separate from the original as an option...we can only hope there is enough draw to have them make one.

[Deleted]

I would like to see a WWII version.

[TRM]

Nice one Bruce! That would be interesting!!!

[Teabone]

Aug 24, 2013 20:35:04 GMT -5 @dogfish7 said:

I would like to see a WWII version.

DogFish7

This is what the WW2 cat looked like.

www.mirror-models.com/135-US-Caterpillar-D7-Tractor.html

Bones

[Teabone]

Aug 24, 2013 18:23:39 GMT -5 TRM said:

Hey Bones!! The clear would be the USMC version. Not sure why this is that way on the real deal...could be supplier, could be application...could be lowest bidder.....

Yea, one never knows about the low bidder but in close combat with a slow moving vehicle it seems as though the tinted glass would give the crew some advantages that the clear would not.  In watching the D9R in Gaza with the tinted windscreens the crew was not visible to the camera not that the windscreens would be easily penetrated by anything short of 20mm but I have see a 20mm rifle so you never know.

Bones

[TRM]

Just for the "scare factor" the tinted would be a must for me...LOL!! Several cases where this beast wins the battle instead of the high-tech hardware...it just keeps knocking down S**T until there is nothing left or the opposition runs out needing to change their shorts! The slat armor play a crucial part I think!! Repels a lot of nasty stuff...20mm not to sure but sniper and RPG for sure.

[406 Silverado]

hm, thought I might find an update were the interior is all painted and weathered..lololol Just messin bro.

[TRM]

LOL...trying my friend...trying!! Been slaving doing the "clean up thing" in the box trailer...time for a little organization!! I did manange some primer on the interior parts!! I will be hitting some paint maybe later....I will take pics but need to get a move on as I want to keep building!!! Will try and have an update soon in the next day or so!!

[TRM]

Well well well, it must seem like I am sleeping at the wheel on this...LOL! A little matter of painting the interior got in the way and slowed the pace a bit.

So here is what I have been up to...for the most part!

A little prime-time had to fall first!



The ceiling! I added a grab handle as well as a little wiring to the rack mounted equipment.



Not wasting to much time on the interior end of the one here is where the painting stands now, minus any Decs that will go on in about 5 minutes after I stop typing here....



Needless to say, the walls are not fixed here yet, hence the gaps. I still need to move around to get the decs on and maybe a touch or two of weathering.







I have to admit that I am impressed with how this comes together with a little paint. The detailing in the cabin is pretty much just enough to add some interest once this will be done. I did have to bend and add some grab bars to the interior. the one over the console is the only on provided with the kit. There were molded nubs where the other are (all in red of course).





Please disregard that small white thread between the pedals...not sure how that got there, but no, it is not some sort of weird electrical connection. Also, there are a couple parts missing at the moment as the glazing will need to be installed prior to their installation...next...I first need to work out some masking for the glass.

As always, thanks for dropping by!!!

[wbill76]

Nice update on the office progress there T. It's interesting that it has two seats...wonder what the 2nd one is for, oh, I know, the supervisor!

[TRM]

Thanks Bill! LOL...the left is obviously the driver (looking head on)...the right is the gunner's. At least this is what I read it as being called. Two man or woman crew.

[panzerconor.]

Todd I had no idea you knew how to paint things that weren't damaged and destroyed    That interior is immaculate, awesome job.

[deafpanzer]

Interior look great! Pretty colorful and I like it especially the color red!

[Teabone]

Mr.T

Looks right up to your exacting standards, mighty impressive.  Is that an official interior color?  The Israeli one I saw in operation in the film I saw was rather heavily armed with weapons that were controlled by the co-operator is this vehicle also armed?

Bones