Firemodeler1 Posted June 19 Report Posted June 19 I've just started a D-7 bulldozer build from a MiniArt kit. At 1/35 scale I am amazed at the number of parts in the kit, especially the 8 sprues of track components. Suffice it to say that the tracks have given me fits. Instructions say to glue the cleats to the underside of the track plates but the tabs and holes are impossibly small. Some are so small they are not there at all. So I put together all of the cleats and connecting pins and will then glue on the track plates afterwards. Anybody out there who has built this kit I would love to hear from and any suggestions other than what I have described for assembly of the completed tracks.
Mark Deliduka Posted June 21 Report Posted June 21 Charles while I haven't built this or any other Miniart kit, I understand your frustration. I've watched many a modeler on other Forums tackle Miniart kits and they are challenging. One guy even refers to the company as "MiniAaaargh" because of it. One peroson dealth with that issue by only adding the cleats to track links that could be seen. The ones under side skirts and running under the roadwheels he left off. I know it's not much but I hope this helps in some small way.
Firemodeler1 Posted June 21 Author Report Posted June 21 Thanks, Mark. I have finished one of the side frames and have put on a completed set of links. Tracks have been left off for now. I will add the tracks one at a time and hopefully they will all be in alignment. It has taken several sessions of building just to get one side done. Will post pics. The interesting thing in what has been done so far is that much of it will never be seen! It's covered up by the outside steel. I suppose the kit manufacturer did this so if you wanted to show a broken down rig you could leave some of it exposed. Not something that most builders are going to do.
Mark Deliduka Posted June 21 Report Posted June 21 Excellent news. I do hope someone with more experience with MiniArt kits comes on to help you.
Firemodeler1 Posted June 21 Author Report Posted June 21 (edited) I'll get through it, Mark. Just have to be patient and not rush the build. ☺️ Edited June 21 by Firemodeler1
Firemodeler1 Posted June 21 Author Report Posted June 21 I'll get through it, Mark. Just have to be patient and not rush the build. ☺️
Firemodeler1 Posted Wednesday at 11:47 PM Author Report Posted Wednesday at 11:47 PM Just following up, I happened to find a site called Panzerserra Bunker 1/35 scale models. Included is a partial reference to the MiniArt D-7. Turns out he had the same problem with the tracks as I did and he solved the problem by doing exactly what I ended up doing to get the linkage and tracks all completed. Now I'm working on the 4 cylinder engine. Strange that the main engine I think is supposed to be a diesel that is started with a pony engine. The main engine still has sparkplugs! Will have to check that out. As was noted in the other build, I think this kit was way overdesigned and some of the tiny parts could have been either omitted or made part of the main assembly. I'll have some photos soon.
Firemodeler1 Posted Thursday at 04:05 PM Author Report Posted Thursday at 04:05 PM 16 hours ago, Firemodeler1 said: Just following up, I happened to find a site called Panzerserra Bunker 1/35 scale models. Included is a partial reference to the MiniArt D-7. Turns out he had the same problem with the tracks as I did and he solved the problem by doing exactly what I ended up doing to get the linkage and tracks all completed. Now I'm working on the 4 cylinder engine. Strange that the main engine I think is supposed to be a diesel that is started with a pony engine. The main engine still has sparkplugs! Will have to check that out. As was noted in the other build, I think this kit was way overdesigned and some of the tiny parts could have been either omitted or made part of the main assembly. I'll have some photos soon. Did a little homework. Those "sparkplugs" are mis-labeled in the instructions. They are not sparkplugs as noted but are fuel injectors.
Firemodeler1 Posted Thursday at 06:25 PM Author Report Posted Thursday at 06:25 PM Here are some photos of the build so far. The track portion is done for both sides. Been working on the 4 cylinder diesel engine and the pony engine that starts it. The number of insignificant miniscule parts is daunting and in some cases totally unwarranted. Two tiny pieces of tubing are on the back side of the pony engine and cannot be seen at all so I left them off. I had to replace two pieces of plastic with some brass tubing as neither one would fit the way it was supposed to. These are all of the track links and plates for each side. The partially connected links and pins in the center is how I had to put them together, ignoring completely the instruction diagram to get it done. The track plates are supposed to be glued into microscopic pins in the track links but that was impossible to do so the plates went on separately and after the full set of links was in place. With the links completed on one setup I could lay the track plates one at a time on the linkage, opening up the spacing where they wrap around the drive sprocket and front idler sprocket. Tracks are complete on the bottom. The piece on the right is the second of the track assembly. Many more pieces needed to be cut from the sprues and added to finish it up. Tracks are complete and work begun on the engine. The pony engine is made up of multiple small pieces that could have been simplified greatly to get the same result. The over-engineering of this kit is totally unnecessary.
Mark Deliduka Posted Thursday at 08:59 PM Report Posted Thursday at 08:59 PM Despite the issues, you are doing a tremendous job on this MiniAaaargh kit! Nice work on the tracks and the engine almost looks good enough to drop some fuel in it and fire it up. Keep it going, it looks like you've got this now.
Firemodeler1 Posted Sunday at 12:49 AM Author Report Posted Sunday at 12:49 AM A couple more photos of the engine. Finally got it mostly done and to the point where I could work on the next pieces of the puzzle. The frame where the engine sits includes two side frames and the housing for the drive train that goes to the sprockets of the tracks. While the instructions suggest that the radiator and engine should be glued together and then the whole thing put into the frame, I decided otherwise. The radiator only mounts in one place so I did that first. Then the engine was set in. The side frames needed a bit of carving away in a couple of spots to allow the engine mounts to sit firmly. Next is to paint the engine and frames separately so that there won't be any unnecessary paint buildup. It's almost a waste to put so much into the portion of the model that will never be seen but that's the way it is supposed to go together. Some of the pieces were so small, I substituted craft wire and small Evergreen stock. When the engine gets painted it will be hilighted with various shades to show off some of the more prominent pieces, some oil stains and dirt.
Recommended Posts