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1/16th radio-controlled scale model of Russian CHTZ T-800 dozer

tournaphil

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Oct 3, 2011
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That is awesome would you happen to know where I could buy a rc tractor for my son he would get a kick out of playing with something like that I admire your creativity I don't think I could do something like that

Thanks for your interest Jakebrake. I don't know of any off the shelf RC model dozers that are not simply plastic toys with little electric motors like those in a model boat and wouldn't last five minutes. There are a couple of websites around devoted to making them on a hobby basis. Most though not all seem to be those Cat Bruder models with small electric motors rero-fitted using parts from expensive hobby suppliers. The models I am making are in a differentiated by the fact that they are built using industrial components, not hobby shop lines. So to summarize my builds are really industrial builds. Anything I bought from hobby shops quickly failed, hence I'm using industrial components or I make my own which is way more rewarding. Look at my crawler tracks as an example. Half and half.

You can do that too. Why not consider building one with your Son together instead of buying one at Walmart. I don't know how old he is but that doesn't matter if he's using hand tools. You could draw up the plans together, and teach him skills such as scaling drawings from manufacturers photos and drawings, designing the basic model, creating the plans to send off to a laser cutter and get a shop to TIG the thing together if you don't weld and then start building. There's an awful lot of marking out, drilling and filing and hand work involved in these large models. You can teach him to use hand or 12V hand held drills, the art of hand filing and all the other hand skills he needs. And then he can learn the art of setting up radio control to run it it which case he'll learn about basic electricity. It would be a good project for you and your son to do together and he can learn hand-tool skills and tech drawing then he can make anything he likes.

If that's all too big to start off, you could get a large Tonka metal dozer from Walmart which puts you half way there and fit some motors and controllers and a drive arrangement and install radio control. The bigger the better since it's easier to fit components inside the thing. Again, you'll be doing plenty of hand metal work so you can teach you Son those skills and build it together. Of course that's gonna be a toy, not a scale model. I'll be at BOTW and have a build photo album with me so ask around for me and I'll be happy to show you.
 

Jakebreak

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2016
Messages
273
Location
Bakersfield Ca
Occupation
operator/pipelayer/mechanic
Thanks for your interest Jakebrake. I don't know of any off the shelf RC model dozers that are not simply plastic toys with little electric motors like those in a model boat and wouldn't last five minutes. There are a couple of websites around devoted to making them on a hobby basis. Most though not all seem to be those Cat Bruder models with small electric motors rero-fitted using parts from expensive hobby suppliers. The models I am making are in a differentiated by the fact that they are built using industrial components, not hobby shop lines. So to summarize my builds are really industrial builds. Anything I bought from hobby shops quickly failed, hence I'm using industrial components or I make my own which is way more rewarding. Look at my crawler tracks as an example. Half and half.

You can do that too. Why not consider building one with your Son together instead of buying one at Walmart. I don't know how old he is but that doesn't matter if he's using hand tools. You could draw up the plans together, and teach him skills such as scaling drawings from manufacturers photos and drawings, designing the basic model, creating the plans to send off to a laser cutter and get a shop to TIG the thing together if you don't weld and then start building. There's an awful lot of marking out, drilling and filing and hand work involved in these large models. You can teach him to use hand or 12V hand held drills, the art of hand filing and all the other hand skills he needs. And then he can learn the art of setting up radio control to run it it which case he'll learn about basic electricity. It would be a good project for you and your son to do together and he can learn hand-tool skills and tech drawing then he can make anything he likes.

If that's all too big to start off, you could get a large Tonka metal dozer from Walmart which puts you half way there and fit some motors and controllers and a drive arrangement and install radio control. The bigger the better since it's easier to fit components inside the thing. Again, you'll be doing plenty of hand metal work so you can teach you Son those skills and build it together. Of course that's gonna be a toy, not a scale model. I'll be at BOTW and have a build photo album with me so ask around for me and I'll be happy to show you.
Thanks for the advice I will defiantly have to look into something along those lines he's 4.5 years old and loves equipment I was hoping to make it to the tractor show on the coast next weekend since it's only 2 hrs from me but I'm going to be in Japan and Hawaii cooking for a bunch of troops for a week hopefully next year I can make the show
 

old-iron-habit

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2012
Messages
4,233
Location
Moose Lake, MN
Occupation
Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
Thanks for the advice I will defiantly have to look into something along those lines he's 4.5 years old and loves equipment I was hoping to make it to the tractor show on the coast next weekend since it's only 2 hrs from me but I'm going to be in Japan and Hawaii cooking for a bunch of troops for a week hopefully next year I can make the show

It's always a great show. We just got squared away today so I can now go. I am leaving probably Tuesday. The thing about this years show is that it is also the ACMOCs national show. There will be more old iron than ever and also a lot of other stuff including tanks, other military, trains, WW2 warbirds, and many one off machines. We also have a memorial tribute and flyover at noon each day. Bring the troops and participate. If you can pull that off I'll get you free admission.
 

Jakebreak

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2016
Messages
273
Location
Bakersfield Ca
Occupation
operator/pipelayer/mechanic
It's always a great show. We just got squared away today so I can now go. I am leaving probably Tuesday. The thing about this years show is that it is also the ACMOCs national show. There will be more old iron than ever and also a lot of other stuff including tanks, other military, trains, WW2 warbirds, and many one off machines. We also have a memorial tribute and flyover at noon each day. Bring the troops and participate. If you can pull that off I'll get you free admission.
Man that sounds like an awesome show this year wish I could make it I'm going to have to shoot for next year we have had this trip in the works since October it's going to be a fun trip thank you for the offer I appreciate it I will have to see if my brother and some of his wounded warrior buddies would like to go
 

tournaphil

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Joined
Oct 3, 2011
Messages
79
Location
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Well after a few months at the historic tractor shows, mostly at Best of The West which was indeed was a great show, I've got busy on the 1/16th D575A-2 again. Here's a couple of progress pics. As can be seen, the frame is welded, (yes that's my welding and I'm proud of it), the drive system has been fitted, tested and removed and I'm currently working on the track frames, equalizer bar and belly pans for the tub. You can see by the design of the 1:1 frame from the parts book is actually a welded tub hull, like the Russian T-800, as opposed to the standard crawler tractor frame.

frame welding2 .jpg frame welded1.jpg D575A-2 frame hull.jpg
 

old-iron-habit

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Nov 22, 2012
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Moose Lake, MN
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Retired Cons't. Supt./Hospitals
Hi Phil, Your work is amazing and top notch. It was good to see you again at BOTW. Thanks for all the hard work you put in helping to set up the show. I got there to late to be of any meaningful help. Everyone said you came onboard early and did more than any one persons share. Also thanks for updating us on this model. I look forward to see it in action.
Roger
 

tournaphil

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Joined
Oct 3, 2011
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Location
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D575A-2-progress-3.jpg

Here's an update of the progress on the 1-16th scale radio controlled Komatsu D575A-2. The bare tractor is nearly completed and has has been field tested, mainly to test the tracks and rolling gear. We were unable to flip a track off even on a steep side slope so we are confident its going to work. We tested the drawbar pull at 32lbs at traction break on an airport-type bag scale. It will probably go to 40lbs drawbar with the added weight of the tilt-blade and singe-shank. The severe-service rock guards are all bolted up now as can be seen, top carrier rollers are on and the track frames are finished. The tensioners took me weeks to get working right to allow enough for running slack while keeping the chains tight enough to prevent a roll off. We got there in the end and the tensioners work nicely. The paint is preliminary, just to get it into the difficult places during assembly. The whole thing will be repainted again on completion. The paint was matched by a paint supplier correctly to the Komatsu paint colors for 2000 year machines. The straight-tilt bull blade and single shank are being cut at the laser now and I expect to have them tig-welded in a few weeks. It's the same blade that can be seen in the background pics. Draft arms are made and fit the trunnion balls with a bolted ball cap I got made on a mill by a specialist engineer. I'm going to replicate the Komatsu K-Link setup for the tilt. More soon.
Cheers
Phil

D575A-2-progress-2.jpg
 
Last edited:

tournaphil

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Joined
Oct 3, 2011
Messages
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Location
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Here's the finished model. Its weighing in at 77lbs. Fully raido controlled, everything works. It's a D575A-2 with straight-tilt bull-blade and variable-pitch multi-shank ripper.

D575A.jpg


D575A LH.jpg


Here's a photo of it beside the 1/16th scale Chtz T-800.
D575A and T-800.jpg
 

tournaphil

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Joined
Oct 3, 2011
Messages
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Location
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The 41's have now been completed and a seperate build thread has been added here.
 
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