Thanks for your inspiring comments, Michael
This is my second scratch-build, and hopefully won't be the last) I have built a truck based on Tamiya components earlier on. I look forward to finish the excavator, and to get started moving some gravel..
Have nearly completed the stick and boom now. I did discover that I have used a bit too thick plates in the construction so the items got about 25% heavier than 'to scale'. Well, it's about 0.5 kg/1 lbs 'overweight, but there will be no lack of hydraulic power anyway with my pump setup
