KATO HD308US

[Benni]

Well, for the last months there haven't been much activity, or fun.
My back injury has been acting up and I've had a lot of changes in my medicine, fx started on a daily doze of morphine which comes with it's side effects (fatigue, dizziness and upset stomach).
Then coupled with that we finally have an answer for our son, as we suspected he is autistic and does have his challenges, which has been increasingly difficult over the last year.

Beside all the obstacles I'm still designing and building, just on a much slower rate than before (which was slow to begin with)
Not much has happened on the Scania, order a bunch of wrong parts and redesign things, so I've worked more and more on the side project.

Rather than to squeeze it in the same thread I just wanted to start a new one to keep it simple.

Like the title says; it's a KATO HD308US, a small 8ton excavator.
Why? The same reason as the Scania, I used to work on one of those. In fact that was the first time I had taken over a new machine (only had 10hours on the clock)

The undercarriage; as with everything, scale realism is priority for me.
there is a 6mm steel plate both for a base and weight. The tracks are a 3-piece setup with a 3mm pin and 2x 1,6x5mm bolt each which already has a flaw and needs a little change

IMG_20230506_221634_1 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/185289350@N06/]Benedikt Bj. Kristj

[Benni]

The Cabin; as with the undercarriage there is a 6mm steel plate for base and weight, although that might have been a bit much but that's what I've got so that's what I'll start with.
Other than that, it's just a bunch of plastic with some screws, dollhouse hinges and magnets.

IMG_20230501_214023_7 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/185289350@N06/]Benedikt Bj. Kristj

[Blender]

Love the tiny machines! What are the approximate undercarriage dimensions? Will it be electric or hydraulic?

[Benni]

Originally Posted by Blender

Love the tiny machines! What are the approximate undercarriage dimensions? Will it be electric or hydraulic?

Thanks, why does it always have to be "bigger is better"
For a small contractor it's a good sized machine that is plenty capable.
As for the size, it's just a little too wide to fit a standard dump bed measured a little over 170mm in width, but it should look awesome on a 2axle flatbed truck or a double axle tag trailer.
As much I would want to do hydraulic I don't have the tools or experience, so electric it will be but who knows what will happen later on

[frizzen]

Sorry to hear about all the challenges, that sounds like a really rough time!

Looks like a great start on a cool little machine!
I'm loving all the detail you've already got on there

[Benni]

Originally Posted by frizzen

Sorry to hear about all the challenges, that sounds like a really rough time!

Looks like a great start on a cool little machine!
I'm loving all the detail you've already got on there

Thanks, popping in here once and awhile to keep up all of the builds going on and get inspirations really helps to keep me from going insane.

And yes, I try to add as many detail as I possibly can but I'm pushing the limit of the printer I've got, I see a resin printer in the near future.

A working model this year; that is my goal. If it will be a useable model we will just have to wait and see

[Benni]

Just a little update.
I was able to spend few hours fixing some "mistakes" and trying out some of the electronics.
The light might be a bit too much


And of course, finally, a little show=off video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IILW4kj5Tc

[jerry56]

Progress is therapy .... Nice first test...

[Benni]

Originally Posted by jerry56

Progress is therapy .... Nice first test...

Thanks, all though I still need to make a whole lot of track links I do want to try fitting most of the electronics in during the weekend. Just to get a feel for everything and see what needs changing.

It will be nice to have a remote controlled vehicle again, it's been just over 3 years since I sold my last RC and only been collecting parts, piling up failed 3D prints and building since then.
The best part about it all is when my son sees the excavator or half a truck he gets really excited.

[jerry56]

"The best part about it all is when my son sees the excavator or half a truck he gets really excited."
That makes it all worth while....

[Benni]

Originally Posted by jerry56

"The best part about it all is when my son sees the excavator or half a truck he gets really excited."
That makes it all worth while....

It really does, enjoying the little things in life

But sadly nothing RC related happened last weekend as I was hoping. The whole family ended up sick, but thankfully not all at once, and to make things even more difficult the printer decided to start with yet another fault...

[kerst]

Nice project! Thanks for sharing!

Kerst