Based in Alberta

[Rascall Hunter]

Hi folks!
Belated "new member" post here - I first came to the forum and joined shortly after Joe/Lil Giants was on "youTube GOLD!" I don't remember how I first stumbled onto that show, but that and some of the videos of the European shows opened my eyes to the fact that my childhood dreams of "construction toys that *ACTUALLY WORK*" was in fact a reality.

As such, I have not yet acquired any; I am in the process of figuring out how to squeeze a little bit out of the monthly budget to get started, most likely with the likes of the Huina 1570/1573/1580 trio (dump truck, wheel loader, and excavator). Either that, or Bruder conversions.

Longer term visions are doing yard/garden work around my place with said equipment, and working on building heavier/larger versions, either from kits or scratch. The various threads on here are quite inspiring. "Bailey's Landscaping" just might show up as a thread on the Construction Sites and Companies forum...

Looking forward to more time digging around on here, and time digging in the yard.

All the best,

Reuben Bailey
Leduc, Alberta

[skeeter]

The huina excavators with a lil modification can be GREAT machines! The Bruder conversions are good machines as well. For almost a year PNWSTE had ONLY a Bruder tracked loader as our primary loading equipment. Several videos of converting the Bruder toys to RC can be found on my YouTube. I post weekly videos of our clubs RC gatherings there as well.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_jBXcfmjh1FYs7UsG7eixw?view_as=subscriber

[Rascall Hunter]

Hey Skeeter! Any particular mods you would recommend for the Huina 580? I’m guessing weight and power/speed are most likely the weak points?

[skeeter]

The 580 if I remember correct already has screw driven actuators to operate the booms, & bucket, unlike it's predecessors.

I would add some weight into the counterweight area. I think they are still a lil light in that area.

[Lil Giants]

Welcome to the forum Reuben.

They are pricey but good fun well spent.

[Rascall Hunter]

Thanks for that, Skeeter - more weight is often the answer with these things, I'd say. Looks like the main boom is driven by a gear still (a close look at Sandbox Time videos is where I was seeing it), but the stick and bucket are linear actuators.

Thanks for the welcome, Joe!

[Stuff]

Howdy from SE Sask!