The M972 Flatbed Truck/w Excavator

[tiking]

This is a build I have been working on for some time now. It's a heavy modification of the M915 kit from Trumpeter. As always, I decided to spice things up a bit. I wanted to do something different. So, I kit-bashed the trailer and tractor to bring forth this combo unit. The name came about by using the first number of the M915 and the 2 last digits of the M872 trailer. Hence, M972, which is a combination of both.
The Hitachi excavator is from Hasegawa which I built as a burnt out model. The idea came from the pic I found while searching the web. Lots of pics. Hope you like the results.

[tiking]

[tiking]

[stillp]

That's impressive, and a bit unusual!

Pete

[grumpa]

Absolutely FANTASTIC Charles! As per your norm
The burnt out cab effect is spot on. Chains, rust, grease...it has it all.
Weathering throughout is positively sublime

Heavy trucks and equipment is a much neglected subject matter, great job in bringing it to the fore.
What else can I say....Excellent work!

Jim

[tiking]

Thanks for that Jim.

[grumpa]

PS....for novices in the heavy equipment world, hydraulic lines often burst without notice and with hot hydraulic fluid coming in contact with hot exhaust pipes fires do often occur.

[Guest]

Nice build!!!

Ohhh....as always, I’m wondering where you obtain those wooden bases. They look massive!!!

[tiking]

Nice build!!!

Ohhh....as always, I’m wondering where you obtain those wooden bases. They look massive!!!

Thanks. Got them from the lumber yard. The frame was made for the length of the base. But it is just a temporary base as I got another plan for it.

[papa 695]

Truly outstanding work Charles, the build , painting and weathering everything.

[Steve Brodie]

Simply : WOW

[tiking]

Truly outstanding work Charles, the build , painting and weathering everything.

Thanks buddy. Much appreciated. glad you approve.

[tiking]

Simply : WOW

Thank you Steve. I enjoyed building it. The excavator was a little complicated in the beginning but got the hand of it after getting through the initial stages.