Trumpeter 1/35 BTM-3 High Speed Trench Digger

[Dave Ward]

Instead of using my normal use of Tamiya Extra Thin, I decided to give this a try ( passed on from my brother, who couldn't get on with it ).

It's very thin & has a tiny brush applicator. Initially I was quite happy, but after assembling track runs & allowing to dry, I found that they were very fragile & came apart with minimal handling. I reverted back to my usual TET! The Mig glue will be OK on bits that aren't handled during assembly - not these...................

By using the sharpest sprue cutters, there will be no clean up on the links. They fit together well ( not workable ) & stay put until the glue is applied.
The chassis still has some tow cables to add, but they will be put on in the final assembly - this can now be put aside & tomorrow I'm moving onto the cab.
Dave

[Graeme C.]

It's definately an unusual beast Dave, I'll follow along.

[Dave Ward]

The cab appears, not many parts, but painting will be a bit tricky, as there are decals not only for the dashboard, but for placards on the cab rear wall

The MiG Ammo blue cement is very thin & goes through a joint in a flash!
I commented in an earlier post that the engine was incomplete without a cooling system - this was spotted on Scalemates.............

Can't say I'm interested, - there is also a massive Voyager PE set for the BTM-3 - at £42 + p&p - looks a little over the top!
Dave

[adt70hk]

Coming on very nicely indeed Dave. The tracks look particularly good.

Well done so far.

ATB

Andrew

[Dave Ward]

I wasn't intending to do anything today, but somehow, I ended up doing quite a bit...............

I think I can say that my mojo seems to be coming back to me - I've even looked out my next build - the HobbyBoss Nagmachon ( Doghouse II ) - which I don't think has appeared on the Forum yet!
Dave

[geegad]

been out the game so long only ever used tamiya extra thin might give that glue ago next...and cracking work on the tracks at least they are out the way now bud

[Dave Ward]

Cab is now finished & can be put aside..............

I've left the windscreen wipers off, I may need to mask the windows for final oversprays. I may leave one of the doors open, so they're loose.
I couldn't resist a bit of dry fitting..............
It's big.................. the frame & bucket wheel won't add much to the width, but height & length?
Now onto the really interesting bits!
Dave

[Dave Ward]

This is a complicated kit, and at times the instructions don't seem to reflect the parts, or the best way to assemble them
For all the chain drives ( all made the same way )

Which would be fine if the sprocket teeth fitted into the chain - but they don't - I trimmed off the teeth in the area where it is in contact with the chain.
The instructions would have you assemble the bucket raise/lower drive as one assembly

then fit it to the decking...............but there's no positive fit between the parts, apart from the fragile chains, so I'll assemble it on the decking, rather than try to get it right in one piece

One thing that is thankfully correct is the part numbering - the two large frames look the same, but they aren't, there are subtle differences, so take care to keep the parts separate

The chain drive ( middle parts ) is sandwiched between the two halves of each side frame - I've prepainted these, as it'd be a tricky job, painting after assembly.
This is a challenging build, but I have to say I'm enjoying it - it's not a shake 'n bake model, far from it, I'm thinking this has really given the mojo a real boost!! :thumb2:
Dave

[Guest]

That looks like another one of those models where the instructions were drawn by someone who’s never actually built a kit except on a computer …

[JR]

Very nice Dave, and you managed to get those chains off the sprues in one piece. That I would have thought would be one of the hardest parts of the build up to now.

[David Lovell]

Great stuff so far Dave ,I've got the Ak thin in red and blue never really had probs ,TET is just so reliable always been there bit like your favorite boxers comfortable if you know what i mean. I find it interesting you can see with the coloured cement just how much ground the thin stuff covers makes you feel like a messy worker you just don't see it with the TET. Dont know if you've tried it but the mister hobby extra thin is very good ive even got that in black beginning to think I've a cement fetish. Dave

[Dave Ward]

Very nice Dave, and you managed to get those chains off the sprues in one piece. That I would have thought would be one of the hardest parts of the build up to now.

I've got a new pair of sprue cutters - no known make, but they are very sharp & I can get really close to the parts - I didn't have to clean up any of the track links!
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Assembly of the side frames - very tricky, three hands ( or more ) would be useful.................

Getting all the pins on the chain rollers was a real challenge - on the face of it quite simple, but in practice, an hour or so & a cup of strong coffee!
Dave

[Dave Ward]

The drive to the bucket wheel raise/lower. It was much easier to fit in separate pieces, rather than the single piece, as in the instructions.

I was rather dubious about how well these parts were going to fit - but the engineering & fit is spot on! No adjustment needed, just a little nifty tweezer work!
That's it for the day, the light is fading fast...........
Dave

[Scratchbuilder]

Dave
Just caught up on your build and pleased I did, I knew it looked familiar as there is one hiding in the stash, so will be using you as the guide for a future build, and it looks like it is behaving and going together without too many problems. Looking forward to more.
Mike.