Tamiya Komatsu G40 Bulldozer - Build Challenge 2016

[NEMMRRC]

Howdy. I am building a Japanese Navy Komatsu G40 bulldozer by Tamiya:


Later.

Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos

[NEMMRRC]

This will be a true challenge indeed. The instructions inside the box are in Japanese. It's no wonder I got the kit for a bargain at the 2016 National Narrow Gauge Convention:


Later.

Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos

[Raymo]

Tamiya's instructions are pretty good though because they show what colors you'll need. Somewhere I've seen a resin grille someone did to American-ize this kit.

[NEMMRRC]

I've only ever built two plastics models before. One was a car back when I was in my late teens. The second was a biplane when I was in my mid 20's. Both models I bungled up real bad. So, I aim to redeem myself with this model.


I am following the advice of these two resources on YouTube:
Doctor Faust

Genesis Models

Later.


Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos

[NEMMRRC]

Tamiya's instructions are pretty good though because they show what colors you'll need. Somewhere I've seen a resin grille someone did to American-ize this kit.

I may search for that grill. But honestly, I may just build it as is. Time will tell.


Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos

[NEMMRRC]

I found the real instructions sheet. It's in multiple languages and has many isometric illustrations:


Later.

Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos

[NEMMRRC]

Hete is a little history about the Komatsu G40 bulldozer as provided in the kit's instructions:

At the beginning of the Pacific war, the Imperial Japanese Navy captured U.S. airfields and became aware of the highly efficient machines used to construct them. Up until that point, airfields in Japan were entirely built by hand, so to speed up the process the IJN ordered Komatsu to produce a bulldozer in December 1942. Komatsu, which had already successfully produced a domestic tractor, used their G40 farm tractor as a base and equipped it with a hydraulic dozer blade to create Japan's first bulldozer. From January 1943 through to the end of the war, approximately 150 units were built and used by the IJN engineering units at northern and southern fronts. The G40 bulldozer laid the foundation for postwar construction machines which greatly contributed to the reconstruction and development of Japan.

Later.

Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos

[NEMMRRC]

I'd like to have a photo of the prototype to reference as I build it. Google is more eager to provide photos of built models than it is the real deal:
http://www.google.com/search?q=ijn+komatsu+g40

Yahoo and Bing did return at least one photo of the real deal (albeit at a museum):
http://www.sealmodel.com/images/super/TAM32565_photo.jpg


Duck Duck Go returned a black and white photo which may prove helpful during the build:
http://maruhashi.info/bin/komatsu/komatsu05-s.jpg

You can purchase this kit for a staggering $10 here:
http://www.sealmodel.com/product_details.php?item_id=159
Hmmm. I paid $20 at the show. The price tag on the box says $23.50. Oh well. It's just toy trains.


Later.

Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos

[NEMMRRC]

There are 2 parts sprues in the kit. The parts remind me a lot of the Tichy kits. The parts are cast crisply and with no flash. I like that.





As noted earlier by Raymo the instructions reference what paints to color the model. The paints referenced are Tamiya paints. I've not worked with Tamiya paints before. I will go to the hobby shop and procure them over the next couple of days. I intend to air brush this model. Again, a true challenge for me. I've only ever air brushed anything once (a clinic at a narrow gauge convention). You can see the "X" numbers point the areas painted by that corresponding paint color. Areas not marked by an "X" number are painted the main body color, TS-66 IJN Gray.





The type in the instructions sheet is even smaller than that on FSM kits. Fortunately there is not much writing in the instructions sheet as the isometric drawings do all the directing.

So far this is turning out to be fun.

Later.

Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos

[Raymo]

Tamiya paints in the bottle are an acrylic with a real funny smell. Their spray cans are a lacquer paint but spray really well. Watch out when using A&I, it will soften the acrylic's.

[NEMMRRC]

Tamiya paints in the bottle are an acrylic with a real funny smell. Their spray cans are a lacquer paint but spray really well. Watch out when using A&I, it will soften the acrylic's.

Thanks for the tip.

I've tried the Tamiya spray cans once. I used a desert tan to prime some FSM castings. It dries fast.

Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos

[nextceo]

Hey Jamie,

   Do you plan on making this tractor look old or new? If youre going to put some scratch marks on this bad boy, then you should prime it first. I saw you put an AK Interactive Video in your thread so I would go with that theme and start with AK Interactive's Gray Primer Color, then come back and spray on their Rust Color and then finally paint it with a top coat - such as dark gray which is shown on your box. When you begin chipping the top coat, you'll start uncovering the 2 under layers giving you a really neat look. For my Sierrawest Cat Tractor I built for my current diorama, I used this process...I posted a pic to see if you're interested in that type of effect. After you're done seeing it, if you want me to take it down, just let me know as I dont want to take away from your build thread.

If you want further details on how you would chip the paint, please let me know...
Alan

[NEMMRRC]

Hi Alan,

Thanks for the tip and photo. I definitely will use them. At this point I know I don't want to leave the dozer looking brand new. Right now I'm not entirely sure how old I want it to look though.

Thanks again.

Jaime

[cuse]

Great model Alan!  Looks like a pretty simple build but an amazing opportunity for painting and weathering...that's definitely an appealing combo. I'll be watching!


John

[NEMMRRC]

I did not get a chance to go by the hobby shop for the paints. I will try to go tomorrow. Meanwhile, I cleaned off my work bench.



It's been a long while since my wok bench has been that clean. I'm planning on dirtying it up soon. I learned a trick when I was first building Jordans, if you model on top of a piece of white paper it shines more light on the parts you are working on.

Later.

Jaime
Narrow Gauge Convention photos