@petbat - thanks a lot Peter! I’m glad you like it!
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Not only the wrong fuel tank, but the wrong cab floor went into my first attempt. All corrected and the cab is a dry-fit for now
RTFI Den………..
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The tractor becomes a bulldozer. The “lip” on the front edge of the engine compartment hood is part ot the panel’s design.
Another step closer.
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Lookin’ good!
One thing - that “lip” you’re writing about looks like it’s cracked in your model - I would like to encourege you to fix it. In my experience if you superglue a piece of styrene in that crack, then you can later sand it smooth and after repaint the repair is invisible.
Have a nice day!
Paweł
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Hi Pawel, thanks for the input. I agree it looks a little “off” in that pic, but that molded shape of the front edge of the engine compartment roof looks very deliberate once you see it close-up.
It seems to be an additional air intake when seen from the front. Anyway I’ve written to Khang at HL questioning this aspect of the kit piece, and I’ll leave it “as is” until I hear from him.
Thanks again.
Den
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Hello!
In my kit it was constant width:
I don’t see a point in other variants for a difference here - but of course I can’t be sure. Let’s see what Khoang says.
Have a nice day!
Paweł
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Yep, that front lip is a whole different shape to mine. That said, your cab layout looks different too and the lights in front of the dashboard arent there on mine. Your air cleaner intake is in a different position too. Given yours is a Vietnam-era track, I’m guessing it would be a D7F. The G model (mine e.g.) was introduced in ‘74, pretty much after the Vietnam war era There are probably quite a few other differences between the F and G I’d imagine
Intrigued anyway and looking forward to Khang’s response.
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The Vietnam series were the E. I ran those. The Fs were used, if I remember right, starting in late 72 and not sent to Nam as things were winding down. I ran those stateside. My guess would be that was an air vent, added because of the side panels causing heat buildup. I know the Fs had side panels, but see yours doesn’t. Wayne
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Hey Wayne. Thanks for that info, it’s interesting that you drove those E models in Vietnam. I guess the Rome Plow that Pawel is talking about is an E model then. Mine is a G model, used during Op Desert Storm and I figured that scoop on the hood was for ventilation but its good to hear it from an experienced guy
Thank You
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Great pic Wayne. Yeah, we were all alot slimmer in those days!
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When I joined in 71 I went thru Shake and Bake, and was trained on the Rome Plows. When I got in country they were being phased out, so I ended up in A Co. 92nd Engrs. We had 2 D7Es, one with a winch and one with the rippers. Mine had the winch. When I got back stateside I went to D Co. 46th Engrs at Ft. MacClellan and ran the D7Fs. Years later, I found out one of my biker buddies had been in 62nd Landclearing and ran the plows.Always wished I could have talked to him more, but we didn’t talk about things back then. He passed 2 years ago, but I still hope to build one in his memory sometime. Wayne
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Wayne, great picture! Can you write me what it says exactly over the radiator (the bumper numbers)? Thanks in advance and have a nice day!
Paweł
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Morning Pawel. It is ENGCOM 159GP 92E A131. This means Engineer Command 159th Group 92nd Engineer Battalion A Company and131 is the vehicle number. A mouth full to say. Hope that helps. Wayne
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Thanks a lot Wayne! I’ve never seen a number with ENGCOM in it - the remainder I get. I’ve found that trying to guess what the bumper number would be (for a model) can sometimes be very tricky, because the ones making those numbers up sometimes choose organizations that are quite surprising - like that ENGCOM, or IFFV (1st field force vietnam) or even USARV (US Army Vietnam). So it’s always good to have a nice photo handy. Sometimes as a modeller you hit a jackpot with both bumper numbers and hood numbers on the same photo - like with my flammable/potable tanker.
Thanks again and have a nice day!
Paweł
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The time frame can make it confusing. Early on the 18th Brigade was in the 1st and 2nd Corp areas, while the 20th Brigade had 3rd and 4th Corp. They were all under Eng Com, but considered separate until later in the war. By the time I was there in late 71, all units were standing down, prior to withdrawal of our troops, so were listed under Eng. Com. So it would have been 20th BD 159th GP 92E A131.. Hope that helps. Wayne
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Just to make it more confusing,look at the markings on the truck I drove after transferring to Nha Trang. It is ENG GP 2ER 213, basically meaning Engineer Group 2nd Engineer Region vehicle 213. Name on the windshield is Wheat Straw, after name of rolling papers. Don’t ask why, ha ha. Wayne
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Nice truck Wayne and I really get her name! Sad to see HL have discontinued their dump body set for the M54, M813 etc.
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Thanks, didn’t know that they discontinued them. I got one early, before the AFV Club kit came out, and also the Real Model one, altho I haven’t compared them. If you have a project in mind let me know and we might work something out, as I will probably never get them all built. Wayne
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