Komatsu 1/48 Japanese Bulldozer
This is the Tamiya 1/48 Komatsu G40 bulldozer, built a couple of years ago. It’s the second 1/48 Tamiya armour kit I’ve done and I can’t say enough about how nice they are. This is stress-free modelling at its best: every piece just slots into place as it should, detail is sharp, the tracks are one-piece styrene mouldings and the whole package exudes quality.
After just a couple of evenings the model was ready for the fun stages, painting and weathering. I used the salt technique for the random, organic rust on the blade and the patchy paintwork on the hood, but most of the chipping and scratching was just painted on with dark-brown Vallejo acrylic and a fine brush. Pigments, a silver pencil and watercolours were also pressed into service.
3 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Morne Meyer said on October 20, 2014
This little gem cries out to be part of a diorama. I love the weathering. Absolutely SUPERB !!!
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Thanks Morne. I like the idea of a diorama but then I’d have to paint… figures.
Simon Whitney said on October 20, 2014
Looks really sweet Mike.
As Morne pointed out, it would look great in a diorama.
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Cheers Simon!
Craig Abrahamson said on October 20, 2014
Well done, sir….well done indeed.
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Thanks for your comment, Craig.
AL HOFFMAN said on October 20, 2014
Looks ready to go to work Mike.
Very sharp.
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Cheers Al 🙂
Magnus Fridsell said on October 20, 2014
Oh my! Everything that runs on caterpillar tracks pulls my strudel! If I wasn’t a mechanical engineer, I probably would have liked to operate some kind of modern counterpart to your model! Lovely!
Regards
Magnus
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
I agree, caterpillar tracks are cool, as long as I don’t have to assemble them link by link. Thanks for commenting Magnus.
Johannes Gerl said on October 20, 2014
Incredible.
The shield looks almost like you have supernatural powers, Mike.
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Haha, if only 😉 Cheers Halvar!
Richard Mcstay said on October 20, 2014
Amazing! That is unreal! You certainly have a talent Mike!
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Thanks for the kind comment Richard.
California Steve said on October 20, 2014
Great weathering Mike. Looks like she did her share of hard work.
Very impressive.
California Steve
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Cheers Steve!
Bernd Müller said on October 21, 2014
Thats awesome, Mike, look like a real one, GREAT !
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Thank you Bernd 🙂
Mike Maynard said on October 21, 2014
Great job, excellent weathering application!
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Thanks Mike.
George Williams said on October 21, 2014
Really neat looking little model, like the others have said, the finish and weathering if terrific, but, it definitely cries for some kind of diorama setting.
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Thanks George. As I commented to Morne, the diorama idea is great but I’m hopeless at figure painting.
Rick Wilkes said on October 21, 2014
Outstanding Mike, superb finish
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Thank you Rick.
Milan D. said on October 21, 2014
Great job Mike!
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Thank you Milan!
Bill Koppos said on October 21, 2014
Very realistic. Those tracks are posed perfectly, look just like the John Deere 350 Dozers I used to work on.
Mike Grant said on October 22, 2014
Cheers Bill, that’s all Tamiya’s doing; the tracks come moulded as complete, one-piece styrene parts. It’s probably the easiest kit I’ve ever built.
Frank Cronin said on February 27, 2015
Bill,
A beautiful little model. It looks almost real…..
Except for that paint bottle.
Jon H Ruehle said on July 1, 2017
I love the paint chipping and the rust. Outstanding work. Makes me want to buy one and build it!
(It’s interesting, the model manufacturer molded in the name “KOMATU” instead of “KOMATSU”. Copyright workaround?)
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on July 1, 2017
Built and weathered to perfection!