Diecast Masters Caterpillar Micro Constructor

in2tech Oct 15, 2021

  1. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    Now I have to buy a cab and trailer for my $15.00 1:160 Excavator, and some workers, and.... how much is this gonna cost me in the end :) For real where do I buy a trailer like that for the construction equipment?
     
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  2. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    LOL, the trailer I have is from GHQ and was very simple to assemble. It came from a non TB advertiser that still has some in stock for just under $11 each. I actually have two. The other is loaded with a transformer.
    lowbow6.JPG
     
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  3. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    Pea gravel is two words. Part of a grading system. Stone taken from river beds that are round, smooth, clean and easy to work with and walk on with bare feet.
    "The old man coming out".

    Rich
     
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  4. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    [​IMG]
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    Looks right to me compared to other items? What say you?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  5. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    Here is a video of it!



    Time to order the lowboy now.!

    lowboy.jpg
     
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  6. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

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    I have several of these under the Norscot brand name that I bought at a Walmart back some years ago. I think I paid $5.00 for them. At the time they filled a void in the hobby for construction equipment as a low cost alternative to GHQ kits. Sometime back, I believe about four years ago, I was able to pick up some construction equipment made by Tomytec. These were plastic injection molded and had finer detail than the Norscot stuff. I also have an excavator similar to the Tomytec one but made by a different company. I can't tell the name as the printing is in Japanese. The Norscot equipment is now relegated to background scenery.
     
  7. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

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    The Mini Metals low boy trailer is smaller than the GHQ one. My Norscot excavator just barely fits on it but somehow the two just don't look right together. The Tomytec equipment is way too big. Also noted is that on my two samples the fifth wheel plate on the tractor was installed backwards. Not a biggie if the trailer is hooked up to it but noticeable as a stand alone model
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2021
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  8. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    The Japanese manufacturers can be another source for equipment trailers. This one is from F-Toys, but TomyTec also has one that is available periodically.

    [​IMG]

    More information for converting a 1:150 scale trailer to work with 1:160 scale models can be found here: http://nscalevehicles.org/resources/f-toys_collection.php

    Carter
     
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  9. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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  10. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

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    Somehow those two trailers don't appear to be the same scale. Both are 'gooseneck' design but the GHQ with three axle is obviously a larger trailer with apparently a detachable gooseneck for loading. The Mini Metals has end ramps for loading which is typical of trailers designed for smaller loads. The camera angle may interject some distortion as the Mini Metals seems to have a wider deck than the GHQ one and the deck in front of the wheels is a tad shorter.
     
  11. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    The Mini Metals trailer is a tab wider than the GHQ model.
     
  12. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    Here is another 1:160 scale lowboy (this one from Showcase Miniatures) that is really nice. :)

    [​IMG]

    The trailer is spin cast pewter with laser cut wood decking.

    And here is a "street level view" of the CMW trailer being pulled an Atlas LNT-9000.

    [​IMG]

    The 3D printed CMW trailer has been repainted and has had the wheels replaced with the wheels from a Kato container chassis.

    Carter
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2021
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  13. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Got a chance earlier in the week to snap a couple of quick pics of some of the Norscot models I have next to some other N scale vehicles for comparison

    The dump truck and bull dozer next to an Atlas Ford F150, a River Point Station (now Atlas) Ford F250 and an Atlas Ford Explorer
    20211017_130109.jpg

    The Front End Loader and the Excavator next to the Atlas Ford Explorer, Atlas Ford tractor w/ GHQ Lowboy trailer and an unknown brand sedan that came fro Amazon
    20211017_130118.jpg

    At some point later there was a Cat Cement Mixer that was done. Was never able to get one and have always wondered how it compares.....
     
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  14. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    Those look awesome, not like I can tell if one is off by a bit either way. Now thinking about getting the Diecast Masters NEW set. Oh my, more money to be spent maybe, and it's BNSF FAN fault too :) Just kidding! Really looks good!
     
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  15. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    I found and purchased a very reasonably priced Diecast Masters Cat 320 keychain (from Action Farm Toys in Billings, MT), because that Micro Constructor appeared to be the closest to 1:160 scale. Comparing the height and size of the cab to similarly (and known to be N scale) models is probably the best indicator for telling how close the model is to 1:160 scale without taking specific measurements. The photo below compares a GHQ Komatsu PC400-LC excavator, the Diecast Masters Cat 320 excavator, and a Lemke Leibherr Compact excavator.

    [​IMG]

    As you can see, all three excavators have very similar sized cabs. I also made some “rough” measurements with a scale ruler, and the Diecast Masters Cat 320 scales out very close to 1:160 for most dimensions.

    Action Farm Toys also had an Ertl Tomy John Deere K Series wheel loader keychain (possibly a JD 524K) that I purchased with the Diecast Masters keychain. While the JD doesn’t have much for detail, it does scale out very close to 1:160. The photo below compares a GHQ Cat IT 18F wheel loader, the Ertl Tomy John Deere wheel loader, and a Wiking Hanomag B11 wheel loader.

    [​IMG]

    Again, comparing the size of the operator’s cab/platform is the best indicator for the similarity in scale short of actual measurements.


    And finally, this link shows that Diecast Masters will also have a Cat D8T keychain available, and it looks like it could be very close to 1:160 scale as well. https://diecastmastersamerica.com/c...ts/cat®-micro-d8t-track-type-tractor-keychain

    Carter
     
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  16. MRLdave

    MRLdave TrainBoard Member

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    There was a whole line of WW2 stuff also that Walmart used to sell.........They were also a bit over sized, but made good flatcar loads and they were much more consistent in size with each other. The key to the construction minis is to ignore the model they represent.......the bulldozer is huge for a D5, but would be OK for a larger model. Cat makes stuff in a wide range of sizes. I made one of the loader/backhoes into a Herzog Car-topper........the outriggers and bucket were perfect width to straddle a hopper.
     
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  17. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    Action Farm Toys is also known as Action Toys, and they now has the Diecast Masters Cat D8T keychain, so I ordered one. It came today, and at first glance, it appears very close to 1:160 scale. Shown below in a GHQ Cat D8, the Diecast Masters Cat D8T, and a TomyTec 1:150 scale Komatsu D 155AX.

    [​IMG]

    I will get measurements with my digital caliper to confirm the scale later this weekend.

    Carter
     
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  18. in2tech

    in2tech TrainBoard Member

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    So I think I am going to order most of these items for my layout. They are a great price as I paid like $15.00 for my 1:160 CAT backhole, but it was also Free shipping on Amazon too. Not sure about the Deere Yellow loader, is there such a thing? It's a knock off right? But the other stuff should work well enough. I would never notice a slight difference in scale?

    https://actionfarmtoys.com/collections/key-chains
     
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  19. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    The John Deere loader is a very reasonable representation of a K series loader. The K series replaced the J series (which was similar in appearance) in 2008. https://www.constructionequipmentgu...ries-includes-eight-wheel-loader-models/10493

    While I initially thought the Ertl/Tomy keychain was a JD 524K, I now believe it best represents a JD 544K.

    Carter
     
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  20. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    It looks like the Diecast Masters Cat 320 and Cat D8T are closer to 1:150 scale than 1:160 scale. :(

    However, I am not sure if most viewers will be able to perceive the difference since we have so few 1:160 scale models of modern construction equipment. o_O

    Carter
     

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