Once these were dry I added the other link side (Dc2) to the first pad, slipped the pin of the next link through the narrow side of the link, then added the other side, carefully gluing it to the track pad. Then, I glued a pin to the wide end of each link. I built one sprue of links at a time, first attaching one link side (Dc3) to each pad. Trying this with two of the links showed it wouldn’t work. If I properly understand the instructions, you are supposed to put all of the links together without glue, then glue the track pads in place. I found assembling the tracks challenging. I left the seat cushions and armrests off the model until major painting was finished.īuilding the track sponsons went pretty smoothly the only tricky part was holding all of the plates and road wheels in place while gluing the inner and outer sides. The only area that needed filler was the fuel tank behind the seat. As it turns out, I could have saved myself a lot of trouble because all of that detail gets covered by the floor, never to be seen again. I spent a lot of time fixing the control linkages in Step 23 after they broke into several parts. A switch to a different supplier is expected to alleviate the issue. According to MiniArt’s Facebook page, the company has experienced problems with its supply of plastic, causing quality problems. I replaced them with lead wire bent to shape. For example, both grab handles for the cab sides shattered during removal. The plastic is brittle and, despite my best efforts to be careful and gentle, some small parts broke as I cut them from the sprues. MiniArt molded the frame rails with the rear-drive housings making it easy to line everything up as you attach the rear box and cab. It is especially important to add the plumbing when shown in the instructions, as things can quickly get in your way if you try to add it later. It may seem strange to attach the radiator to the engine before adding the parts to the frame, but follow the instructions. Colors are referred to by basic name and Ammo of Mig Jimenez color numbers. The 20-page instruction booklet features detailed color diagrams for three marking options. The only things missing are electrical wiring and fuel lines. The engine is so detailed, I looked in the box for the 1/35 scale socket set to put it together. A small photo-etched fret supplies seven parts. The kit includes individual-link tracks and comprehensive piping for the ’dozer blade’s hydraulics.

A few parts were broken on the sprues in my kit, but I repaired them easily. Well molded, they show excellent detail, fine shapes to the point of being delicate, and minimal mold seams. MiniArt has answered the call with not one, but four kits of the D7: a basic tractor, an angled-blade bulldozer, an armored bulldozer, and the subject of this review, the basic bulldozer. For a long time, modelers have sought kits of heavy construction equipment used during World War II high on that list of wants was the Caterpillar D7 tractor.

D7 dozer cutting blade