1/12th scale road grader

[elderly]

For my next project I have decided to make a 1/12th scale road grader. I bought the plans direct from Gatto and although I had two wait about two and a half weeks they cost me about half what they would have if I had bought them from U-Build It.
The grader is just over 25inch long and 11 inch high. My first thoughts when I looked at the plans were WT# have I let myself in for. It is many times more complex than the stagecoach and the roadster.It looks to have more than five hundred components I have attached a pic of it and you can see the same grader on one of the photos Aussie attached to his post about models at Queenscliff.
My wife and I are going on a two week holiday in about eight days time so I don’t expect to get much done on it before then but what the heck it is going to be a long term project anyway. Below is a bit of the spiel that Gatto put out about it.
deep-treaded Wheels with Lugs, a detailed Engine. Transfer Case, & drive line. It's all there, from the full Frame, Sub-Frame, & Cradle Frame Assemblies, to the Ball Knuckles, Air Cleaner, Stack, Ladders, Grab Bars & simulated Rivets. OPERATIONAL PARTS include turning Circle Turret (toothed) with Cam, pivoting Blade, lifting Scarfire (Ripper) & Attachment Arm, unique pivoting & steering Wheels, Swivel Bar & Plates, 6 working Hydraulic Cylinders, hinged Tool Box, & even moving Control Levers.deep-treaded Wheels with Lugs, a detailed Engine. Transfer Case, & drive line. It's all there, from the full Frame, Sub-Frame, & Cradle Frame Assemblies, to the Ball Knuckles, Air Cleaner, Stack, Ladders, Grab Bars & simulated Rivets. OPERATIONAL PARTS include turning Circle Turret (toothed) with Cam, pivoting Blade, lifting Scarfire (Ripper) & Attachment Arm, unique pivoting & steering Wheels, Swivel Bar & Plates, 6 working Hydraulic Cylinders, hinged Tool Box, & even moving Control Levers.
Cheers Elderly

[crowie]

G'Day Elderly,
I'm in for the ride.
If you do a similar job to the previous models,
it'll be a joy to watch your progress.
I saw the same or very similar on a USA woodworkers site
and am very looking forward to see how it was done.
Thank you in advance for the time and effort to do the WIP photos,
they're much appreciated by us with lesser skills.
Cheers.
Crowie

PS - have a safe, relaxing and enjoyable your holiday...

[elderly]

I have decided to put my WIP on the road grader on this sub forum. On returning from holiday and seeing the response to the two threads on trains I don’t think anyone can argue that threads on this forum can’t be found. Almost ten thousand views on two threads. If we get behind this sub forum it could be quite successful and may become a forum in its own right. Just complaining will not get us anywhere.
I am making the grader mainly out of Jelutong. The components that are made from dowel will be Walnut and the tyres American Black Walnut
I have only one pic at this stage, as I said earlier this is going to be a long drawn out project and I will most likely have a break from time to time and do some smaller projects. The pic shows some of the components for the front frame.
Cheers Elderly

[crowie]

Welcome back from holidays Elderly.
I hope you had a relaxing & enjoyable time away.
Thank you for deciding to do the WIP photos and posting of your "grader".
It really helps others of us to learn how it's done
and I for one very much appreciate the skill & workmanship of thoses who've been making toys a bit longer that I have.
Cheers, Crowie

[specialist]

I'll keep a lookout, this is very interesting.

Robert

[STAR]

I'll keep a lookout, this is very interesting.

Robert

-----------------
I will be watching too. Not into scale modeling. Too complex for this guy, but I like to make my toys a bit up from the basic block of wood cut out, so I am sure I will learn a lot of new techniques by just observing.

Pete

[artme]

Elderly, I have been fascinated by graders for as long as I can remember. I can remember as a small boy watching them form the streets in town. I think what got my attention was the angles on the blade and the way the soil curled off it!

LLooking forward to this!!

[STAR]

I am in front already. Elderley is using Jelutong. I purchased 3.6 mtrs x 30 cms x 50 mm of it for my carvings.

I am up to date and on the same page for now. My Toad is made from Jelutong.

Pete

[Squirrel]

Elderly,

Don't be phased by the amount of parts, I have built this grader also and loved every part of it, including breaking parts and having to remake them. I will be watching your WIP with envy as my truck is in storage. I sold my house and workshop to build a bigger house and workshop but alas that has fell through. I was never patient enough to take photos at each stage.

Happy modeling,

Squirrel.

[wheelinround]

so I can keep track of the track maker

[elderly]

Thanks for your encouragement Squirrel. I saw your grader after I started mine it looks really good. Did you get it finished? I already know what you mean by broken parts. Broke one this afternoon.
Cheers Elderly.

[elderly]

artme I can't say I have taken a lot of interest in graders until I decided to make this model. Now I have it makes being stuck at road works more interesting.
Cheers Elderly

[elderly]

A few pics of the front frame assembly slowly progressing.
Cheers Elderly

[Squirrel]

Yeah Elderly, I did get mine finished and was pretty puffed with it as well. You bring back memories of making the ring gear (I think that is what it was called) for the graters blade. I now have a rotary table for my mill/drill, I wish I had it back then. It would have been a lot easier and smother functioning. I'm sure you will know what I mean when you get to it. Keep up the pictures, they're great.

Squirrel

[AlexHW]

Looking good, can't wait to see how this comes out!