1:14 scale CAT 374FL hydraulic excavator build thread (1 Viewer)

[Tommy]

Been sorting parts and getting them ready to be sent off for powder coating. That's about it for now.

 

[slisk250]

Never seen those. I’ve built a couple 1/5 scale gas trucks. What does this use for power?

 

[Tommy]

Never seen those. I’ve built a couple 1/5 scale gas trucks. What does this use for power?

5500mah 3S LiPo and AW-32 hydraulic fluid. Here is one already built.

 

[liftapint]

Is this a grown man's version of a remote controlled car?

 

[Marius L]

It's when I see stuff like this, the Lego thread, the toys thread and the baseball cards thread, and think to myself wtf are these guys doing with these silly super expensive toys, that I realize what others outside of PCF must be thinking of my poker chips

I appreciate the fact that we can all go all in and be complete nerds in this forum.

 

[Señor Tony]

How close is it to 1/14 the cost of a real one?

 

[Tommy]

How close is it to 1/14 the cost of a real one?

Ha, good question. Not sure what the real one may cost but this LESU kit is $4K shipped. The German-made one by Premacon is $10K+ unpainted/unassembled. It's the best one on the market, with very high detail and quality parts. There is also one by JDC that comes painted and assembled for $3K but from what I read uses lower quality motors and pump. Many upgrade them with better internals.

 

[ekricket]

Will it shuffle or deal cards? Imagine raking in pots with that.

 

[Geremie]

Try the inverse next time — 14:1 scale. Guaranteed to be way more fun!

 

[Darson]

Try the inverse next time — 14:1 scale. Guaranteed to be way more fun!

4:1

 

[Tommy]

Comparison next to the 1:14 bulldozer that weighs almost 60lbs.

 

[Tommy]

Will it shuffle or deal cards? Imagine raking in pots with that.

Chip scooper ready for paint.

 

[ekricket]

Chip scooper ready for paint.

View attachment 657576

Epic!

 

[davislane]

Chip scooper ready for paint.

View attachment 657576

what chips are in the bucket?

 

[Tommy]

what chips are in the bucket?

Opus Casino

 

[Tommy]

Nothing to report on the excavator build but the bulldozer made it's first appearance in the dirt a few days ago.

 

[Tommy]

Since there are too many small parts to get the excavated powder coated, I'm going to have to paint myself. I hate painting in general. lol

Picked up some paint for the build.

 

[Tommy]

I wanted a more functional space for the RCs so the old GPI crate garage workbench has been disassembled and put to the curb. Someone came by and took them all the day before trash pickup.

Setting up a ULINE workbench with the cheaper laminated top. These are pretty heavy-duty, have lots of optional accessories, and the price isn't that bad.

 

[Tommy]

Painting is underway. Made a paint booth.

Hanging to dry on an old shed.

An add-on attachment arrived. (more painting )

 

[Copper44]

Wish I could have found a source for you! Sorry Tommy.

 

[Tommy]

Wish I could have found a source for you! Sorry Tommy.

All good. Thank you for trying. I was looking into powder coating equipment to use at home and finding an old electric oven. I have a 220 outlet in the garage. If my spray paint job comes out bad, I may revisit that idea if I get other kits in the future. Going to need a dump truck and front-wheel loader at some point.

 

[Señor Tony]

Which part of the hobby do you enjoy more, the build or post-build play? What's the used market for these types of machines look like?

 

[Tommy]

Which part of the hobby do you enjoy more, the build or post-build play? What's the used market for these types of machines look like?

Both with the exception of painting. They are probably out there but I haven't seen any used hydraulic RC earthmovers for sale.

 

[inca911]

I never knew such a world existed. I’m impressed by the level of knowledge necessary to build such a thing, wow!

Looks like the domain:
www.HydraulicRCEarthmoverForum.com is still available....

 

[Deuce9]

Ha, good question. Not sure what the real one may cost but this LESU kit is $4K shipped. The German-made one by Premacon is $10K+ unpainted/unassembled. It's the best one on the market, with very high detail and quality parts. There is also one by JDC that comes painted and assembled for $3K but from what I read uses lower quality motors and pump. Many upgrade them with better internals.

This is so awesome. I have followed the European RC equipment world off and on and the jealousy runs deep. So cool a fellow chipper is into this hobby! I believe that machine is around $880K and up here in the states. Weighs just under 90tons depending on configuration.

 

[Tommy]

Nothing to update on the build. Still in pieces sitting in a storage tote. Once it's less humid and a little cooler I'll work on painting the yellow pieces. If anyone is interested in checking out these hydraulic RC earthmovers, this is one of the more affordable sites to buy them. https://www.eaglemach.net I got my bulldozer from them on AliExpress. They come painted and almost RTR. I should have gotten the RTR excavator from them instead of this LESU brand excavator kit. I hate painting!

 

[Tommy]

If someone is able to powder coat small parts for me, please PM me. #ihatepainting