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Gecko US Army Heavy Type II Skid Steer Loader (M400T) Build

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Gecko US Army Heavy Type II Skid Steer Loader (M400T) Build
Posted by HeavyArty on Monday, August 29, 2022 8:22 PM

I just finished up a review build of this over at Track-Link. You can see the whole build there:

https://www.track-link.com/forums/site_blogs/52166/flat

A few pics of the completed model.

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Whoops, forgot to paint/weather the exhaust pipe. :open_mouth:

I also scratched up a fork set for it, with parts I was able to source (short forks and attachment parts) from kosprueone at Armorama (thanks Bob) that were left over from the Takom FUG 2.5T Heavy Forklift.
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I think I like the forks better than the bucket. We will see though as they are just set in place for now and can be changed out later.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    August 2021
Posted by lurch on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 8:21 AM

That looks fantastic. You did a great job at weathering it. Its different and I like it.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 9:46 AM

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by keavdog on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 10:24 AM

Nice job.  Seems like a fun project.

Thanks,

John

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 2:14 PM

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Formerly Bryan, now Arlington, Texas
Posted by CapnMac82 on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 12:00 PM

It's curious to me that Gecko's paint guide has you paint the track suspension parts in black.

In the OEM Case colors that would be accurate (if in Case Brown).  Those Case skid teers are nice equipment, they have high-flow hydralic pumps, which lets them run all manner of accessories.  (This better than "yellow" Deere and the JCB stuff--yes, I have biases here Smile.)

You need to take a photo of that kit on a dollar bill to better communicate just how small that gem is.

From having spent hours and hours next to those tracks, Panzer Gray is likely the best base color.  The drive sprokets ususally look a mix of grimy and oily--"Spaceship Filth" would probably be a great wash color.  If wanting some brown tones.  The bottom rollers, should a person wants to detail that "hard" are, usually "track color" redbrown on the contact surface, and then filthy grimy over base color fo the hubs.  All the hinge points need a touch of either blue or magenta from squeezed out grease, as the PCMS schedule is to grease daily.

Case machines have a black exhaust from the factory, and it's rusty-brown only on the inside (the exhaust is pretty cool).  But, there is usually diesel soot spatter all around them (this will be reduced for machines running on JP-5).

Outstanding build of a mighty mite.

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 12:34 PM

Thanks.  It was a fun build and it is small.  I already painted/weathered the exhaust pipe in black.

Yup, I noticed afterward that all the military M400Ts I saw (even all my ref pics) had sand (or green) running gear. Oh well, too late.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 4:44 PM

Hello!

That's a very nice looking build! Thanks for sharing!

Paweł

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, August 31, 2022 6:44 PM

Thanks Pawel.  It was a fun build.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Thursday, September 1, 2022 7:39 AM

Ah!

        Many Fun! days were had running the earlier four Wheel version of that machine. It will always be a "Bobcat" to me! Nice job though!

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:10 AM

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    June 2014
Posted by BrandonK on Thursday, September 1, 2022 9:30 AM

Wow, that is really cool. Very nice work. Nice to see the odd thing now and again.

BK

On the bench:

A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!

2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed   

                         14 / 5 / 2  

                              Tongue Tied

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, September 1, 2022 10:52 AM

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    July 2008
Posted by Est.1961 on Thursday, September 1, 2022 11:37 AM

Liked the review, great little model. 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, September 1, 2022 4:13 PM

Thanks Est. 1961.  It is a great little kit.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Friday, September 2, 2022 9:18 AM

That's soooo cool Gino! Cheers! Must be a tiny model, can't be much larger than a business card. The only thing I might add is some pallets to the base!

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

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