In this "Making-of Caterpillar D6H Boom Buggy" we will show how this custom model will be achieved.

Ad shares his building skills through the photos with little notes guiding us in the construction process. Gradually it shows the making of a unique model by using the donor Caterpillar D6 XE LGP Dozer from Diecast Masters in 1:50th scale to create his one of kind Caterpillar D6H Boom Buggy.

Enjoy reading & watching!

Ad and Wouter

What preceded

Ad got the inspiration for this project when he came across a number of photos on the internet of a very unique machine: The Boom-Buggy. 

Increasingly larger cranes are needed to build wind farms. And moving the crane from one wind turbine to another wind turbine on the open field is a major source of crane accidents. And if there are high-voltage wires hanging over the field, the movement will only become even more difficult. The answer is the "Boom Buggy", a purpose-built vehicle. The description of the machine indicates exactly what the function is: A lattice boom (Boom) means of transport (Buggy). Mind you, not just any boom, but the very large and especially long lattice boom of the crane that is used to build wind turbines. The result is that the crane can be moved over a greater distance without first having to dismantle the boom and no road plates have to be laid down. Just lower the boom horizontally on the Boom-Buggy and off you go: Time is money!

The first Boom-Buggy was built in America by the Jester Brothers Company based in Whitewright, Texas, based on a Poclain Excavator. Their second Boom-Buggy version is based on the Caterpillar D6H LGP Dozer.

CHALLENGE!

The Kickoff

Ad started with the purchase of the 1:50th scale Caterpillar D6 XE LGP Dozer from Diecast Masters. Of these, he could only use the LGP Track-Type Tracks and undercarriage, but this forms the solid basis for the start of his project.

Based on the available information and photos, after dismantling the Caterpillar D6 XE LGP from brass material, Ad made a new structure in the Boom-Buggy's chassis.

The bumper

At the front of the Boom-Buggy's undercarriage, he made a bumper fitted with tear plate so that a step and walking platform are created.

The counterweights

In total, Ad made twenty pieces of separate counter weight plates that are later attached to the bumper.

Initially made of 0.8 mm brass plate, but that was too fragile and therefore made again from 1.0 mm brass plate.

The Exhaust and Airfilter

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