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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/8/2005
Posts: 708
Location: Germany
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ERTL´s Hitachi Zaxis 450 model provides a great value for small money. Only some things could be a little better on it.So I gave my model a little upgrade. This is how it comes out of the box:  and this is how it looks now:    I put on new idlers and sprockets.The original ones are too small,the tracks are too loose and the undercarriage looks too flat.  Biggest modification is,it now has more narrow tracks (15mm instead of 18mm). I got the idea on the how to from our italian forum member bebas73. link I painted all air in- and outs black.Just paint them over,let it dry for a moment.And then wipe over the paint with a q-tip with terpentin.  I rebuilt the handrails and acess ladder from a brass rod.I put on the original mirrors again.  Last thing was to paint over the rivets with orange colour (Revell no. 30) Jan
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/26/2008
Posts: 2,559
Location: Edmonton, AB
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Great work again! It's nothing enormous but it gives a way better look to that excavator! I thought you would have cut the cylinders? Did you forget it?
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/21/2006
Posts: 5,046
Location: B-town
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With a title like yours, it should at least have some chrome spinners on it somewhere LoL.  Excellent improvement of that model  ..........especially the undercarriage! Chris
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 7/21/2007
Posts: 1,765
Location: Derbyshire,UK
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Awesome looking model! I must get one in my collection! Will have to make some 470 decals for it though! haha
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/8/2005
Posts: 708
Location: Germany
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Antho wrote:Great work again! It's nothing enormous but it gives a way better look to that excavator! I thought you would have cut the cylinders? Did you forget it?  will do that asap Jan
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/16/2006
Posts: 5,408
Location: Houten, The Netherlands
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I think that if you would make a kit/set of those upgrades to sell it would be very popular! Finally the model looks like a real excavator. Excellent work Jan!
Remko Ocean Traders Scale Models Facebook Group
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/30/2008
Posts: 3,439
Location: Good ol' Indiana
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Thanks for the suggestions I will have to try the grill idea with my 450D LC.
-Ethan Collection 8/2/2016For more of the Diorama and my collection: On Facebook or On YouTube
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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 6/9/2010
Posts: 2
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That's really cool! I just bought myself a Zaxis to put on the home improvement plan. What did you use for the new sprockets? How easy was it to remove the tracks?
BTW, an easy way to do the grills is to add thinner to the black paint first - apply a wash and then wipe away the excess. Repeat if necessary. Works well for panel lines too.
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Rank: Guest
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Joined: 6/27/2007
Posts: -2
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a Cutter wrote:With a title like yours, it should at least have some chrome spinners on it somewhere LoL. Excellent improvement of that model ..........especially the undercarriage! Chris Hilarious!!!! ROTFL
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 12/19/2006
Posts: 2,474
Location: Minnesota
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Oh no... - C 
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 10/2/2007
Posts: 5,966
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LMFAO!!! oh boy... this totally made my night!!!
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 6/9/2010
Posts: 218
Location: Vila Velha - Brazil
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Nice smooth improvement..
Andrea Life is for crazy people  Models For SaleFB
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 7/26/2007
Posts: 1,134
Location: Sweden
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very nice work Jan! As always! 
//Niklas Eriksson
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Rank: Newbie
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Joined: 6/9/2010
Posts: 2
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So can someone suggest where I can find some new idlers and sprockets for this model? I wouldn't mind a new general purpose bucket either.
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