Promoting Excellence in HO Scale Vehicle Modeling

Komatsu HD785 Mining Truck - By Dan Goins


Winner of the Construction category at the 2000 West Coast Meet was Dan Goins for this monstrous Komatsu mining dump truck. This model started as Kibri's kit of the Komatsu HD 785.

The additional detailing from Dan includes:

  • New front ladders made from brass wire, flat stock, and photo etch fire escape steps from Gold Medal Models
  • Headlights made from Lonestar Models photo etch marker back plates (rectangle ones) cut square and clear lenses from Lonestar
  • Two front corners were notched at an angle for amber marker light which came from Lonestar detail kit and guard for corner is flat brass stock
  • Interior of cab removed, removed solid mass that was the steering column to add Jaks brass steering wheel
  • Custom made waterslide decals
  • Added additional mirrors made from the same Lonestar detail kit photo etch back plates (round) as above
  • Added .010" thick clear plastic from Plastruct ("The clearest looking plastic I have ever seen," says Dan) for cab interior glass
  • Wheel guards from evergreen plastic stock
  • New mudflaps made from the clear Plastruct sheet with paper hinge on the ones on the bed so they can move after installation
  • New nose grill made from Special Shapes brass etch sheet overlaid with Evergreen strips
  • Radiator behind grill from Cannon EMD locomotive grills
  • Painted with real Komatsu touch up paint using the spray can. Tiffaner Yellow (earliest Komatsu yellow) and Komatsu Blue. Finished with Testors gloss just before adding cab glass and tires. The tires, of course, are painted flat black.

    Posted January 25, 2000