Thunder Models Cat 60

I wasn't sure where to put this, but it is 1:35 scale so I put it with armor. This is Thunder Models Cat 60 tractor. One of the guys in my model group built it and his looked fantastic so I thought I'd give it a try. Little did I know what I was in for. If you build one be sure to have two pairs of your finest tweezers tuned up and ready for microscopic parts and be good at having one in each hand to assemble it because you won't be able to use your fingers.
I was assured there was tons of reference and web pages and groups dedicated to this tractor. I can't find them LOL. Rumour has it that prior to Dec 7th 1941 Carerpillar tractors were gray and after that date they switched to yellow. This is a 30'something model so it will be gray.

Greg Kimsey said:

I was assured there was tons of reference and web pages and groups dedicated to this tractor. I can't find them LOL. Rumour has it that prior to Dec 7th 1941 Carerpillar tractors were gray and after that date they switched to yellow. This is a 30'something model so it will be gray.

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Well, you didn't ask me!

I have TMs, walkarounds, you name it! Not only for the Cat 60 but the Russian copy, the S-60!

OMG I'm having tractor flashbacks!

Looks good!

Sharkmouth said:

Well, you didn't ask me!

I have TMs, walkarounds, you name it! Not only for the Cat 60 but the Russian copy, the S-60!
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Why am I not surprised! I routed the fuel line in a "logical" way but probably incorrect. I EVERY photo I have seen the fuel tank is on the right. On the model the tank is on the left, and the canister that the fuel line goes to is on the right. The line coming out of the...canister thing where the fuel line goes into...I never could see where it goes so I took a wild guess , so if you can clarify where that goes it would be awesome. I had thoughts of doing wiring for the lights but can't tell where the power comes from or where the switch is? Any ideas on that? It is going to be a static model and won't roll so I am not worried about how things move so much because I glued everything no knowing what should be glued and what should be free. Anywho...it has been a maximum challenge so far. On a difficulty scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 9!

Did you give it a 9 because of the directions of the fit of the parts? There is a Thunder model I would like to get.

Robertp said:

Did you give it a 9 because of the directions of the fit of the parts? There is a Thunder model I would like to get.

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No, the directions are OK. Could be better, with a few mistakes like parts appearing in the drawing but no mention of it being applied, or part labeled B37 but it is on the "A" sprue...but I have seen worse. The difficulty is in the microscopic size of the parts and how extremely fragile they are. Fortunately, they do include a few extra pieces to account for that. It is a really good model and on par with Thunder's reputation for detail and complexity. Just be patient, slow, and methodical with it. Each piece of track is 3 pieces X 64 tracks and each piece must be cut with sprue notch left and then shaved down or risk breaking it. Very tedious and time consuming

I would also like to add a conopy to this model. Most images with a canopy show it covering the entire tractor including the motor. Would copper plate be a good material to use?

That's right! These are the guys that make the little tractor model and the airfield tug! They sure are trying to get some mileage out of the 1/35 F-30 LRDG patrol truck!

Greg Kimsey said:

I would also like to add a conopy to this model. Most images with a canopy show it covering the entire tractor including the motor. Would copper plate be a good material to use?

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Go get some BBQ and bring the lil' wet nap back, let it dry and paint it with a Future/Tamiya thinner mix. Paint, Be a Happy Guy!

moon puppy said:

OMG I'm having tractor flashbacks!

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I like tractors so I have several all resin kits (including the Caterpillar 60 and Russian Stalinets S-60), the plastic Thunder Model kits (plus many of the variants under Plus Model, Trumpeter, and Thunder Models). Because of the Czech resin models, I acquired the manuals and photo walk arounds in Russia then the US. Just don't tell anyone that they don't readily have sharkmouth schemes on them but I like them to display tugging of German wrecks with the sharkmouth scheme.

The Plus Model kit was VERY expensive and I had to deal with broken parts in the bag. The manuals helped identify them. Example from their S-60 kit (same exact parts in their Caterpillar 60):

Greg Kimsey said:

Why am I not surprised! I routed the fuel line in a "logical" way but probably incorrect. I EVERY photo I have seen the fuel tank is on the right. On the model the tank is on the left, and the canister that the fuel line goes to is on the right. The line coming out of the...canister thing where the fuel line goes into...I never could see where it goes so I took a wild guess , so if you can clarify where that goes it would be awesome. I had thoughts of doing wiring for the lights but can't tell where the power comes from or where the switch is? Any ideas on that? It is going to be a static model and won't roll so I am not worried about how things move so much because I glued everything no knowing what should be glued and what should be free. Anywho...it has been a maximum challenge so far. On a difficulty scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 9!

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If it is too late, let me know. Otherwise, I can probably give you all you need once I pull out the manuals.

Robertp said:

Did you give it a 9 because of the directions of the fit of the parts? There is a Thunder model I would like to get.

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Let me know which kit because they admitted their Bergepanzer 38 kits are not the best.

Greg Kimsey said:

The difficulty is in the microscopic size of the parts and how extremely fragile they are. Fortunately, they do include a few extra pieces to account for that. It is a really good model and on par with Thunder's reputation for detail and complexity.

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I proved that point in my photo review of the Thunder Models Case tractor, adding tiny bolts and mislabeled parts but cheaper than a resin kit and just as detailed! In case you didn't know, they work in cooperation with the Irish company, L. Z. Models, that makes most of the aftermarket for them.

Greg Kimsey said:

I would also like to add a canopy to this model. Most images with a canopy show it covering the entire tractor including the motor. Would copper plate be a good material to use?

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Depends on the canopy, metal or a tarp.
Masterpiece Models maked a tool for corrugated metal...
Click image to order:


Examples of roof...

Note the fule tank location on this one matches the kit:


Another option:

Rhino said:

Go get some BBQ and bring the lil' wet nap back, let it dry and paint it with a Future/Tamiya thinner mix. Paint, Be a Happy Guy!

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Excellent for a fabric tarp.

The Russian copy of the Caterpillar Sixty, the Stalinets S-60. Does it look familiar?




Now... Let's look at L.Z. Models Caterpillar Sixty conversion for the Trumpeter Stalinetz S-65 tractor and you might notice where the Thunder Models kit was 'born' and it is quite detailed. Click to download the detailed instructions:

Very Interesting!

Looks like a plummers nightmare. Nice detail. Gary S.

I had based in black, but could never find what color primer was used on the real tractor. I went with German Dark Yellow primer, right or wrong. I then randomly painted Vallejo German Red Brown & Rust Texture to give two different colors of rust. I sealed that with Mr Hobby Super Clear Matte spray. Tonight I will use hairspray on it then paint the gray topcoat. Is there a particular Vallejo gray I should use?

PS: I had tremendous trouble with the track as you can see on the right side. The pieces simply would NOT stay together. For the left side I drilled out the joints and used a .9mm piece of styrene rod to pin them together so they would stop falling apart. I can just say that the left tracks are in need of repair...

I see what you're doing. That's going to be neat. No clue what grey to use but looking forward to it.

Well, it seems out of scale. I did the math and thought I scaled the corrugations to 1/35. The company that makes the corru-gator is temporarily stopping production and taking any new orders. I made this with my 3D printer.I put the aluminum in and squished it to shape

Then I bent it around a glass to see if it would hold its shape. It "sort of" did, but looks out of scale. Do y'all agree?

It is out of scale. You could also print the stamps with the curve in place.

Those were the numbers I used in my math. Math is not a strong suit of mine...

I think I figured out my math problem and have a new die printing. Hopefully this will be more accurate. I made a bed the size of a 26" x 96 inch sheet of corrugated tin in 1/35 scale (somewhere around 20mmx 70mm+/- , I wrote down the exact sizes but don't have it in front of me) then added as many "rounds" as required at scale. Put the flat sheet cut to size in the plate and smoosh with the other. We shall see what we shall see!