Your tips for improving Norscot CAT Construction Equipment

[chutton01]

Norscot's construction equipment models have been discussed on this board before, and while they are very good, they do have a few problems which make them a bit toy-like.
So, before I run out and buy a few dozers and front-loaders (I have one backhoe, not Norscot but of similar diecast construction, which I am looking at right now), what modifications do you out there in HO-land normally make.

I can see that the bright shinly joints need to be painted at a minimum yellow, do you use red/grey primer first, then a light coat of yellow to simulate rust/grime?
I can see the paint job is shiny, how much do you normally disassemble your model before coating it, and do you use dullcoat or semigloss - also any good and easy weathering tips.
What other parts do you add (superdetail) - I think the main thing would be the dull black hydraulic hosing across joints.
Any other tips would be great, thanks...

[Anonymous]

So far all I've done is paint the shiny chrome rivets and joints using Modelflex CN Yellow, which seems to be a good match. I used this paint because I had it on hand. This is a good start to remove the toy look. My four models are just sitting on flat cars waiting for me to do something more.

Bob Boudreau
Canada

[Anonymous]

Add some weathering to the bucket if it is supposed to be used.

If it is going to be used around rocks scrape some paint off the bucket to simulate the wear and tare of moving rocks and gravel.

[Anonymous]

I used scale chain, to chain two of my Cat Norscot D-5 Dozers to the deck of a 50ft. flatcar, I left the Dozers unweathered, since they represent a new machinery load from a Cat dealer, the effect is very convincing, and realistic looking.


Mac

[electromotive]

Their great!! They may need a bit of touch up, but overall they are the best out there in value and design....!!.
All Norscot needs to do is bring out more construction equipment...
I have all 6 units released so far.........a few of each........
JUST GREAT UNITS!!!!!.

[dknelson]

I think there is a contact place on the Norscott website, which is a very good one

As you might or might not know, the origins of Norscott are with a firm of a different name that made promotional give aways for firms -- so if a firm made construction equipment, they would purchase miniature versions for their salesman to give away as premiums, as well as branded golf tees etc.
At one time most of Norscott's stuff was larger scale -- either VERY large (check out some of the neat motors on their website) or in 1/4" or 3/16" scales. Indirectly I might have played a role in their entering the HO field since I remarked to the Scott of Norscott that there would be a lot of model railroaders who would buy accurately scaled Cats in HO. I hope it is going well for them. As you know Ertl expanded into HO and it seems not to have been a success for them.
Dave Nelson

[chutton01]

Thank you all, I will try the ModelFlex CN Yellow, as I was definitely wondering what is a good match for CAT paint. I will pass on flatcar loads, though, as the equipment will be posed at transfer stations and construction yards...

Norscot definitely makes some really nice 1/50 equipment, and S scale too, as you can see on this website - http://www.norscotmall.com/html/catscale/modindex.html - the HO model types available are, alas, only a small fraction of what's available in the bigger scales.
Still wondering what people are doing for hyrdaulic hoses (wire? that Walthers stretchy telephone line? something else)

[Anonymous]

norscot's line of construction equipment is great looking and affordable. now if only they would produce a line of HO scale farm equipment for say farm tractors from allis-chambers, IH, kubota and john deere

[jspinner]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Trackster

I used scale chain, to chain two of my Cat Norscot D-5 Dozers to the deck of a 50ft. flatcar, I left the Dozers unweathered, since they represent a new machinery load from a Cat dealer, the effect is very convincing, and realistic looking.


Mac

Mac
what type of scale chain did you used; links per inch;color;etc.
Thank you
John