Memorable Model: Lima 2400B Front Shovel

In 2001 Classic Construction Models released a limited-edition model of the Lima 2400B Front Shovel. This all-brass model followed the success of our Lima 2400B Dragline which sold out a year earlier. The 1:48 scale allowed a tremendous amount of detail, including a detailed operators cab; individually linked free-rolling tracks, tensioners and bogies; functional shovel; and accurate Lima paint and markings.

The photos above are from the Japanese model magazine Diesel Knock, who have always been great fans of ours. The 2400B is seen here with our 1:48 scale, brass Cat 914G, and is a great example of this beast's true size.

The original machine was also popular with Caterpillar customers, as Lima used the 473 horsepower Caterpillar D397 engine was the unit of choice for the 2400. The B series debuted in 1969 and continued until Lima stopped production of construction equipment in 1980.

Originally offered for $1,695.00, our 240-piece edition sold out quickly. Collectors can occasionally find one of these rare models on secondary markets, but it's not often that someone is willing to part with this fine replica.

Iron Profile: Marion 7200 Walking Dragline

The first Marion walking dragline ever built was still in operation more than 50 years later.

The 7200 Walking Dragline from Marion has long been revered for its durable and consistent performance, and with good reason. The first one ever made (ostensibly just a prototype) worked over 50 years, 6 days a week, for multiple shifts, which puts its productivity near 160,000 hours.

The original 7200 built in 1939 was equipped with a 100-foot boom and a 5-cubic yard bucket. Over the next 20 years many were sold, mostly with 6 and 7-cubic yard buckets. In addition to the electric machine utilizing Ward-Leonard drive, some were diesel driven. In the diesel configuration, they were equipped with 2 engines: a 300 horsepower Fairbanks-Morse 31A which was used to power the hoist and drag drums through clutches and brakes, and a 144 horsepower Cummins engine to drive a DC generator for the electric swing motors.

Primarily used in coal mining applications, the Marion 7000 series draglines were some of the most effective stripping shovels ever made. The 7200 was their second best seller with 57 units built between 1939 and 1957. They were also used for more generic material handling purposes, such as loading rail cars. Frequently this machine would be used to remove large quantities of sand and gravel overburden from the top of coal deposits.

There is a project underway to preserve the last known 7200 that hasn’t yet been scrapped. Let's hope it finds a suitable retirement for its historic life.

Model Announcement: Cat 6020B Hydraulic Shovel

We are excited to announce the most recent addition to our 1:48 scale diecast model line: the Cat 6020B Hydraulic Shovel.

The Machine:
The 6020B is a completely new excavator design, meant to be paired with Cat's 777G haul truck. Weighing in at 240 tons, it has a bucket capacity of 15.7 cubic yards. All is driven by the 1,043 horsepower Cat C32 12-cylinder diesel engine. Safety and productivity are greatly enhanced by the high visibility from the operator's cab windows and monitoring systems.

The Model:
This is Classic Construction Model's largest 1:48 scale excavator to date, and we've packed it with all the features and detail our models are known for. The 6020B has a full engine module and operator's cab that can be viewed through opening access doors. The the powerful hydraulic system has been replicated with all of the complex lines and connections. Wear plates detail the rock bucket, and  every bolt appears to be in place. Boom, stick, bucket, and carbody can all be put through full range of motion. All sits atop movable metal tracks. A signed and numbered machine brochure will be included to certify their authenticity.

Overall average dimensions are 14" long, 6" wide, 10" tall. Price and production quantity are yet to be determined for this piece, but it will only be produced in a limited edition. For current updates, check this page on our website: http://ccmodels.com/caterpillar-Cat-6020B.shtml

Remember to call us so you can be placed on the request list for this limited edition model by contacting us today. Those on the request list will be given priority over others when the model is delivered.

Email: sales@ccmodels.com

Phone: 503-626-6395, Monday - Friday | 8am - 5pm Pacific Standard Time

The following are image of the rapid prototype sample. Many changes are yet to be made, but this will give you an idea of our development.
 

Cat 789D in mine white

Images of the prototype shown. Changes may be made to production model.

As an update to our Cat 789D Mine Truck announcement, we would like to add that our production run will include a Mine White Version paint scheme. This color is often used to aid visibility from the air by survey planes.

For current updates, check this page on our website: http://ccmodels.com/caterpillar-Cat-789D-white.shtml

Remember to call us so you can be placed on the request list for this limited edition model by contacting us today.

Email: sales@ccmodels.com

Phone: 503-626-6395, Monday - Friday | 8am - 5pm Pacific Standard Time

Model Announcement: Cat 789D Mining Truck

Images of the prototype shown. Changes may be made to production model.

Images of the prototype shown. Changes may be made to production model.

We are very pleased to announce our latest 1:87th precision scale model in fine brass—the Cat 789D Mining Truck.

The Machine:
The Cat 789D continues the tradition of Caterpillar’s proven 789 Truck with high productivity and lowest in class cost per ton. Power is provided by the proven Cat 3500 series 16-cylinder engine, delivering up to 2,100 gross horsepower. Weighing in at 715,000 lbs, this machine can haul a payload of 200 tons. Traveling at over 35 mph, it can be brought to a stop with its advanced oil-cooled braking system.

The Model:
Classic Construction Models once again pushes the limits of what can be created at 1:87 scale. Each of these limited-edition models is made by hand of sheet and cast brass, every one a true museum-quality work of art. With just a quick look at this fine recreation of the 789D you will see the surprising details of the wear plates in the dump bed, engine exhausts, work lights, safety rails, and operator's cab. Turn it over and marvel at the full drivetrain, engine, truck frame, movable steering and spring suspension. All sits on realistic rubber tires. There will only be a limited amount of these scale models made, and a signed and numbered machine brochure will be included to certify their authenticity.

Even at 1:87 scale this is a big truck. Overall dimensions are 6" long, 3.5" wide, 3" tall. Price and production quantity are yet to be determined for this piece, but will be in line with our other brass models of this scale. For current updates, check this page on our website: http://ccmodels.com/caterpillar-Cat-789D.shtml

Remember to call us so you can be placed on the request list for this limited edition model by contacting us today.

Email: sales@ccmodels.com

Phone: 503-626-6395, Monday - Friday | 8am - 5pm Pacific Standard Time

Tooling updates to Cat 777 and 776 trucks

After reviewing our tooling sample prototype, and with thoughtful feedback from our customers, we have made a few small changes to improve our upcoming models of the Cat 777 haul truck and 776 tractor.

The structure of the cab was far too thin to properly represent the integrated ROPS (Roll Over Protection System). We have now beefed that up to a proper thickness, as well as added other small refinements that will add to the overall realism that we strive for.

Before and after.

The only downside of making such changes is the time it takes to make revised tooling before we can proceed with production. However, we believe that these details make a better final product. We owe thanks to our dedicated collectors for all their great feedback.

Classic Construction Models on Facebook

We just wanted to remind everyone that we have a Facebook page. This is where we post smaller articles and updates, and is great way to give us quick feedback. Please check it out and be sure to show your enthusiasm by "liking" us with a thumbs-up! Click here to visit CCM's Facebook page.

Dresser Tractors and CCM's First Diecast Model

Dresser Industries began in the oil fields of Pennsylvania in 1880, and over the years acquired various other oil and construction related companies. In 1982 the company obtained the construction equipment division of International Harvester and its well-respected line of crawler tractors.

One of these tractors was the TD-40. In development since the late 1970s, the TD-40 weighed over 67 tons when fully outfitted, and its Cummins diesel engine thundered out 460 horsepower. It was the largest International Harvester tractor at the time, then sold under the Dresser name.

The TD-40 was further developed into the TD-40B series and later into the TD-40C in 1997. At this point the TD-40C Crawler Tractor had reached 520 flywheel horsepower with its Cummins QSK19, 6-cylinder, turbocharged diesel engine, and topped out at 67.6 tons with standard equipment.

Even as the Dresser line of construction equipment switched hands a number of times, to Komatsu and finally to LiuGong under the Dressta Co. name, the TD-40 series continues as the star in their lineup of machines.

 

In 1995 we saw the TD-40B Crawler Tractor as the perfect construction machine to release as our very first diecast model. Until then, we had only produced high-end brass replicas, and the diecast process allowed us to offer collectors something in a different price range, while adhering to our standards of precision and quality.

The B variation being a soldout success, we produced a model of the TD-40C Crawler Tractor the following year and it proved just as popular. At the time, these were the first scale models of these machines ever made.

Each model featured details that would become standard qualities we would build upon and refine in future diecast pieces: free-rolling linked metal tracks, moving guide wheels, blade and ripper with realistic ranges of movement, detailed operator's cab, scale hydraulic hoses, and accurate paint and markings.

Iron Profile: Cat 914G Wheel Loader

When Caterpillar introduced the 914G wheel loader in 1995, it did much more than just update an older machine. The 914G represented a totally new concept in wheel loaders at the time and was one of the first Cat machines designed using virtual reality computer technology, shortening the production from seven years down to three. So significant was the design that Caterpillar had it patented. Program manager Jeff Griffith said at the time, “from the ground up, the 914G is a new machine, the only thing that stayed the same was the color.”

Key features of the 914G’s design included a hydrostatic drive transmission, spacious cab with 67% more glass than previous designs for enhanced visibility, and a Cat 3054T diesel engine transversely mounted at the rear of the machine to provide better balance and easier access to the engine compartment.

The 914G was available in a standard wheel loader configuration or as an integrated tool carrier, the IT14G, featuring an integrated quick coupler that allowed easy changes from a bucket to forks or one of many other attachments that would increase productivity.
 
The most interesting aspects of the 914G was the product development. Design engineers used 3-dimensional software models of the machine's cab interior to evaluate multiple designs without having to build prototypes, saving significant time and money. With the aid of “virtual dirt” the engineers were better able to simulate ripping, digging, and dumping in different soil types, and design the most efficient configurations for the machine.

In 1997, we introduced the 914G as our first 1:48 scale model. The size was ideal for our collectors because it allowed plenty of detail while fitting nicely on a shelf.

“We chose to produce a model of the 914G because it is the first wheel loader in Cat’s new G series,” said CCM’s former president, Bob Peterson. “We recognized Caterpillar felt the design of the 914G was important enough to warrant a patent, so our goal was to create a model that was equally unique.”

The exceptional quality of the 914G model so impressed Caterpillar that the first ten replicas produced were given to executives in the company as commemorative gifts.
 
With detail as impressive as its true-life counterpart, our all-brass 914G model had windshield wipers, “cornerless” windows, rubber tires, working hydraulic cylinders, muffler, turn signals, an AC compressor and drive belt, and authentic Caterpillar markings. The model’s detail showcased the creature comforts of the ergonomically-designed 914G cab, complete down to the miniature rearview mirrors. All was was fully articulated and hand-assembled from more than 250 parts.

Only 300 of these models were made. Each came with certificate of authenticity and were individually serial numbered. Originally priced at $359.95, the rarity and quality have allowed them to hold their value over time.

Cat D9L with 631E Towed Scraper has Arrived

It's been busy around here. The new 1:48 scale Cat D9L with 631E Towed Scraper models have just been unloaded off the truck, and we are very excited. This one is a favorite of ours for representing such a unique piece of construction equipment history. Check out more details here on our website.

We will begin shipping on these as soon as we clear them with Cat licensing and ship out some other models.

These pieces are all requested for sale to customers, so if you missed this one we remind you to always put yourself on on our wait list for a model as soon as it's announced. It doesn't cost you anything, just give us a call at 503-626-6395.

Cat 637E, 631E, and D9Ls are here!

That's right. Fresh off the truck and in our warehouse, the cartons of our Cat 637E Scrapers, 631E Scrapers, D9L Track-Type Tractors in both Push and Impact ripper versions await shipping.

It's always exciting to see our projects come to completion, and the final step is getting the model in the hands of our patiently waiting collectors. Shipments will be going out in the next week or so.

These models are all requested for sale to customers, so if you missed out on these we remind you to always put yourself on on our wait list for a model as soon as it's announced. It doesn't cost you anything, just give us a call at 503-626-6395.

Memorable Model: Cat D11R Track-Type Tractor in 1:24 scale

In 2001 we released one of our most acclaimed scale models–the D11R Track-Type Tractor. The largest Cat tractor to date, the D11R is a flagship piece of construction equipment for the Caterpillar company, and as such we wanted to give it its due.

Opening and latching cab doors, a detailed engine compartment, a single shank ripper with working pin puller and a working dual tilt blade are just a few of the unique features found on this remarkable model. Working at the larger 1:24 scale allowed us to include details that would have been lost on a smaller model, such as bolt heads, perforated shrouds, electrical lines, and safety rails of a proper thickness.

The Standard, Carrydozer, and Mining White versions

Collectors who purchased the D11R were able to choose from one of three paint variations as well as a general or carry dozer blade which enhanced the future value of each version.  Each model was shipped with a brass serial number plate which served as a certification of authenticity.

Apart from the transparent acrylic windows and rubber hoses, this model was hand crafted completely of brass castings and delicately soldered brass sheet.  Each of the  300 models in the edition was hand assembled and painted - assuring quality beyond what is possible in a mass-production process.

The prototype comes together in unpainted brass

A craftsman in South Korea assembles a D11R model

Our D11R model received rave reviews worldwide, and to this day remains one of our most treasured editions. Originally sold at $3,495 each, these models command much more than that price when they come up for sale. The rarity of a construction model of this quality has only served to make this one of the most unique and popular such pieces ever created.

Japanese model magazines covering CCM's D11R

Glen Barton, retired CEO of Caterpillar, stands with his D11R model in 2004

Memorable Model: The Marion 7200 Walking Dragline

On May 13, 1939, the very first Marion walking dragline ever built was shipped to Placer Properties in Oakland, California. Although it was originally built as a prototype, that same Model 7200 was still operating at American Aggregate Corporation's Indianapolis yard over fifty years later. In 1994 Classic Construction Models was honored to pay tribute to the legacy of that machine and the 7200s that followed it with a special limited edition of just 150 models.

Built to a precision 1:48 scale, our all brass model of the Marion 7200 Walking Dragline was carefully developed from original drawings supplied by Marion and a painstaking field survey of the actual machine. Each of the digging movements–hoist, drag, boom topping and swing–are fully functional, along with walking shoes that move in the same “up and over” motion as those on the real machine.

We delivered the model to our customers fully assembled and rigged with a perfectly scaled version of the 6-cubic yard bucket and 100’ boom that were on the original machine. This would be our only model of a walking dragline until 2009, when we made a replica of the largest ever built, the Big Muskie.

The adjustable boom had a length of 25” and the body a length of 9.5” making this an impressive looking piece on a shelf or desk.  The width of the model at the outside of the shoes was 8.5” and the body was 9” tall. It weighed just over 9 pounds. These models sold originally by reservation only for $1795 each, and occasionally can be found in secondary markets today for a great deal more.

Iron Profile: The Caterpillar D8 Through History

Few pieces of equipment are more representative of the history of Caterpillar than their D8 track-type tractors. This family of machines has been an integral part of the Caterpillar line from its farm and agricultural roots to the construction and mining equipment powerhouse it is today.

First introduced in 1935 as the RD8, this tractor was immediately popular for its balance of size and power. As the years went by, a multitude of attachments and modifications would be made available from both Caterpillar and allied equipment manufacturers. This included products such as cable-operated bulldozer blades, canopies, push blocks, pipelayer cranes, and towed scrapers. Each year saw successive improvements in design, features and horsepower.

As the construction industry grew hungry for machines to build America, the D8 tractor catered to their desires with reliable performance. Military versions of the D8 found their way to the theaters of World War II and provided critical support for the construction needs of American forces.

HISTORIC D8 HIGHLIGHTS:

The RD8 debuts in 1935. Based on a Caterpillar Seventy-Five with a little more horsepower, it wouldn't be long before it was updated with the D13000 six-cylinder diesel engine, pushing it to 95 drawbar horsepower and 108 belt horsepower. Its operating weight was 50,025 lbs.

By the 1950s the D8 would have style changes to the body and the ever-reliable D13000's horsepower was increased 150 at the drawbar. With thousands of units in the field, the D8 dropped the "R" in its designation and was a top seller in Caterpillar's stable.

Before the larger D9 was created, any demands for a more powerful tractor were sometimes met with unique solutions. The Twin D8 above was one of only three developed by Peterson Tractor's Special Equipment Services between 1949 and 1951. Tested with a variety of attachments, one would eventually be equipped with a custom 22-foot wide bulldozer blade. Peterson engineers would directly influence Caterpillar Research more than any other outside source at the time.

The D8H in 1969, shown here with a standard hydraulic bulldozer blade.  Some of the many other attachments available were front and rear push blocks allowing multiple D8s to push equipment together end-to-end, and a three-shank ripper for breaking up rock on a job site.

A D8K Track-Type Tractor, circa 1974. The machine now boasted 300 flywheel horsepower provided by the Cat D342 turbocharged, fuel-injected, six-cylinder diesel engine. Improvements had been made all around; the frame made thicker for more durability, a higher load handling transmission, and a larger radiator for more efficient cooling. This unit is shown with optional ROPS (Roll Over Protection System) Modular Cab, heavy-duty radiator guard, track roller guards, hydraulic control, 8S Bulldozer and multishank ripper.

In 1981 Caterpillar introduced a completely redesigned tractor with the D8L. The most obvious of these improvements was the elevated final drives and sprockets. This system, first introduced In the D10 tractor, allowed the final drives, clutches and brakes to be free of the loads and stress common to the old design. The ROPS and cab were now standard, and the D8L was now the most powerful in the D8 lineage with the 335 flywheel horsepower 3408 turbocharged, V-8 diesel engine.

Caterpillar's current version is the D8T, released in 2004. It features all of the most modern engineering that makes it one of the best bulldozers in the world. The engine is the Cat 15 ACERT six-cylinder diesel, producing a maximum 364 horsepower. Operator controls are ergonomic, responsive, and precise. The powertrain benefits from a century of Caterpillar experience, and its differential steering and power shift transmission allow fine control of an impressive amount of power.

Over the decades of the D8's lifetime, innovations in its design have always been toward optimized operator comfort and maximized production capability. The D8 was quickly accepted as the industry standard for large earth moving applications, and their durability and continuing popularity is easily verified by the number of these tractors still in use today in every type of environment. What the future holds for this series of tractors can only be guessed, but we are be sure the D8 will maintain legendary status.

From the Archives: CCM in the Oregonian 1993

Looking through our files, we came across this twenty-year-old clipping from the Portland Oregonian. The article does have some inaccuracies. For instance, the Dresser TD 40B in the photo was our first diecast effort. However, it's still a piece of history we're quite proud of. It's amazing to think that when CCM started we were having our models crafted from paper blueprints. Enjoy!

Memorable Model: Cat 140H Motor Grader

In late 1997 we introduced our brass model of the Cat 140H Motor Grader. This was the fifth release in our 12 model series, the Caterpillar Classic Collection in 1:87 scale.

Complete with Cat markings and livery, this 140H has amazing detail for the available technology at the time and being such a small-scale replica. It includes an articulated front end, free-spinning rubber tires, and a moldboard that rotates. The operator’s cab and front axle are especially detailed, and even the side view mirrors on the operator cab rotate. The dimensions of the model were 3.9” long, 1.1” wide, and 1.4” high. All weighing just a couple ounces.

This particular model would not have been possible without extensive feedback from engineers and operators at Caterpillar. We were able to make this model so accurate because of the valuable input we received.

Only 1000 of these models were produced, and they each sold for $149.95. Individual serial numbers and certificates of authenticity assured buyers their purchase was a true collectable.

Cat 777 Haul Truck and 776 Tractor with MET-185 pre-production samples

Here are some photos to enjoy over the long weekend. Some changes will be made to these samples for production, but we are really happy with how they look so far!