Komatsu G40 Bulldozer

Tracing it’s beginnings to 1902, what began as the Tacheuchi Mining Company operating the Yusenji copper mine about 8 kilometers from Komatsu City later became the Komatsu Equipment Company in May, 1921.

In 1920, the mine ran into financial difficulties and ceased operations. At this time, the head of the mining company, Meitaro Tacheuchi, got together a group of investors to form Komatsu Manufacturing Company Ltd. Earlier, in 1911, an iron casting works had been built near Komatsu City and named Komatsu Ironworks. This ironworks was the foundation for Komatsu Manufacturing's iron and steel casting. This same group was responsible for the manufacture of the first domestically produced Japanese vehicle, the DAT, which eventually became Datsun.

Komatsu began crawler tractor production in 1932 with a copy of the Caterpillar 2-Ton crawler designated G25. In 1935, they released a copy of the Best 30, designated the G40.

In May 1937, the G40 was put up against a range of other tractor from other producers around the world in trials in Manchuria. The G40 out-performed all competitors but its gasoline engine was slightly less economical than the Cat RD4 which was its main competition. From these trials it was decided by the Japanese government that all agricultural tractors for Manchuria were to be diesel-fuelled. Komatsu began working on producing its own high-speed diesel engines. Their first diesel powered crawler was the G35, apparently released the same year.

Some years ago, what is believed to be the only surviving G35 was found on a farm near Griffith, New South Wales, Australia in working condition. It was shipped back to Japan where it now resides in a display of tractors at a Komatsu factory

 

Rarely does a new release announcement catch my attention as did Tamiya’s recent Komatsu G40 Bulldozer.  No sooner had I seen the images I was feverishly tracking one down.   With the help of MMI editor, David Grummitt, I had a copy on my bench within days.  Upon opening the box I am greeted by the little jewel inside – and I mean little. 

The built tractor measures approximately 2.5 inches long by 1.5 inches in height (6.3cm x 3.8cm) and a quick review of the parts show a high level of molding detail.  The 7 step (yep, only 7 steps) instructions are in the familiar Tamiya format using exploded diagrams to show parts placement.  Also included in the box is limited decal sheet, a metal IJN emblem, and supplemental sheet showing the dozer in period photographs.

 

The fit is flawless though-out, with little flash or seams to clean from the parts.  Construction begins with the main chassis and engine hood and quickly moves to the underside where the suspension supports are added.  I spent a little extra time in the driver’s cockpit carefully thinning the control levers and pedals for a more scale appearance.  I would not be surprised to see one of the aftermarket companies offer replacement parts for this area before long.   The wheels and tracks are provided as a single piece, which look great and make assembly a breeze.

Step 5 of the instructions deals with the installation of the prominent hydraulic lines on either side of the body.  After studying photographs of the preserved Komatsu dozer on display at the company’s headquarters, and the box art, I noticed that the kit supplied hoses lacked the accordion type texture seen on these two examples.  I decided that this was an important feature that should be better represented.  After a few trials (and errors) I finally decided to wrap thin gauge solder with very fine wire to represent the accordion texture.  Using the kit parts as a pattern I bent the new hoses to shape and then clipped off the old hoses and replaced them with the new.   I would later find-out that the hydraulic hoses on the display vehicle at the Komatsu factory and as shown on the box art represent the a Post-war design.  The fix was simply to remove my wire-wound solder hose and replace them (again) with small gauge solder.

The final step is the blade.  The blade is a multi-part assembly which truly captures the feeling of weight of the real thing.  The blade attaches to the dozer body along the lower sides and front arms with simple pins and slots.  For ease of painting I would suggest leaving the blade separate and attaching once painting is completed.

Speaking of painting…I’m sure that most of the reason I was so excited by this release was to be able to paint it.  For me there is something uniquely special about working with construction equipment.  Perhaps it is as simple as the fact that real world examples are easily found, but challenging to replicate.   Looking around at my real world examples I could not help but notice the severe wear these type of machines display on their lower areas.  This type of wear was something that I was eager to attempt.

 

A few photos of the nearly finished G40 bulldozer.   

 

In Print – July Issue of Military Modelcraft International.

 

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