Custom scale model builder Gertjan Veld has recently started his next project of building a

• DJB D35 Articulated Dumptruck

DJB Engineering Ltd was founded in 1973 in Peterlee, County Durham in England by David John Bowes Brown.

The Firm built its first Articulated Dump Truck (ADT) a model D250 in 1974, based on a Caterpillar drive train. The trucks were marketed exclusively through Caterpillar dealers world wide as the major components were all Caterpillar.

The range was expanded and sales grew steadily with Caterpillar buying the rights to the design & branding them as Caterpillar DJB in 1985 and eventually buying the company out in 1995.

It is our goal for the coming period in this Making-of DJB D35 Articulated Dumptruck" to show how this custom model will be achieved.

Gertjan shares his building skills through the photos with little notes guiding us in the construction process. Gradually it shows the making of a unique model by using the resin Kit from CypModels in 1:50th scale to create his DJB D35 Articulated Dumptruck.

Enjoy reading & watching!

Gertjan and Wouter

The Kit

The parts

After the kit made by CypModels is unpacked follows the first inspection to check if all resin, aluminium and photo etched parts of the Caterpillar D25C Water Tanker are present. Secondly each individual component is checked very accurate and made ready for building and if needed this includes mainly the very careful filing of excess molding material and making all the parts so that they can be later joined together without any fitting problems.

Also in this 1st round all the individual parts are been thoroughly cleaned and degreased for the first time.

The axles

The DJB D35 is obviously a Articulated Dump Truck where the wheels must be able to turn at an angle but to put the scale model properly on the road it is necessary to fix the axes accurately aligned under the frame of the dump truck.

The wheels rims (drums) are centered and straight drilled. The front axle is made to measure and cut to the right length. The same steps are run through with the rear axle.

To be continued...