CypModels has announced to produce in 2014 a new unique scale model in 1:48th scale:
The Israeli Armored D9—nicknamed "DOOBI" (Hebrew: ????, for teddy bear)— is a Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozer that was modified by the Israel Defense Forces, Israeli Military Industries and Israel Aerospace Industries to increase the survivability of the bulldozer in hostile environments and enable it to withstand heavy attacks, thus making it suitable for military combat engineering use.
The DOOBI D9R in IDF service, has a 410 Hp and drawbar pull of 71.6 metric tons (about 716 kN). The DOOBI D9 has a crew of two: operator and commander. It is operated by the TZAMA (In Hebrew: ??"? = ???? ???? ?????, mechanical engineering equipment) units of the Combat Engineering Corps.
The main IDF modification is the installation of an Israeli-made vehicle armor kit which provides armor protection to the mechanical systems and to the operator cabin. The operator and commander are protected inside an armored cabin ("the cockpit"), with bulletproof glass windows to protect against bombs, machine guns, and sniper fire. The IDF also developed and installed slat armor add-on to deflect rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) rounds. The fitted armor package adds roughly 15 additional tons to the production-line weight of the DOOBI D9R. The modified Caterpillar D9R bulldozers can be fitted with disparate features, such as crew-operated machine guns, smoke projectors, or grenade launchers. The Israeli armor and durable construction of the DOOBI D9R makes it impervious to landmines, IED and large belly charges.
The IDF uses the DOOBI D9R for a wide variety of combat engineering tasks, such as earthworks, digging moats, mounting sand barriers, building fortifications, rescuing stuck, overturned or damaged armored fighting vehicles, clearing land mines, detonating IEDs and explosives, handling booby traps, clearing terrain obstacles and opening routes to armored fighting vehicles and infantry, as well as structures demolition, including under fire.
At present, however, CypModels still urgently is looking for more photos and drawings in particular, with the proper dimensions of the DOOBI D9R Military Track-Type Tractor 1:1 in order to realize an exact replica in 1:48th scale. Do you have information? Please contact me and I will make sure that it will go to CypModels.
Progress photos, dimensional details, price, numbers and the delivery schedule date will be posted on our Website when available. This next knock out model of the DOOBI D9R Military Track-Type Tractor will be available in very limited numbers for serious collectors only.
If you are interested in this built scale model or kit it is important to respond with your (but still non-binding) PREORDER by e-mail to contact@cypmodels.com. Only then you can be assured that the model is also produced effectively for you.
More information about his unique scale models which are custom made in a very limited editions? Visit the CypModels website.
It would make THE perfect cargo load for your Oshkosh HET!