Last Update: 8 May 2009

PB600 Cockpit Building Instructions

Introduction

With this kit you can build the cockpit interior for the Kässbohrer PistenBully 600 in scale 1:12.

For building the model some basic knowledge in modelling is necessary. This instructions should be viewed as a guideline, which is giving the most important points for building the cockpit. Of course it is up to the each modeller to apply changes or improvements.

I strongly recommend to take advantage of the large amount of available pictures for reference (e.g. on www.snow-groomer.com)

The kit is produced under license of the Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG.

Contents of the Kit:

Vacuum formed parts out of PVC for center console, steering column and seats

Stickers

Additional Materials Needed for Assembly:

These materials are not included, but can be obtained in any hobby store:

Glue: Pattex Repair Extreme or similar
Paint: best results are obtained with an airbrush, alternatively spray cans can be used
sanding paper 600 grain for preparing the PVC prior to painting
Small piece of balsa wood
aluminum sheet metal (small pieces)

Center Console

Sand the center console with 600 grain sanding paper and paint the outside in satin black. If you want to install lights for the instruments and screen, cover this area prior to painting (see picture below). In this case make sure, that no clouds or stripes can be seen against a bright light. Typically 3-4 layers of paint are necessary. If some light shines through at edges or corners just paint from inside with a brush. The lighting can be done with one or two LEDs from inside.

Transparent area for instruments

The black stickers serve as a mask for the lighting and need only to be used if lighting is desired. One of the two supplied masks is to be used for painting: cut it a little bit smaller and attach it for painting, so that this area remains transparent. Remove it after painting and replace it with the exactly cut second mask. The colored stickers are placed exactly as shown below on to the mask. For the screen optionally the red screen with PistenBully Logo or the screen with bar charts can be used.

Mask and stickers

Finally apply the stickers as shown below. For the yellow warning sticker you can use either one of the two. The left one is a photo from the original, the right one is a drawing.

Stickers on the center console

The joystick can be filed and grinded from a piece of balsa wood or plastic according to the original.

Steering Column

Sand the center console with 600 grain sanding paper and paint the outside in satin black. Apply the stickers as shown below:

The steering wheel can be bent from black electric wire.

Seats

Sand the seats with 600 grain sanding paper and paint the outside in flat dark gray and flat red as shown below. The backside is made from balsawood, which has to be fitted accordingly and glued into place. Paint it in dark gray. Bent a small piece of aluminum sheet and use it to glue seat cushion and back rest together.


painted seat	Cover backside with balsa wood

Assembly of seat parts with alu sheet

Glue the seats onto the vacuum formed and black painted sockets.

Socket for seat, needs to be cut to fit

Finally glue the pieces to the platform and install the drivers cabin. The ROPS sticker is placed outside on the wind screen in the lower left corner.

Cockpit of Tobias Timtner
(Note of AT modellbau: the ROPS sticker has to be placed on the lower left corner of the wind screen)

Driver Figure

Driver figures in 1:12 are available at doll house stores. Obviously you will not find a snow cat driver there, but a fitting doll is easily found and adapted to our needs. I bought mine in Salzburg (Austria) at Christine's Gifts, I chose the gardener (costing less than € 10,-) and adapted him.

Dolls are available at:

Minimundus in Germany, I don't know if they deliver internationally.

Christine's Gi fts in Austria, you will not find dolls on her webpage, but orders can be placed by phone +43 662 871 453 (and I don't know if she speaks English).