I've had a request to build a Cat D-7 bulldozer for a local museum of WWII history on Cape Cod. The beaches were used as training grounds for landings, waterfront and vehicle operations. Several watercraft models are already on display.
I volunteered to find a kit that was for a D-7 and opted for the MiniArt version of the D-7 with the cable lift system for raising the bulldozer blade. 1/35 scale is not my preferred scale but that's what it had to be built to for it to be in scale with the other models. AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Here is where it started. Shown below are the buildup for the tracks. There were eight separate sprues just for the track plates, links and link pins. And they all had to be glued together in the right way for them to come out right. I ended up ignoring the instructions and found a way to make up the linkage and then add the tracks separately after the links were added to the framework, idler wheel and drive sprocket.

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After the linkage was done the track plates were added individually, keeping in mind that they are close together when they are on the ground but separate slightly as they go around the idler and sprocket.

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With the track portion complete I was able to start on the engine. If there is any such thing as an over engineered model kit, this one has to be it. I have never seen so many small, nearly microscopic parts. There's an A, B, and C sprue, several D sprues, an E, F, G and H sprue not including the 8 sprues just for the track assembly. And this is only the basic engine assembly. The D-7 has a 4 cylinder diesel for main operation and a 2 cylinder gasolene powered pony engine just for starting the diesel. Every little nut and bolt is shown. Some of the assembly of basic pieces is done in multiple sub-assemblies that could very easily have been made as one part.

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So far the engine is basically complete and is ready for paint. The frame also is in multiple pieces and had to be built up before the engine could sit inside. I will say the fit is excellent and only a minor amount of adjustment had to be made in one side rail to all the engine to sit firmly on its mounts. That having been said, this kit is not for the faint of heart. If you decide to build it be prepared for spending a lot of time smoothing the parts from where they connect to the sprues. That's the other thing they did. Multiple attachment points to the sprues that had to be cut away and then cleaned up.

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In some cases I opted to forget the tiny pieces and replaced them with craft wire or Evergreen. For larger tubes I used some annealed brass rod. And yes, the proverbial black hole swallowed a couple of the tinyest parts so they had to be replaced.