Starting in March 2020, I began a large stream project to model a comprehensive, highly-detailed Caterpillar 434E backhoe. Please watch the first stream (first 3 minutes of abridged version at least) for an overview.
It's a straight-forward project of building a complex model over an extended period of time. The spin on the project is that I want your help to accomplish it! If I build some parts and you build some parts, we will finish this thing much quicker. Plus the contribution format will include reviews, the potential of having your piece(s) assimilated into the final model. Not to mention large quantities of XP are at stake 🤑
NOTE: This is an involved project reserved for Citizen members.
The general idea is that I kickoff stages of the project via live stream, which is typically once per month. For the time in between streams, you choose a piece of the backhoe and apply what you learned from the stream to that piece. For example, the first stream covered initial block out. So between stream 1 and stream 2, your job is to pick a piece and block it out.
This is the repeating protocol for each Assignment Period (between-streams):
I will reply to this thread after each stream with a [big] assignment post denoted by a 📣 emoji in the title. There I will clarify instructions about each Assignment Period.
We will centralize our collaborative communication between the streams and this thread. Ask any and all questions pertaining to the Backhoe project here.
I am going to chance doing 322-3764: FRAME GP-SWING or the other like it. Has anyone picked that one?
@ritag It's part of the "swing frame" that 
jakeblended has been working on. It's a doozy of a piece but you should learn a lot from the process. Also having Jake to bounce questions off of is a bonus.
EDIT: Just make sure you create a separate thread dedicated to your part so your post don't get lost in this monster thread.
June 12, 2020 - July 12, 2020
We're so close to finishing the entire exterior! For the assignment period between stream 4 and stream 5 the focus is finalizing all aspects of our chosen backhoe parts. Some of your are already 100% done so the goal for July 12th is to finish at least 75% if not 100%.
Fine Details:
This is the stage where we get up close and personal with every corner of our part adding nuts, bolts, brackets, hydraulic lines, fittings and anything else that we see from the outside.
Scene Organization
The finalizing process is going to be the main topic for Assignment 5 and it will include scene organization and object naming. While I won't be grading these things for Assignment 4 I want to mention it now so you can be thinking about it. When you start adding tons of small details you'll see why organization is very important.
Same as always on the stream 4 page you will find the MASTER_caterpillar-434e_model_04.blend file available to download.
I've added a new tab to the Google Sheet labeled: #4: Finalize 75-100%
The names of contributors are carried over from the third assignment. To submit for assignment #4, contributors just need to make a comment containing a link to their .blend file in the Attempt cell beside their name
The DUE DATE for assignment #4 submissions is JULY 12, 2020**
Several contributors have created their own threads but there's still a lot of part-specific conversation happening here. With the main thread getting harder and harder to navigate, please try to keep part-specific conversation in the respective individual thread.
I'm hyperlinking each individual thread to the contributor's name in the Google Sheet.
ddoulos4iesou & aartifact I have just been looking at hydraulic lines, and noticed the engine enclosure shape.
This section here is actually the chassis which might explain the strange shapes:
The engine enclosure actually stops here 👇 There is a fixing point on the chassis here, I was wondering what it was for:
Also this is the chassis 👇 , The grille at the front goes just behind the yellow bit. The side of the engine enclosure I think comes down to the chassis and is the attached with brackets. There is no base, only the 2 sides, front grille and the top, hope this helps get your shapes.
It seems to be level with the chassis at the front then tapers to the inner part of the chassis the loader arms attach to. I remember reading a post about the interaction of the loader arms with 
blanchsb demo. Wish I had noticed this sooner, may have helped you all ages ago.
@adrian2301 looks like the front fenders are actually the 'flat' ones, unfortunately...
I like yours a lot better;)
I wonder if there are minor differences between 434C and 434E in Caterpillar loader models.
Add, I just online found this photo for backhoe 434C model. 
@ritag this is a few images I put together on the backhoe and its what I went by when designing the floor. My first floor was like the one in your picture, but I got the impression that the floor on the model we are working on is mostly flat. The interior comes later with the panels below introduced.
Yes @adrian2301 I agree with your comment about the chassis. I saw that when I was video-ing the other CAT out in the rain. It is almost like the engine enclosure folds behind it on the side.
Thanks, Karen. I am getting the ideas of the parts' ratios.
Inside a cab, I see chair as the bulkiest and most central part. From centre, I could work my way out to others. I think I chance modelling the chair, unless somebody is doing it. First photo is a seat for a model 434E in a plaster wrapper. Second photo is just same design of chair for other Caterpillar loader models. 
@ritag come join the backhoe collaboration discord if you like! Idk if Kent will have a new spreadsheet on the interior or not.
Those are some great images btw❤️
@theluthier will there be a new spreadsheet on the interior of the cab for @ritag to signup?
ketre @ritag Yes I will definitely add a new spreadsheet for the cab interior, including an image with color-coded separation of the pieces. I like seeing this being discussed already 👌
dostovel Omar it looks like we are going to need a grease gun in your other box. CAT service dude recommends it stored there (timestamp 8:20).
Just found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JFcvA9O8YE
4 Minutes of close-ups all around, including from below (axles!)
For instance: 
and:
Looks like this was made especially for us;)
