EASY step-by-steps TO BUILD A BULLDOZER BED

BED BASE

STEP 1 On bed sides (A) and bed ends (B), use combination square to draw a line along inside face 70mm from one long edge. Turn over and lightly draw lines 77mm from the same long edge as a guide for your screws.

STEP 2 Press bed side against long edge of bed base (C) so line marked on inside meets face of bed base. Screw bed side to bed base using 40mm screws spaced every 300mm. STEP 3 Repeat Step 2 to attach bed end to bed base. Make short edge of bed end flush with outside face of bed side. Screw through bed end into bed side.

STEP 4 Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to attach other bed side and bed end to bed base. STEP 5 On underside of bed base, place bed supports (D) on edge in corner where bed base meets bed side. Screw through side and base into supports to secure.

WHEEL AND CATERPILLAR TRACK

STEP 6 To mark out shape for wheel hub (E), draw a 25mm grid 450mm square on plywood. Using wheel hub diagram, transfer where shape crosses grid lines on diagram to the plywood. Join these lines. There are 8 edges 110mm long and 2 edges 130mm long, which are separated by another 110mm long edge. This edge is the bottom of the wheel. Cut out shape using a circular saw. Use as a template to mark and cut second wheel hub. STEP 7 Nail wheel slats (F) to edges of front wheel hubs so ends are flush with outside

faces of hubs. On 130mm long edges, position slats so they are to 1 side of edge away from the shorter edge between, which is slat free. STEP 8 To mark out shape for track hub (G), draw a 50mm grid 1 metre square on plywood. Using track hub diagram, transfer where shape crosses grid lines on diagram to plywood. Join these lines. Cut outside of shape with circular saw and use jigsaw to cut out centre of shape. Use a 10mm drill bit to make a hole in cut-out to allow access for jigsaw blade. Use as a template to trace only the outside of this shape on another piece of plywood. Cut out to create second track hub.

STEP 9 Assemble rear track. Initially join the track hubs with track slats (H) towards top and near bottom of hubs. Insert track shelf (I) into this assembly and position it so ends sit inside edges of hubs. Also position track base (J) between hubs flush with bottom edges. Screw through hubs into shelf and base.

STEP 10 As it is easier at this time, apply 2 coats of black enamel paint to interior of track assembly prior to fixing remaining wheel slats. Allow to dry after each coat.

STEP 11 Fix remaining wheel slats to track hubs. Up sides of hubs, leave a 14mm gap between slats.

BUCKET AND CABIN

STEP 12 Butt long edge of bucket top (K) into bucket back (L) flush with 1 long edge. Screw together.

STEP 13 To cut angled edge on bucket ends (M), measure 135mm along 1 short side and mark. Draw from here to corner at other end and cut along this line.

STEP 14 Sit bucket end on bucket back flush with 1 short side. Butt into bucket top. Screw though top and back into end. Repeat to attach second bucket end.

STEP 15 Sit bucket bottom (N) on bucket back flush with 1 long edge. Screw through bottom into bucket

sides, then turn whole assembly over and screw through back into bottom.

STEP 16 Insert bucket shelf (O) into bucket. Make front edge of shelf meet angled sides on bucket end. Screw through ends and back into shelf to secure.

STEP 17 Butt cabin front (P) into cabin top (Q) flush with 1 long edge and screw together. Sit cabin sides (R) on cabin top flush with short edges and butt into cabin front. Screw together. Butt cabin back (S) into cabin top flush with 1 short edge and screw together.

STEP 18 Fill all nail and screw holes with wood putty. Let dry, then sand smooth. Spot prime with

undercoat. Apply 2 coats of black paint to front wheels, caterpillar track, cabin uprights (T) and cabin struts (U), and bright yellow paint to rest. Allow to dry after each coat.

STEP 19 Place cabin upright against cabin back flush with 1 long edge and butt into cabin sides. Screw through back into upright. Repeat to fix second upright to other long edge of cabin back.

ASSEMBLY

STEP 20 In the bedroom, lay bed base on its side. Position cabin assembly against bed end so bottom edge of cabin back is flush with bottom edge of end. Screw through cabin back and bed end into bed sides using 65mm wood screws. When screwing cabin back into rest of bed end, use 28mm wood screws.

STEP 21 With bed upright, sit caterpillar track against side of bed so 1 side of track is flush with rear face of cabin back. Screw through bed side into track hub.

STEP 22 Hold cabin strut on a slight angle against inside of cabin side and bed side. Mark line of these components on cabin strut. Cut along these lines.

STEP 23 Place cabin strut in position between cabin side and bed side. On side of bed at caterpillar track, screw through bottom of strut into track hub to secure. At top, use 2 mending plates over join between strut and cabin side to hold it in position. On other side of bed, use a pair of mending plates at top and bottom of cabin strut to secure it to cabin side and bed side. Use paint to touch up mending plates and disguise them.

STEP 24 Place front wheel against side of bed near end. Screw through bed side into wheel hub to secure.

STEP 25 Place bucket assembly against bed end. Make sides of bucket overhang side of bed by 42mm. Screw through bed end into bucket with 28mm screws.

STEP 26 To create short bucket arm (V) and long bucket arm (W) use jigsaw to cut off ends of both components in a semicircle. Sand smooth, then paint with 2 coats of yellow paint.

STEP 27 Predrill though short bucket arm 33mm from 1 end. Place against bed side near front wheel and screw into bed side using a 50mm batten screw.

STEP 28 Predrill through both ends of long bucket arm 33mm from the end. Hold against open end of short bucket arm and join using a 75mm batten screw. Place against bucket side and hold in place using a 50mm batten screw.

STEP 29 Screw reflector to cabin front and batteryoperated light to the inside of the cabin.