Still building a DIY tractor / excavator - racing against time, as autumn is rainy here and you cannot weld water.

It can already maneuver, turn the mast, raise the first linkage of the mast, lower / pull the second linkage of the mast, but the excavator bucket is incomplete and the bucket tilting mechanism missing.

The remote control system is also missing (relays on a slow boat from China), so currently I have to control it via cables. Limit switches are missing, currently it’s unsafe to use for a careless operator. Later on, it will be remote controlled and limit switches will ensure it cannot break itself.

My own reason to choose remote control is convenience (better ergonomics as I can write pre-programmed movements). If it works too well, I might send a recipe to a friend in Ukraine, with the suggestion of asking around - maybe someone needs cheaper mine disposal machines.

Hydraulic excavators are neat, but too expensive for me, and require far too much power.