Kässbohrer's latest top model, the PistenBully 800 SIMPLY RED, was officially presented in a live stream on March 1, 2023 in Sölden. It is specially designed for pushing power and optimal slope preparation and has one more wheel than previous PistenBullys. As usual, images of the PB800 as a prototype in camouflage and later even uncamouflaged were already floating around on the internet before the event. 

Pistenking received the CAD data already at the beginning of autumn 2022, of course under the strictest secrecy. As with the PB400, I took over the CAD work in order to develop parts for the model and an intended kit from the original data. We had set ourselves an ambitious goal: a prototype of the model should be ready by the presentation on March 1st, 2023. And we did it! Just three days later, Pistenking was able to present the model at the "BEST OF" function model event in the Unimog Museum in Gaggenau!

It was great teamwork with Pistenking: Adrian Humbel took care of the sheet metal parts, Andi Rieger did the electronics for the light circuit boards and Lukas Worbs printed the driver's cab parts. On February 13, 2023,  Andi Rieger and I even had the opportunity to see the PB800 live during a visit to Kässbohrer.

Of course I was also interested in my own model, because the PB800 looks really cool. So I bought an Anycubic M3 Premium printer + accessories which is on the market since October. This made it possible to print the large cabin parts in one piece. The surface quality was impressive and almost indistinguishable from injection molded parts.

Only one pass with a filling primer and sanding was enough. Then two coats of silver paint (I use Tamiya TS-30) were applied for UV protection, over that a light gray primer, and then red could already be painted. Below are the parts as I taped them off for painting the black areas:

After painting, the silver logos had to be applied, which was a real challenge because of the indentation in the side panels and a rather stiff carrier film for models of this size: 

I'm currently still waiting for MJF printed parts for the door frames, then I can also assemble my driver cab.

Below is the Pistenking model (built by Adrian Humbel) at the “BEST OF” event: