You sound like me when I first caught the RC construction bug. You can make a excavator with out large costly machinery, but it takes a **** of a lot more skill in the fabrication of parts. I have made or best to say I'm making one right now. I reverse engineered a 1/12 scale hobby engine excavator. I have a band saw, belt grinder, and a drill press and it got me pretty far. Now I need a tig welder, metal brake, small lathe and a mini mill.
The picture here I posted will show you how far you can go with minimal equipment.
