I thought modelling was a hobby and for fun ? I need a moan!

[Guest]

With the bad weather and having a few days off work thought I would start the tamiya 1/35 Tiger 1 late model , everything is going nicely (pictures will follow) but I need to have a moan if thats ok - 1st gripe tamiya make 1st class kits but with tanks WHY are are the barrels always in 2 bits and no matter how much sanding you can`t lose the seams , 2nd gripe (this is the big one) what is the joy and fun in modelling -making and then painting nearly 200 individual track links , 1st time doing this but I`m 100% sure I could make a set bandies look as good as these without a doubt

Sorry guys, needed to get it off my chest

Richy:grumpy:http://www.scale-models.co.uk/images/smilies/grumpy.gif

[Ian M]

Richy, I know where you are comming from! On the bright side Tamiya are begining to wise up and SOME of their new releases have turned Ally barrels or the guns, But by no means all. This is why there are so many firms dong very well selling metal barrels!

As for the individual links..... Mixed feelings on those. The worst are the ones you have to glue together, the best are those that clip together, and are still flexible when made. My only grip with the band type are I think they are a pain to paint, some times the paint will just refuse to stay on.

Loose links do look good when they are done, the sag is so much better and I think the detail better to. One thing is common they are a pain in the butt!!!

The barrel you can buy finding some one to build your tracks is a whole new kettle of fish! Chin up.

[tr1ckey66]

Hi Richy

The Tamiya Tiger is a bit of a classic but is starting to show it's age when compared to the new Dragon offerings. I'm not rubbishing the kit, I've got 2 more to build myself (early and late - possibly a hybrid hull).

I always replace the barrels with metal upgrades, as I do think they're worth the money and prevent warping or drooping over time that you sometimes get with plastic, so to me the halved barrel isn't an issue. I have just pieced together the 2 halves to the Tamiya 25 pdr though and the join is completely invisible (as far as I'm aware no after market barrel is available) but maybe the Tiger barrel fit isn't as good.

The individual track links are down to personal preference. I prefer the individual links as they do offer more detail and you can model a realistic sag in the track, but I agree they are more time consuming. If you think putting those tracks together is tedious you should try riveting a 1/32 Typhoon wing - the upper wing took me 3 evenings work! Also, if you ever think about buying Model Kasten tracks remember that the working Sherman track consists of 6 parts for each link!!! I think it's all down to what you want to get out of the hobby. I think some people will spend years on one model and are prepared to spend weeks on getting just one part right, others want to complete a model over much shorter periods. I don't see either of these approaches as wrong it's just down to individual choice.

I've got some Dragon DS tracks for the Tiger 1 if you really want vinyl tracks (as vinyl tracks go they're the best). If you like, you can PM me your address and I'll send them to you, but honestly, if it were me, I'd stick with the hard plastic individual track.

Cheers

Paul

[Ian M]

A couple of barrles.

Military Model Supplies by Lou Stener - Military models including WWI & WWII tanks, boats and more right at the bottom of the page

And Somewhere in the middle White Ensign Models Aber 1/35 WWII German Barrels

[Guest]

Cheers guys , I will battle on , thankyou for listening I feel better now but I still can`t my head round why someone would make individual tank tracks I keep looking at the 3 sprues of tracks - I`ll start them tomorrow and see how I go , the barrel I can live with for now

Paul - thankyou for the offer mate its much appritiated (and your only around the corner in Orpington) but I will take your advice and stick with the singles

once again thankyou gents

[Guest]

I have my first set of individual track links to do when I start my MiniArt Valentine. However, Dave (Gern) loves them, he told me so............

[Guest]

Unfortunately seperate track links are the only way to get tracks to hang completely realistically so that is why so many modellers prefer them, after all it is realism we all strive for.

This is one of those jobs you do with your brain in neutral while you watch the telly. The good part is though the tremendous sense of satisfaction when you have finished them and they look superb.

[Gern]

I have my first set of individual track links to do when I start my MiniArt Valentine. However, Dave (Gern) loves them, he told me so............

..... I KNEW my name would eventually crop up on this thread! Thanks Graham. Richy, please don't even think of asking! :lol

I hate to disagree with such an experienced modeller Richard, but there is another way of getting tracks to sag realistically. Have a look at Carrie's build of a German piece of armour (Sorry Carrie, can't remember exactly what it was! I think it was either a Mk IV or a Stug maybe?). She got the tracks looking brilliant by fixing them to the top of the return rollers. THAT'S how I'm going to be doing mine whenever I do tracks again!

Individual track links? Yukkk!

Gern

[Guest]

Hi guys gern carries was a panzer mkIII and all she did with them is super glue the track to the top retun rollers whilst keeping one finger each side to get the sag, as for sag on a tiger do the same superglue the track on following the line of the wheels i used this on my early version tiger, which is in my gallery. I personally think it works although i do have individual track links for my italeri tiger.

scott

[Guest]

..... I KNEW my name would eventually crop up on this thread! Thanks Graham. Richy, please don't even think of asking! :lolI hate to disagree with such an experienced modeller Richard, but there is another way of getting tracks to sag realistically. Have a look at Carrie's build of a German piece of armour (Sorry Carrie, can't remember exactly what it was! I think it was either a Mk IV or a Stug maybe?). She got the tracks looking brilliant by fixing them to the top of the return rollers. THAT'S how I'm going to be doing mine whenever I do tracks again!

Individual track links? Yukkk!

Gern

If we all did things the same way Gern it would be pretty boring! As always we all have our own preferences and favourite way of doing things, which is what makes the hobby so absorbing and interesting.

[Guest]

You are correct indeed Richard.

[Gern]

Quite right too Richard. Horses for courses and each to their own!

Mind you, since reading your last post, I looked at a build review of Dragon's Dicker Max to compare it with the Trumpeter version I got at Telford. The DML kit has individual track links and the builder fixed them onto the return rollers and used cocktail sticks to wedge them in place to create the sag he wanted! The Trumpeter kit has both individual links and 'rubber band' type tracks. Methinks I'll stick to the latter.

As a slight diversion from this thread, I also found during my research that I'll be able to save myself even more work when I come to build the Trumpeter kit. It has a nicely detailed driver's compartment which could be seen with the hatches open. Unfortunately the driver's seat is about 20 mm out of position! It is much too far forward and to one side of where it should be. That scales up to about 700 mm on the real thing and that's a HUGE distance in such a cramped compartment.

Needless to say, I'll be fixing the hatches closed so no need to build the interior. I'd be interested to hear if anyone could suggest how Trumpeter got the seat position so badly wrong.

Gern

[Guest]

Made a mistake, people do. They go on the data they gather and if they get that data wrong, then it goes all the way. Why not correct it and leave them hatches open Dave????

[Gern]

Made a mistake, people do. They go on the data they gather and if they get that data wrong, then it goes all the way. Why not correct it and leave them hatches open Dave????

What d'you think I am? Some sort of modeller? Maybe in a year or six when I've learned what I'm supposed to be doing. :lol

Gern

[Ian M]

Well you are enough of a modeler to discover the seat is in the wronge place and by how much...... So I think you are well on the way mate! :Laughing:

Go on go for it, you know you want to.