 |
|
| Hobby Forum Index » Models - Scale » ARM: Review - AFV Club 1/35 scale T-34 Single Link... |
|
Page 1 of 1 |
|
| Author |
Message |
| ... |
 Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:15 pm |
|
|
|
Guest
|
Kit Review: AFV Club 1/35 scale Single Link Track Sets:
Kit No. AF35142; T-34 550mm Stamped Links; 450 parts in brown
stryene; estimated retail price US$16.95
Kit No. AF35173; T-34 500mm Width Cast Links; 170 parts in brown
styrene; estimated retail price US$16.95
Advantages: nice compliment to AFV Club T-34 kits or any other T-34
kits in 1/35 scale
Disadvantages: “Model Kasten” approach to track assembly not popular
with most modelers
Rating: (AF35142) - Recommended; (AF35173) Highly Recommended
After-market tracks have been popular for many years, and AFV Club
generally has been wise enough to include single-piece vinyl tracks in
its kits (which most modelers are happy with) but also to offer single-
link styrene sets for after-market purchase. The advantage of this is
that since they are designed for their kits they are a “drop-fit” with
no hassles for the modeler.
These two sets cover most basic T-34 tank types with the main early
and main late types of track. As such, it is a giveway that AFV Club
is planning to release an early model T-34 tanks (mostly Model 1940
and some early Model 1941).
The sets are in the now standard AFV Club brown styrene, but whereas
the late one will probably be popular there is one serious drawback to
the Model 1940 or 550mm set.
Model Kasten pioneered a method several years ago of using tiny
styrene pins to assemble working 1/35 scale tracks, and it provided to
be relatively unpopular with most modelers due to the tedious work
required to assemble one set of tracks. Worst of all were their US
Medium Track sets with the need for five parts per link – pad, end
connectors, and two tiny pins. Although the directions said to simply
“insert pin” and then cement, most modelers knew that by capillary
action that usually wound up with the pins freezing and the tracks
quickly becoming non-working.
AFV Club has now offered this same method for their 550mm tracks.
Each set comes with 75 “A” links (with a guide tooth) and 75 “B” links
(smooth faced) and 300 pins. Each pin has to be assembled one at a
time and to remove them it pretty much necessitates two sprue nippers
– a big one to cut the pin and its sprue from the larger frame and a
smaller, fine one to nip the pin from the sprue after installation.
While AFV Club claims you do not need cement, this usually has not
been the case with their other track sets (which usually can be kept
together long enough for painting and installation before having to
“freeze” them in place with liquid cement). Each pin here is roughly
2.5mm long and 0.5mm in diameter so good luck.
The other set, however, is much different. It comes with 90 “A” links
and 80 “B” links which assemble by slight flexing and snapping them
together using pins on the “A” links. Snip them off the sprue, clean
up the sprue nubs, pop them together and done.
Overall these are a nice idea, but the overly fussy 550mm tracks may
not be as useful and I expect most modelers will simply cement the
links together and skip the pins.
Thanks to Miin Herng Tsueng for the review samples.
Cookie Sewell |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
The time now is Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:37 pm
|
|