Tamiya tracks disintegrating

shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Sunday, December 28, 2003 10:51 PM

Digger - I've used CA glue for my tracks with no problems at all ... what brand were you using.

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

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diggeraone

Member since
July 2003
From: Ozarks of Arkansas

Posted by diggeraone on Sunday, December 28, 2003 10:25 PM

No superglue does not work in putting the tracks together,but rubber cement does.Also does 3m cement which is found at any auto parts store.A nick name for this stuff is called gorilla snot and can be found in a spray or gel glue.The metalizer paint has a strong thinner in it.It is of the same stuff as testor makes to thin out the paint for airbrushes,I would not use it.A light wet brush techinic can be use to do your tracks.Alsoyou can go to mrc.com which handles replacement parts for tamaya here in the states.
they my have what you need.Digger Smile [:)]

Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton

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beav

Member since
May 2003
From: Ft. Sill, OK

Posted by beav on Sunday, December 28, 2003 10:07 PM

I remember an earlier topic somewhere about this...
I have never had that problem, but overall, i HATE TAMIYA TRACKS!
they are always to small, and stretch funny,they bend concave when they are stretched around sprockets and such, and, now they disintegrate! IHATE THEM!!!!!
does modelkasten carry king tiger tracks??? does it have a website? Does superglue work on the vinal for holding it to the road wheels?

"First to Fire!"

Steven

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 28, 2003 7:16 PM

I had the same problem with my Jagdpanther and Cromwell. I use testors metalizer paint, which I think had a bad reaction with the vinyl. Just as a test I've painted a set of vinyl tracks from a Stug III kit as I normally do with the exception of the type of paint. Hopefully that was my cause.

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renarts

Member since
April 2003
From: Sunny Florida

Posted by renarts on Sunday, December 28, 2003 5:28 PM

I looked at both MK and Fruil for tracks. Rather expensive at $30 or so. But I haven't ruled them out yet entirely.

I did send an e-mail to Tamiya explaining what happened and asked how I would go about replacing the tracks. I did notice that the 97 is still in their catalog, so all hope isn't lost.

The mineral spirits I use is the type typical at DIY centers like Home Depot and Lowes. Blue and silver can. I guess that I won't take anymore chances with the vinyl and expose it to thinner. The acrylic paints and pastels will do.

Thanks for the imput guys, I'll keep you posted regarding my luck with Tamiya.

Mike

Ron, thanks. I am giving that Fine Models kit a good look over. I may just order that after I catch up a bit.

Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

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mark956

Member since
February 2003
From: USA

Posted by mark956 on Sunday, December 28, 2003 1:05 PM

Some very good information here. Thanks for sharing.
mark956

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 28, 2003 8:48 AM

Sorry to hear about your troubles Mike.
As for the tracks, have you tried to contact tamyia directly through their customer service? If you let them know what happened maybe they can replace the tracks for you. I have had to contact them twice, once for missing parts and once for missing instruction sheets, both times they fixed the problems very quickly and with no charge to me. At the least, you might have to pay afew bucks to cover the replacement parts. Might be worth a try. Good luck Smile [:)]

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Sunday, December 28, 2003 1:42 AM

That's too bad Mike. That's a weird problem. I hope you can solve it. Good luck.

Eric

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diggeraone

Member since
July 2003
From: Ozarks of Arkansas

Posted by diggeraone on Saturday, December 27, 2003 11:20 PM

You need to ckeck what kind of thinner you used on them.Some thinners that are used are to strong and will eat threw the rubber.Some are made for the type of paints we use in modeling and will not eat threw the rubber.I did use some thinner at one time I had bought at wal-mart.I thought that it was a good ideal but it was not.It ate right threw a model I was doing.Had to throw away the kit due to it changed to a big lump of plastic.
Also do not use bleach to dull them for painting,this will cause them to disinigrate.do not use airbrush thinner it is to strong as it is made for thinning for the brush.Digger Smile [:)]

Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton

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Rob Gronovius

Member since
December 2002
From: Fort Knox

Posted by Rob Gronovius on Saturday, December 27, 2003 10:22 PM

Fruilmodel and Madoel Kasten both make Type 97 single link tracks. They run around $30 a set. For a little more, you can buy the newer (and superior) Fine Molds Type 97 tank.

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shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Saturday, December 27, 2003 9:53 PM

It's the curse of the Type 97 Hoo-Ha !!!! Shock [:O]

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

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mark956

Member since
February 2003
From: USA

Posted by mark956 on Saturday, December 27, 2003 9:35 PM

I am sorry to hear about this Mike. I have never had that happen to me. I have a 20 plus year old Tamyia panzer 2D on my shelf. I hope some one has an extra set of tracks. Good luck in your search.
mark956

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renarts

Member since
April 2003
From: Sunny Florida

Tamiya tracks disintegrating

Posted by renarts on Saturday, December 27, 2003 9:28 PM

So..... I'm looking over some past projects, and to my complete horror [:0]I see the Japanes 97 Chi Ha's tracks have begun to disintegrate. Little bits crumbling away al la pilots mask in the Andormeda Strain. Dead [xx(]

Some parts have definately contracted while others are gone. Poof! Disapeared. They are...no more. The remaining bits crumble to the touch.

I suspect it was the thinner base of the oil wash I used on them, and this is the result of some reaction of the vinyl with the thinner. (But then how can they be painted with enamels as I've seen others do?) but just to be sure.... Is this the possible culprit?

My normal track painting method is to overall paint in Tamiya Gunmetal, then an oil wash, then some pastels and a highlight with silver.

So far this is the only one.

2nd part of my question.... anyone know where I can find an extra set of tracks for this kit so I can replace them? Is there anyone producing aftermarket kits of the tracks for a 97?

Angry [:(!]

I knew that with as much of a challenge the build was, this little guy wasn't ready to give up quietly..... Sad [:(]

Thanks,
Mike

Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

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