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A mightly big D'OH!!

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  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Montreal
A mightly big D'OH!!
Posted by buff on Monday, August 16, 2004 8:55 PM
So I got around to putting the resin tracks on my Firefly tonight. I used a hairdryer set on low, and it worked really well. I got the tracks around the idlers and the drive sprockets with no trouble. The problem is that each track is an inch too short!!Banged Head [banghead]. I had counted the tracks in the instructions, then counted out the right number of tracks from the Accurate Armour set. That looked a little short, so I added some to each track. Got them all painted and weathered and figured I would be close. Not!!. The kit tracks are significantly bigger than the A-A ones. You can eyeball the difference. I had hoped to have the tracks on tonight so I could spend a couple of days putting on the finishing touches then finish off the base for the weekend. Not going to happen nowAngry [:(!]

On the bench: 1/32 Spit IXc

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Monday, August 16, 2004 9:03 PM
buff,

Sorry to hear that.

Are you sure you got the set for the M4A4? M4A4's hulls are a little bit longer than the standard Sherman thus making its tracks a bit longer. I guess if you really are not satisfied with the kit tracks being too obvious against the resin ones...your only choices are to get an additional set of resin tracks or to hide the discrepancy with something.

Hope you find a solution to your problem.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: sunny imperial beach
Posted by yw18mc on Monday, August 16, 2004 9:14 PM
Facing a similar problem Bill! I'm building up my tracks for my german SWS halftrack, and it looks like I'm going to come up short on links? It's enough to make you want to scream at the top of your lungs? I just don't understand why they can't include extra links on these individual track buildups! Anyhow I'm not helping you solve your problem friend. Just wanted you to know there's two of us in the pot!!! semper fi, mike
mike
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Upstate NY
Posted by Build22 on Monday, August 16, 2004 9:21 PM

Buff,

Splice 'em. Cut a new length about 4-5 links ( should have enough) and glue them in a butt splice. Put the joint over a roadwheel and glue both sides to road wheel.

I did it with mine

It's no sweat


Jim [IMG]
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Montreal
Posted by buff on Monday, August 16, 2004 9:51 PM
QUOTE: Are you sure you got the set for the M4A4? M4A4's hulls are a little bit longer than the standard Sherman thus making its tracks a bit longer.

I'm pretty sure I got the right ones. The British steel chevrons. I just measured wrong. I've got some left over so it's no big deal. I've already got them cut to fit the gaps.

Mike,
These don't come individually. They come in lengths that you glue together. As I wrote above, I'll use the left overs. I just hate making silly mistakes is all.
QUOTE: Splice 'em. Cut a new length about 4-5 links ( should have enough) and glue them in a butt splice. Put the joint over a roadwheel and glue both sides to road wheel.

That's pretty much what I'm going to do. My gap is at the bottom under the road wheels, so I think I'll be able to hide it pretty well. The tanks is going on a dirt road display, so I'll sink the tracks in a little, and add some dust to cover the seams.

On the bench: 1/32 Spit IXc

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Philippines
Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Monday, August 16, 2004 9:54 PM
Good to hear that, Buff.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Monday, August 16, 2004 10:12 PM
Mike,

Your kit not having extra links is an anomaly in indy link kits from my experience. I've never built an Italeri with indy links, but every Dragon, Tamiya, or Academy kit that I've built that had indy links always came with extras. I don't think it's out of the goodness of their hearts though, just more economical to make 3 sprues from the same molds than to have one oddball sprue.

Buff,

Glad to hear you can correct your problem, it's one of the most frutstrating things (as Mike can also tell you! Big Smile [:D]) to encounter in a build.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Monday, August 16, 2004 10:44 PM
I guess I've been lucky so far, haven't had that problem yet. That's too bad Mike, I love that halftrack. Does anyone make am tracks for it?

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Central Wisconsin
Posted by Spamicus on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 7:35 PM
After the fact and not much help now, but I always measure rather than count the kit tracks and then build my AM tracks to about the same length plus one block. Just for the next project I guess.

Steve

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