Anyone have experience with Italeri customer support?

In the US, superb customer service is provided through www.testors.com . They have replaced parts that were damaged or missing in action in a short amount of time and at no cost.

Thanks alot Rob. I'll get in touch with testors and hopefully they'll be able to help me out. It's kind of funny on this project! I don't have a great deal of experience with individual link buildup, so I was going the extra mile to ensure this would be one of my best builds, then I realized I was going to come up short on track links. My whole bottom dropped out as I've been kind of showing off my progress on this build, and then this! Thanks again Rob, I really appreciate the assist. semper fi, mike

Hmmm... I have an Italeri right now, if I have any extra track links I will send you them...
If not... I can tell you how to make it so that you don't see the track works, in a diorama or something.

I need to know what size of your model 1/35?

This kit is on my fall to do list. Does anyone know of a company that makes workable track-links, as a replacement for these kit supplied tracks? I have read various articles on this kit, and the tracks are the failing of it. I think that ModelKasten makes a set, but I am not sure .... does anyone know of if this is true, and the number of the set?

This should be discussed further here ....... Why do we, as Armor modelers, GET CRAP PASSED OFF, when it comes to tracks in a AFV kit. Come' on, how much money would it take, to have workable links supplied by the original company (Read Tamiya, Italieri, others ...... you know who you are!) when we get great details, on 90% of most kits these days, but the tracks are CRAP. Either too tight or to big, or too small, and some are inflexable, some are flexable enough, but too small to recreate the sag on some armor kits.

The cost to make the additions to the kits would be in the range of 10 cents to 50 cents US, at best, as how much plastic is used?? NOT MUCH!

And of course the cost could (would is the proper answere here) be spread out over the different kits, as how many Tiger kits, for example, could have the same tracks (they do in the rubber-band form) suppled or included. A separate mould would do here.

I propose a "solution of sorts" whereby we as modelers SEND BACK THE TRACKS TO THE COMPANIES!!!!!!!! Either the supplier or the wholesaler/importer in your country, to keep the cost down. I think that if this was done, the companies would "get the message" that you make a great kit, but the tracks are CRAP, so "solve the problem" or we will NOT PURCHASE ANY MORE KITS!

I don't know how many times I have bought a kit, (from a review, etc) and once opened, the kit is great, but the tracks are crap, and this ruins the enjoyment of the build, as it sits on my shelf, without the tracks!

Sorry for the rant, but I think it needs to be said!

Rob Savage

Rob,

It's kind of funny, especially when they rebox older kits as "new" kits and supply the same old tracks...it's as if they don't even recognize that those should be accurate/realistic too! This is the main reason why I actively seek out kits that have indy links as opposed to vinyl but that introduces a potential set of problems like what Mike has experienced so it doesn't always work out as intended.

Yes, I agree to the last post (from wbill76) that this is a real problem. But as I am doing at least one of each type of vehicle in both the Allies and the Axis armies in WWII (or trying anyway ...) this cannot be avoided. I also am not a fan of Dragon's kits, as sometimes they cut corners too much. For example, I think that if the front wheels turned around and turned different directions, then they should in the kit too. Dragon's 250 half tracks have all had their front suspension replaced by additions from Tamiya's 250 kits. I end up purchasing Tamiya's kits just for the front ends, and the rest is lost to the parts bin.

This has limited my making of these kits (as an example) just because of the extra work involved. Remember, you don't always have the front wheels of your car, pointing to the front, when you stop/park it, do you?

Having the ability to "pose" the kit, makes the difference to me, as this is more realistic, and catches the eye when finnished. ( I think anyway)

I think that the Model Companies take us for GRANTED SOMETIMES, and think that "what the X@%&*% they won't notice anyway ....." as we buy the kits, thinking that it is a new one.

Well, I do, and I am a diserning modeler, and I won't (read don't) fall for this, or at least I try not to .... They (the companies could) if they really wanted to, up-date the moulds, and of course at this point, place workable indy tracks and of course the other missing part to most AFV kits, AN ENGINE in the box. The cost to new tooling (with Computer controled CNC machines doing the work) would be small, and of course they could ADVERTISE THIS and make more money (and re-coup the cost of the mould work at the same time), and after all, this is what it is all about, isn't it? Making money!

Rob Savage

First of all, Thank you for your kind gesture to send me some track links Rusty. I have contacted Testors Corp, and they are going to supply me with new tracks.Now!! I have to say I didn't mean to get under you guys skin on my inquiry, but it obviously struck a nerve with regard to armor tracks, and the frustration that seems to be very common with that point in the buildup of a model. This is the first time I have tryed to get help from a vendor, and I probably would have just dumped or shelved the project had it not been for you good folks, and all your knowledge in dealinf with these types of modelling problems. Rob Gronovius, got me on the right track, and I thank him for that. I also very much appreciate the feedback from Rob Savage, and Wbill76. You guys are all experienced modellers and invalueable assets to this forum. I to wish that the vendors who produce these kits would read some of these threads, just to open there eyes to the fact that we pay a fair to high price for their mercendise, and should recieve a quality product in return. I have spent the better part of a morning just trying to get some help so that I could build a decent model that should have had extra links in it just by the fact that they are small, prone to breakage, and surely can't cost anymore then a few pennies to include. Once again sorry to get you guys excited, but I'm in your corner on this issue. Thanks for the feedback. semper fi, mike

to get back to your question,i have no problem with Italeri here in canada,the parts are a little slow ,but they get here.i hope this will help you.

borgfeldt canada ltd

gdarwin[roy]

Good luck Mike, I'm looking forward to that baby getting done.

Just want to report that I recieved from testors corp within 6 days of my call to them replacement parts sufficient to complete my SWS Cargo Halftrack. I want to again thank Rob Gronovius, for getting me on the right path in resolving my shortage. I'd also like to say that Testors Corp who handles customer service requirements for Italeri in the U.S. are a fine bunch of folks to work with. My parts were recieved in 6 days at no cost to me. Now that is good customer relations. semper fi, mike

thanks for the update, I was wandering how things would turn out for you.

Italeri/Testors gave me replcement parts (twice) free.........good support