Modelkasten Tiger II tracks. Lots of pics. 2 more pics added

Thanks for all this info. I was just searching for a way to paint my tracks for my Little Stug III. Great post. I will practice tonight and see how things work out.

On the subject of Friul tracks vs. MK tracks, how do the Fruil tracks clean up? Is there flash and mold seams to cleanup? the MK tracks are really nick with little cleanup with the proper removal of the parts from the sprues.

Also, anyone built resin tracks from Accurate Armor? I just picked up a set cheap from Ebay and was just wondering if they're worth messing with. They glue up like indys, not workable, so that's a drawback, but still better that rubber bands I suppose.

Anyway, thanks for all this great info.

Ted

What an interesting thread! Thanks for sharing your experiences everyone, as this is "the next step up" for a modeller of my ability, and I have one kit that I could justify the cost for, in a year or so when my skills are up to it. This has been very interesting.

I commend your courage in going back for another try, hope it works out better for you this time around.

I hope you get better results this time, I really do.

Well I am going to go against my better judgement and try MK's once again using monrads weathering technique , for a future project ( late Panther G) I do like the thinness and accuracy of the Mk tracks ,I never knocked them in that dept . I do think my weathering did lead to the demise of my JT tracks , it must have melted them ( the pins that is ) . So being basically insane anyways myself, and always up for a challenge , monrad has talked me into trying them once again , who knows perhaps I may become a convert after these ! will post picks while the tank is in progress , or my head in the wall whichever comes first !

Glad to hear that you have had good experiences with Friulmodelisimo tracks. Like I said earlier, the reason I choose Modelkasten is because I like working with plastic.
Maybe you could do a thread like this on how to assemble Friul tracks!! Im sure alot of members would appreciate it.

I prefer Fruil tracks over any plastic tracks, including MK's. I found a short cut to assembling Fruil tracks - instead of using the flimsy wire that comes with them, I went to the sewing section at Wal Mart and bought straight pins, (you know, the ones my wife uses to hem a garment). These work great and allow me to fully assemble a set of track in about twenty minutes. The heads of the pins can be easily snipped off and presto, you have a nice set of working metal tracks that give the right "sag" etc. The other advantage to Fruilmodel is the center guides etc will easily show bare metal wear by gentle scraping of the paint in syrategic areas. I will continue to use them on all my future armor projects.

Steve

QUOTE: Originally posted by Moses I use Model Kasten tracks almost exclusively and I have never had a problem with them coming apart after painting. Monrad, I just noticed in one of your pics that you put glue just at the base. Man that must take you forever. I dip the peg in glue and remove excess if I have to. I have never had a problem with them not being workable. The glue actually pulls back when you insert it into place. Cheers Mo

hmm no not really. When I use an old fine pointed paint brush its not that difficult to put the glue exactly where I want it, and that way Im sure that they stay workable.

I use Model Kasten tracks almost exclusively and I have never had a problem with them coming apart after painting.

Monrad, I just noticed in one of your pics that you put glue just at the base. Man that must take you forever. I dip the peg in glue and remove excess if I have to. I have never had a problem with them not being workable. The glue actually pulls back when you insert it into place.

Cheers

Mo

From the pics I may have to give MK tracks a try.
I've done Fruils and recommend them, the sag is awesome.

Good articles , that whole tiger tank looks kool , I will have to try that technique on my next set of tracks , the finished product looks pretty darn good . BTW did you see that USS missouri dio on this same page ? Just awesome work !!!

hehehe, aren't we all insane. I use a wash technique from this page http://www.naritafamily.com/howto/howtoindex.htm I use the technique that he uses on the Tiger I tracks. Its pastel chalk powder mixed with acrylic thinner. Simple. This guy even makes rubber tracks look great.

Ok one more question , what type of paint do you use for the base weathering etc on these , I am pretty sure that the wash did a number on them when I applied it , in fact I know it , because they fell apart just after . Perhaps when I want a challenge , I may give it a shot again . ( perhaps I am insane )

Yes the jig came with the kit, all modelkasten Tiger tracks should have one, if yours didn't then that was a mistake from the factory, and the jig makes the assembly process alot easier, maybe it can explain some of your problems, not all but some.
And yes I have ALOT of single pins aswell.

Hey BTW did that track jig come with your kit ? My set did not have that included . Also the JT set had twice as many single pins as the doubles you had , do you have a lot of singles as well ? ALL: These (fruil , modelkasten, wwII etc)aftermarket tracks can be pricey for sure in my opinion the end result is worth it on all accounts , the sag you get from them is unmatched by the kit supplied tracks , this is due to the fact that they are workable , Fruils even have the weight factor , I have no idea how one would go about simulating russian armor sag without them . If you have not tried this type of indy perhaps you should not , they are very addictive and depleting on the bank account . ( and with fruil you can make your girlfriend or wife a nice tennis bracelet with the leftovers )

I am sorry you had such a bad experience with Modelkasten tracks, I have only had good experiences with them, I guess it all boils down to what we prefer. I prefer plastic over white metal because I don't like to work with white metal, others, like you, see it differently, and thats good. Friulmodelisimo tracks looks great, I just prefer plastic.
Like I said, its a matter of preferences.

Monrad: yes I have built just one set , and the pins were fully inserted . had they been any more inserted they would have been on the other side . If I buy an aftermarket anything and have a bad experience with it , I don't buy it again , isn't that the definition of insanity ? Doing the same thing twice and expecting different results ? Perhaps the solution I use for wash attacked the pins , but to be honest I have used it with all my other models parts with no such result of plastic damage , I use humbrol thinner for the wash base , pretty mild compared to testors . These Mk sets cost around 30dollars here they should be a bit more durable than that , and I would not use them for anything but a static model as that is all I have . I have built around 10 sets of fruils and they come out great everytime , are much easier to build and sag like no tomorrow. I am not knocking your tracks here , if they are your preference and you get good results , well thats great ,Mk tracks look fantastic when done , they are fiddly mind you but they look great , and they have a certain scale thickness that most others do not have , they just look right . However one really has to wonder do scale pins apply to small styrene ? I think it would be similar to trying to hold the real track together with a lead pin!

QUOTE: Originally posted by spector822002 Word to the wise on MK tracks , once painted they break apart ...

What kind of paint did you use? The reason I ask is that I remember a Sherman article by Bob Colligon in FSM a few years back, and he encountered a similar problem. After applying a wash to his tracks, most of the connectors on one track were attacked by the solvents in the wash and broke. He said he then had to brass pin them. I have no idea what brand of tracks he used, but the symptoms described seem identical. I'm wondering whether the problem would be avoided by using acrylic paints?

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman Yes they are nice looking tracks, but I myself, just can't pay the price of a new kit for them. Just my

I hear you on that tigerman...I build static models for display only and would have a hard time justifying their cost, especially if the kit comes with indy links to begin with ala Dragon. Some of the older Tamiya kits have inaccuracies in their rubber-band tracks that might lead me to replace them with Tamiya or Academy indys, but those run about $15 a set, very different from the MK or Fruils.

Your tracks look real good.
mark956

Yes they are nice looking tracks, but I myself, just can't pay the price of a new kit for them. Just my

I have to disagree with you there, I have used them a couple of times now, and I have NEVER had any serious problems ..... period !!

I've tried pulling the ones on the pics and they can take quite alot before they brake apart, not enough to use them on R/C models but more than enough for static display.

How many sets of Modelkasten tracks have you built ??? 1 ??
I have built 5, not much but still. I had some trouble with the first one, but now I just make sure that ALL the pins are FULLY inserted, and I haven't had any trouble since.

Word to the wise on MK tracks , once painted they break apart , and not in just one place , sometimes many , after my jagdtiger set ( almost identicle to the above ) I will not be using anything but fruil again or wwII productions tracks ( you can't find these anywhere however in the usa) The Mk tracks are really nice to look at , nice thin and accurate , but they are truelly frustrating after paint , the side pins are just too short period !

Ok; just shoot me a mail if you want any of the pics in a mail.

Thats ok Monrad. For some reason some of the pics are starting to show on my computer. I've run into this before, but I'm still fairly new to computers so I really haven't figured out an explanation for it yet. Regardless, I enjoyed the thread, and as I said it's a topic I'm interested in for future builds. Thanks for your knowledge and sharing. semper fi, mike

Sorry that you can't see the pics Mike, I can mail them to you if you like.

This sounds like a great thread Monrad. My problem is I can't see the pictures, and this subject is one I've been trying to learn as much as I can on. Maybe they will show on my computer later, sounds like you did a great job illustrating start to finish. Thanks for posting an interesting thread. semper fi, mike

wow. they look incredible. just incredible.

joe

I love Modelkastens... Great pics of the assembly.

EDIT: I wish I had a set for my sturmtiger....
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