Metal Tracks

Different people will have much more experience than I do. I used Friuls and liked them very much. On a T-55.

I think a bigger consideration, and here you don't have control, is the size. I've read lots of commentary regarding going nuts putting together tiny ones.

Tracks for halftracks will be very tiny to work with.  You don't mention which brand kit you are going to build or if this is your first AFV build, only that you are looking for after market for the first time.  

If this your first AFV build I suggest you build something larger that would have tracks that are larger and will easier to assemble.  I have assembled both Magic Tracs (single link w/o pins) and Frugil (w pins) workable tracks for a couple of Panzer I's which are about the same size.   I found the Frugil easier to handle than the Magic Tracs, but both look awesome compared to the rubberband tracks.  I suggest you go to You-Tube were you will find countless videos on assembling various brand of tracks and what that modeller thought of them.  Not all after-market brands are the same.  I dislike Bronco tracks as I thought of them the worst I worked with when assembling them on Kangaroo APC I put together. Others think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Its not so much the brand, but as the guys i have said, which vehicle they are for. I like Fruils a lot, but the 251 tracks drove me nuts.

It looks like Magic Tracks is what I would try.

How are they for Tamiyas Early Tiger 1 in 1/35?

I could be wrong, but i don't think you can buy Magic Tracks. They are Dragons own brand of individual link tracks that come with some of their kits.

Well that stinks.

So what choices do I have for metal tracks for that model?

Thanks.

I've got Fruil ATL-25 for both of my Tamiya early Tigers. Spade Ace and masterclub also do metal Tiger tracks but i can't speak for them. The masterclub look like they come with plastic pins rather than the wire that comes with Fruils.

Thanks.

Have you seen Easy Metal Links tracks?

I would try those but it seems they dont make any for Tigers yet.

I have seen them on a UK site i use but never tried them. Their range seems limited. I have only used Fruils.

Those seem expensive and above my skills right now.

Do you happen to know who makes the best rubber tracks?

Thanks for all the help.

Not much help there i am afraid. The only set of AM plastic tracks i have used are the Bronco AS 90 set i just put together. Very nice tracks but very fiddily and a lot of work. I do have a couple of sets of AFV club tracks but not used them yet.

I've got 30 sets of Fruils in the stash to use, should give you an idea of my preferance.

Wow, really you have 30 sets of Fruils!!!!  That like a 1k $$$ just in tracks. My wife would gut me like a fish if I was to spend that kind of money.....LOL

Magic tracks can be seen on Ebay from time to time,also on Armorama they have a track exchange for modelers who may not want to use a certain type of track.I've also used Spade Ace,a little cheaper then Fruils

Not to be Teacher Ted, but it is spelled Friul. Make your search easier.

http://www.friulmodel.hu/en/metal-tracks-m5/metal-tracks-1-35-p5.6/

In the world of plastic tracks, I've tried a set of AFV Club tracks for a Sherman, and used the Magic tracks that came with a Dragon SU-122. 

Both were the type that need to be glued together, for which I used the Doog's tutorial.

The Dragon tracks were great. The AFV tracks were too short. Couldn't understand why they didn't just furnish more links. Fortunately the tank had side skirts so I was able to hide the gaps.

As for cost, I agree to the extent that it's a really big ticket. But about what a good upgrade set of PE costs for a ship model. I model so slowly that a set like that might be a once-a-year deal.

armor 2.0

Man I don't know how you guys do it. It would be a cold day in #### you know where before I would pay 40 to 50 dollars for a set of tracks for a model that's going sit on a shelf and nobody's going to see that just me .I just do the best I can with what I have.Now if I was building a model for a contest which I never to do I might be able to justifie it.But I doubt it.

 

Hell is not a swear word..... LOL!

Marcus McBean

Wow, really you have 30 sets of Fruils!!!!  That like a 1k $$$ just in tracks. My wife would gut me like a fish if I was to spend that kind of money.....LOL

 

Fortunatly i didn't buy them all at once . I bought a set for the Warrior recently but was the first set for a few years. Fortunatly a lot of kits come with decent tracks now, and there are more plastic alternatives. I only replace the rubber band tracks, so for a lot of the kits i have, especially the Dragon and Amusing Hobby, i am happy to stuck to what they provide.

what about resin track links then.

I would like ones that fit together with a pin and not glued together.

thanks.

STL DALE

Well that stinks.

So what choices do I have for metal tracks for that model?

Thanks.

 

I would not recommend metal tracks for someone new to armor. The cost often doubles the overall price of the model. For the price of Fruils, a very nice complete model with individual link tracks can be purchased. Depending on the track type, they run about $40.

AFV Club makes a fairly nice Tiger I kit that doesn't cost much and comes with decent vinyl tracks. Dragon makes several Tigers that run the gambit of $30 to $100.

Hi;

 Like Bill I have used Fruil-Model Tracks . Definitely interesting and high quality and well worth the cost I think .