Product Review: Trumpeter 1946 Track Links

Hi all,

after the rather traumatic experience with the rubber tracks for the EPIALES vehicle, I decided to try the Trumpeter plastic track links instead.

For this PHRIKE vehicle I used the suspension, road wheels, return roller and drive sprocket of the Trumpeter T-54B kit that "Baynerd" sent me as a gift :)

The kit contains rubber tracks, which are usually very twisted and bent, and somehow I never gotten around to find the proper means to glue it in place.

I was amazed to find the kit on Amazon for a reasonable price - 10.79€ - and Prime shipping.

The kit seems rather straight forward consisting of 248 separate pieces.

Since I only use 4 road wheels and the vehicle is considerable shorter, I won't need all of them.

First task is to clean up the pieces.

A nice little pile - very little flash, just getting it out of the sprue and removing the little positioning pieces.

The instructions are also quite simple.

I mounted them first in pairs and then sections of fours.

5 sections of 4 were needed for the base area.

The mounting of the sections is easy, they work well with the glue and fit nicely to the kit.

But then I got to the drive sprocket and got a nasty surprise!
The links did not quite fit the sprocket's teeth.

Despite both being Trumpeter and the links being explicitly for the T-54.

I didn't expect that.

So I quickly shaved off the inner teeth.

 

This then worked to get the links mounted around the drive sprocket.

 

I was lucky that the tracks counted out perfectly and they met without stretching :)

Just the way I wanted them!

For the other side of the PHRIKE I need to display a thrown track in the process of being re-mounted.

With the exact link count from the other side, I first mounted the ground section and then the thrown pieces.

Again, the pieces work together quite nicely and are very easy to position the way needed.

So, despite the surprise with the drive sprocket, the track links work like a charm.

Especially if you want to picture the tracks in an unusual position the plastic track links are a lot better than the original rubber ones and in my opinion worth the price.

A clear recommendation form my side!

Cheers

Klaus

A Meeting of Scouts (2)

Hi all,

I hope you all had a good week and hopefully some pleasant spring weather.

Since the last update I added some more details, like the remaining sights and vision blocks.

 

But also the latches for the storage boxes.

 

and external luggage.

 

Then the kind of iconic headlights.

 

Small details like these handles for the hatches to the engine.

 

And for the ammo hatch.

 

With this the PHRIKE is pretty much complete and ready for the rivets.

 

I'm always amazed how much the simple application of some rivets change the appearance of the vehicle.

 

I'm quite pleased :)

 

Next up will be the tracks - and I decided to make that a separate post, as it is also a product review.

Cheers

Klaus

A Meeting of Scouts (1)

Hi all,

as mentioned in my last post, I was planning to participate in the "Big Spring Contest" over at Scale Model Addict (SMA).

The contest started on April 1st and the overall theme is "Restored and Repaired".

So for this I plan to do a diorama with two scout vehicles meeting (maybe at a cross-roads) and one has to undergo repairs.

That's the basic idea.

I've been playing around with this idea for a while and remembered this WWII image of a Panzer IV with a thrown track.

Like with the EPIALES I will use the suspension, road wheels and tracks of a T-54 (thanks to "baynerd" for donating the kit).

 

Pretty much the only pieces I will use from the kit.

 

I have always fancied the French AMX-13. Such a cool vehicle - kinda cute :)

So I based my plans loosely on it, but adjusted it to my PONOS/EPIALES family.

 

It is lower and shorter than its sibling.

 

The hull itself has pretty much the same width - and needed just as much Putty as the EPIALES :)

 

Here I already drilled the holes for the suspension and the mount for the drive wheel.

 

Lots of sanding later.

 

The suspension mounted.

 

And the wheels dry fitted.

 

Family snapshot!

 

The name of the vehicle will be PHRIKE, which is the ancient Greek Spirit of Horror and Trembling Fear.

Other than the PONOS, POLEMOS and EPIALES the PHRIKE has no troop compartment and the engine is front mounted. So the hull layout is rather different, but I tried to reuse many design elements like the stubby nose, drivers position, the "fenders" and the shape of the rear.

 

One problem with the front mounted engine is the access hatches and the cross-bar the the vehicle family has.

 

I tried to picture it open, during the scene, but didn't really fancy it.

 

I will model it closed.

But first it was putty time again.

 

After another sanding session I built a exhaust grill at the rear - yes, engine in front, but for better signature suppression all exhausts are routed (and maybe cooled) to the rear for one central exhaust...

 

And with the wheels mounted, the hull is basically done (sans all the details and rivets - lol)

 

Next I started the turret - which will be AMX-13 inspired (hopefully).

Lots of round stuff - not the easiest to scratch build.

 

After the round base I mounted the straight sides.

 

Then the angled front plate.

 

And finally the round front armor.

 

Even with all the putty it looks nice.

 

 

 

While the putty cured I built the auto-cannon.

 

And mounted it in the turret.

As you can see I will also use the hatches of the T-54 (like I did with the EPIALES).

 

Another nice piece is the searchlight - mounted :)

 

And finally I started to mount some sights - and on the rear left corner of the turret a sights mount that can by hydraulically raised (i.e. above a cover).

 

That's as far as I got.

I think I'm pretty good in plan and the PHRIKE is progressing nicely.

BTW, the other vehicle will be based on the British FOX Armoured Car.

So, what do you think?
Do you like today's update?
I look forward to your comments, suggestions and feedback.

Cheers

klaus