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Forums - Modelling / Smallscale |
The construction forum is for the discussion of small scale AFV modelling. Usually this refers to 1-76th and 1-72nd scale AFVs. |
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| Subject: | More about the Tracks |  |
| Date: | Dec 6, 2003 |
| From: | Doug Chaltry | |
Hi Damon,
I didn't know my reviews were "suspect" :-)
As for the tracks, here are my thoughts:
First of all, YES, I do have a bias against them, because of past
experience. Like Björn, I have had very few good experiences with them in
the past. In my Dragon reviews, I do point out that they are very detailed,
and as far as I can tell, accurate as well. For those people who LIKE this
kind of track, they'll be very happy.
If you don't have the kits with the photographic instructions, go to
Dragon's website, and look at the photos of the completed models that they
have posted there. You can see that the track links bend in the middle of
each link, particularly around the sprocket wheels. That right there is
enough to ruin it for me. Having the tracks wrap around the sprocket wheels
without the sprocket teeth stuck in the holes in the track is also a nice
touch.
But even more obvious and insidious, is the problem with the upper length of
track going over the tops of the wheels. I'm not saying anything that
everyone here doesn't already know, but tracks are heavy, and unless they
are stretched very tight (which they rarely were), they sit on top of the
wheels. These vinyl tracks don't do that. In fact, I think they look
ridiculous. Sure, there are "tricks" to get them to sit right. You can tie
thread through them and "sew" them to the wheels; you can insert rods into
the hull to press them down; or you can use copious amounts of superglue.
Each of these tricks will only work in certain circumstances, on certain
vehicles. But for the Panther in particular, it is very hard to replicate a
realistic track run. The track is supposed to sit on the tops of the rear
wheels, and about two thirds of the way towards the front of the tank, they
lift off the wheels in a nice, smooth arc, up to the sprocket wheel. There
is no way in hell to replicate that with any of these tricks (if anybody is
able to, I'd love to see photos of it).
As I mentioned for the Abrams, the tracks shouldn't be much of a problem,
except if the links bend in their middles. If that happens, you'll have to
reinforce each link from behind with a strip of stiff plastic or metal. And
if you have to go through that sort of effort to make the tracks look good,
then why not use link and length tracks to begin with?
Bottom line is that this all comes down to personal preference. I despise
vinyl tracks because I build models for the maximum amount of realism that I
can achieve. I let the readers know of my bias, which is why I also add
photos of the parts, so that everyone else can make their own opinions as
well. Perhaps some of my recent reviews are confusing because I have not
been repeating criticisms from earlier reviews. After I write review after
review after review, I get tired of saying the same thing over and over
again, so I usually just make a comment like "as you all know, I hate
these". I guess I shouldn't make the assumption that everyone has read every
review on my site, but it does get tiresome after while repeating myself. I
get tired of repeating myself.
-Doug
"Damon Agretto" wrote in message
news:3fd12c9f@news.track-link.net...
> Doug,
>
> One thing that had me scratching my head is the treatment you give the
tracks in these kits in your reviews. You say they're bad, and then show a
scan, but I don't see how they are. Look fine to me! With your aformentioned
bias against one-piece tracks, I'll be honest, it sounds like you're
trashing them just BECAUSE you dislike one-piece tracks. If done well I
think they can look as good as indy links, and this is coming from someone
who's been building models for some 20 years now. It's all dependent on the
technology, the techniques, and the masters fot the molds.
>
> I think adding more detail here, specifically why they don't work, would
make your reviews sound a bit less suspect...
>
> Damon.
> |
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|
 | Dragon Release A New 1/72 Tiger I - Marco Leung - Dec 5, 2003 |
| . . . Re: Dragon Release A New 1/72 Tiger I - Doug Chaltry - Dec 5, 2003 |
| . . . . . . Re: Dragon Release A New 1/72 Tiger I - Steve Frost - Dec 5, 2003 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Dragon Release A New 1/72 Tiger I - Doug Chaltry - Dec 6, 2003 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Dragon Release A New 1/72 Tiger I - Damon Agretto - Dec 6, 2003 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . More about the Tracks - Doug Chaltry - Dec 6, 2003 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: More about the Tracks - David Byrden - Dec 7, 2003 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: More about the Tracks - Doug Chaltry - Dec 9, 2003 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Dragon Tiger I w/Zimmerit - Doug Chaltry - Dec 6, 2003 |
| . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Okay, I'm gonna be the odd man out here.... - stephen brezinski - Dec 6, 2003 |
| . . . . . . Re: Dragon Release A New 1/72 Tiger I - Alex Clark - Dec 5, 2003 |
| . . . Re: Dragon Release A New 1/72 Tiger I - Richard Dowhower - Dec 6, 2003 |
| . . . . . . Re: Dragon Release A New 1/72 Tiger I - Doug Chaltry - Dec 9, 2003 |
| . . . . . . Re: Dragon Release A New 1/72 Tiger I - Doug Chaltry - Dec 9, 2003 |
| . . . My thoughts on Dragon armour - Alex Clark - Dec 6, 2003 |
| . . . . . . Re: My thoughts on Dragon armour - MSW - Dec 6, 2003 |
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