Okay, so I’m building up an old M1 and a T74 for a friend, and I just want to complain about the tracks that come with AMT/Ertl armor. Maybe I’m just spoiled by the Tamiya rubber tracks, but these suck! The fit is terrible, and they don’t look real. Anyway, just venting. Anyone else have any similar experiences?
AMT/Ertl armor???
I didn’t even know they made armor kits. I certainly won’t buy an armor kit from them unless they produce one that receives positive reviews. I doubt that will happen in the foreseeable future.
Enjoy your modeling…
Yeah, they’re really old. The fit is terrible, the instructions are mediocre and the decals are atrocious. But hey, they’re for a friend, so who am I to complain? I’ve got the M1 Abrams, an M998 HMMWV w/TOW, a “T-74” Soviet MBT (I put that in quotes because it sure looks like a T-72 to me), and a LAV-AT as well. Plus I’ve got an ESCI/Ertl T-72, which promises to be equally awful. Maybe I can pawn that one off on someone… [:D]
But yeah, the tracks are cast in multiple pieces and then you glue them to the road wheels. Obviously, no flexibility, and the fit is terrible. Am I the only one who’s ever built one of these things? [:0]
Better question: am I the only foolish enough to admit it? [:I]
Yep… Link & Length tracks… most of the ESCI / Ertl armor stuff Sucked!!!
I’m using the few i got (REALLY cheap) for major Kitbashes…
Most, but not all. Their M60 series of tanks is the best around. It is now reboxed by Italeri.
All the AMT/Ertl armor kits are Esci kits. Many of their 1/35 German WW2 armor was top notch as was their German horse drawn supply sets.
Their BMP-1 and BMP-2 were superior to Dragon’s BMP-1 and BMP-2. Their T-55 was the best one on the market until Tamiya released the latest one.
Their M1 and M1A1 were bad as are the T-72 and T-74 (a mis-labeled kit). They also did a HMMWV series that was not as good as Italeri’s, but at least they included a radio rack. Also the LAV series was not as good as Italeri’s, but they were not bad kits.
Esci/AMT/Ertl also did a 1/72 scale armor series that is still highly sought after. These kits are outstanding and Italeri has started to reissue them. Some of the “lost molds” like the 38t, M4A3, M13/40 are extremely hot items to find.
Revell of Germany has also reboxed one of Esci’s best kits, the M60A3TTS. This is the 1/35 scale kit. The Revell of Germany 1/72 scale M60A3 kit is not the old Esci one.
The link and length tracks are a problem, but I’ve found them to be a problem when supplied by any manufacturer. I’ve got the T-55 and I used the tracks for a Lindberg T-55 which was very bad and bought an AM set for the ERTL tank. Like Major Rob said, the T-55 is a very nice kit, probably not up to the new Tamiya kit’s standard, but a nice kit anyway. Their M60A1 is very good as well.