OK folks, i have plenty of 1/72 scale kits under my belt, and plenty of experience with link to link tracks. However the ones in this kit are just plain awfull. They are nicly detailed, however the ends do not match up. It appears this is going ot be a very very long labor of love to make these work. I havn’t built the superstructure yet, it looks great. SO far parts fit, and flash has been out of this world, very good indeed. THe great weakness in this good kit is the trackset.
I will plug away and see what i can do, but unless you want a ton of grief over tracks, skip this kit. Once i build the superstructure, i may decide this is a good kit to kitbash withthe dragon kit.
I’ll keep you informed.
Bill
Do they make any decent aftermarket tracks like in 1/35 scale.
Weirdness! Didn’t someone just post a positive review of this very kit on this very forum? Whom do I believe? [:0]
ME!!! no jk, [;)]
although I did pick up the kit today and will be building it shortly.
looks great in the box though!!! [tup]
OK, 3 hours later, no tracks are on yet. In fact they are almost unworkable in my honest opinion, the fit is just that bad. Also the front sprocket is to narrow to accept the track, so that has to be removed. I am gong to grab a set of Dragon tracks to see if they work when i get home. If they do, perhaps this kit is still worth the 20.00 it will cost to kit bash the two into one really good one.
However in todays day and age, i have to say i will not be buying anything else from trumpter in the near future. I expect a certain level of detail and fit. It’s not like i can go without tracks, its a tank for gosh sakes. Since i can’t return either of the two i bought, i will use them to kitbash. Onto the shelf they go. I am not wasting another moment on these.
Let me go get a nice Dragon, tamiya or revel of germany kit.
Bill
Is the Dragon kit a dedicated static model, or does it have all the comprimises their other 1/72nd offerings do, for motorization and so on? Does the Dragon kit have a metal hull or superstructure?
Larry, you’re right, someone did indeed post a very positive review of this kit as well.
I’ve never had a kit that was completely useless, and I’ve had some bad ones. You can always make it work.
Sorry for the soured opinion of Trumpeter, but this is their first 1/72 scale offering. I wouldn’t count them out just yet. ESPECIALLY if you’re going to consider 1/35 scale kits. Their latest releases have been nothing but spectacular, easily beating out Dragon and Tamiya kits when it comes to their Faun, SA-2 missle/transporter, and the Leopold.
Not quite true. They did an outstanding set of modern Soviet trucks, ZIL-157 cargo and fueler and the Chinese versions which were just a different cab (CA-30?). Bought a couple of these several years ago and was quite pleased. They also do a tractor trailer version which is the same basic truck as a tractor pulling a large fuel tanker.
BTW, the worst part of the Dragon Elefant/Ferdinand were the tracks. They were too long for the kit and about ¼" needed to be cut from the end. Also they had troubles settling down along the tops of the road wheels since the hull does that little dip on both ends.
Thanks for the clearup Rob. I wasn’t aware of the earlier Trumpeter 1/72 releases. Were they still under the same name then? I remember them being minihobbymodels, or something like that.
Larry, the Dragon Elefant was an all plastic kit. No die cast hull! I can’t remember if it had motorization compromises or not. I’ll have to look.
Maj Rob is right. The tracks are really bad. I had to cut off 4 links and shave two more in half on one end (rubber band tracks) to get them to fit. The Jadgpanther is the opposite. The tracks are short! Also, the tracks on the DML Elefant are the earlier type used on the Ferdinand. But at 1/72, not a big issue!
No, these are marketed under the Trumpeter name brand. Here are a few links to them at Great Models:
http://www.greatmodels.com/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=tp1101
http://www.greatmodels.com/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=tp1102
http://www.greatmodels.com/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=tp1103
http://www.greatmodels.com/cgi/display.cgi?item_num=tp1104
Not to make sucha sour note, it was just so darn frustrating. I am willing to send you some of these tracks to try for yourself, really they were that bad. LOL I am going to use the dragon tracks. If you all remember i posted a topic on an easy way to improve these babies by using a small piece of brass stock glues to the inside run of the tracks. Here is a picture of the finsihed result. I am loving the rest of the kit, it was just the tracks looked so GOOD, to be such a disappointment was a real let down. 
Again, i gave theses areal shot,they are just unworkable IMHO.
Bill
Well, at least you found a solution. I’m not going to comment, as truthfully, you have my eternal respect for working with 1/72 to begin with. Those tiny things would drive me mad anyways [:D]
Strange though it is to say, reading this horror story about the treads kind of makes me want to build the model, just to see if I can.
Crossracer is really an agent for Trumpeter! [8D]
How about it, guys? A Trumpeter Ferdinand Treads Group Build?
Ok larry, time to put up or shut up[:D]. I have an extra kit, send me an address and i’ll send it free of charge. So punk, do you feel luck? [;)]
Happy Bill
Ps. i actually got two sets of tracks from dragon, so i plan on using them to detail these out. How about i send you the track set, see what you think?
Bill
Bill, I’d happily take the Trumpeter tracks from you. That is the only portion of my kit’s build that did not turn out too good. Just couldn’t get the Dragon vinyl tracks to sit right.
ROb you want two sets? You can have them. Send me your address to billtrautmann35@hotmail.com. Put tracks in the heading. I can mail them tommorrow. Bill
Ps, i plan to use the dragon tracks to finish the trumpter kits.
I took a quick look at my Trumpeter links last night. I haven’t tried putting any of them together yet, but maybe at lunch today. The one thing I noticed right off, though, is that at least of couple of the single links on both track sprues are warped so badly, I don’t think they are useable.
I haven’t looked to closely at them yet. I’ll have a quick look see when I get the time. very busy this weekend!!!