Am I the only one who gets frustrated trying to build individual track links? I’m doing the Rye Field M1A2 with interior tank and love the kit but the tracks are proving near impossible to build. Each link has 6 parts with some very precise gluing required for them to assemble properly. They supply a small jig but after placing several pads in the jig some pop out. Did I mention the precise gluing? My solution has two parts. First I just ordered a set of Friul metal tracks (and resent having to spend almost $40 plus shipping) and I’m swearing off Rye Field kits.
Hey don’t give up on individual track links. At this time I’m building the M1A1 from Dragon and although it comes with partially individual track links I still ordered a set from AFV Club. They are plastic and each link is already put together. So the only things to put together are the connecting pins and the instructions are very simple. The hardest part will be painting them which wasn’t really hard at all. If you decide to make other tanks and still want ITL’s, besides AFV Club there is also Modelkasten tracks. Good luck and keep building.
When I built the Meng D9, which is a spectacular kit, the track links were a nightmare. And that was my third model doing them. I really don’t like them.
I’ve never tried the Fruil replacement tracks but that adds a bigger cost to the model.
Believe it or not I like the old Tamiya rubber band type tracks. Most of us have the developed skill to get them to look and sit right.
I’ve built the D9 twice. The first one still doesn’t have tracks but the second has Friul ones that are terrific. What angers me is that in order to properly finish the model I had to shell out a significant sum that shouldn’t have been necessary. The Meng tracks are almost unbuildable and the Rye Field ones too complex with too many tiny pieces for my now not so nimble fingers and slight tremor.