Dragon Tiger 1 Early 3-in-1: which tracks should I use?

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Greetings!

Having just started the Dragon Tiger I I noticed the kit comes with Dragons Magic Track set. I found that I also have a Modelkastern Tiger 1 early track set I have never used. The Modelkasten set looks like it will be a lot more building than the Dragon set but thats just my observation.

I would appreciate an opinion on which one should I use.

Thanks

Steve

2

I used the MagicTracks on my Dragon 251 and they were fairly easy. But I’ve never used ModelKasten so have no experience there! Sorry!

3

…if you want the ultimate in accuracy (and don’t mind spending 3 or 4 times the amount of time than you will with the kit-supplied tracks) go with the MK’s…

…if you want fairly good accuracy with a lot more ease of assembly, go with the kit tracks…

…both will look good in the end…

4

Use the kit tracks and sell the MK’s. Just seems silly to buy AM’s for it, when the kit’s are decent already.

5

depends on if the MK ones have hollow guide horns. but then again if that part of the accuracy isn’t stressed, the kit tracks will do just fine. [come on tigerman, you are TIGERman! that should technically make u THE rivetcounter when it comes to the panzer VI. ‘decent’ is like same as ‘spare box / ebay’ in your vocab.]

6

I wrote a little Modelkasten Tiger I tracks tutorial a little while ago , where i used the Dragon Inital kit.

/forums/711320/ShowPost.aspx

I prefer Modelkasten above any other, and i have to admit that i will appear extremely biased when it comes to discussions about aftermarket tracks. But im not blind, so a little word of caution, MK’s means alot of work, they take time, they are fidly to put together and if you are not very careful they will be fragile, so far my modelkasten’s are holding together though.

7

I guess my conservatism shows through. I guess my thoughts are why blow enough money to buy another kit, when the parts you are replacing will do the job just the same, but only being slightly more accurate. To me it doesn’t justify the extra cost. Now if the kit tracks were vinyl, than that would be another story perhaps.

Ironically, I might be tigerman, but there are many who know so much more about the tank than I. [:)]

8

I’d just love to see Dragon release little bags of plastic smart track, mainly to replace the Tamiya rubber band style. I can’t justify purchasing AM that runs $30 or more that just gets covered with paint and weathering, just not fiscally responsible IMO.

9

Great tutorial TMN1 [tup]
But…
I would go with the kit tracks or possibly get metal tracks.
Fruil Models workable tracks have hollow guidehorns.
Karaya don’t but they have that extra weight that does the trick for me.

Here is a link to the assembly of Fruil Tracks
http://www.rollmodels.net/nworkbench/onlinebuild/howto/lordtracks2/tracks2.php

Crockett has posted an excellent step by step that can be found here
/forums/1/617986/ShowPost.aspx

Regardless off what your choice is going to be; Have fun, you have one off the best OOB kits released over the last years in front off you [8D]

10

That was some great advice. I think I will use the Magic Tracks for this model but after reading both tutorials (which were VERY well done) I want to try Fruil tracks for my next project. I checked on Squadron’s site but couldn’t find them. Where would you recommend buying them from in the U.S.

Thanks to all

Steve

11

Steve,
could it be that you acctualy have the DML # 6252 Initial?
In that case you should acctually use the supplied ones since they are unique to the Initial 20 Tigers built, the left track is a mirror image of the right.

I am not sure if any of the AM stuff pics that up, it is a pretty cool feature to DML # 6252 though.

Best Regards

Svenne

12

Hey Manny, do you think that the MK’s are even better than the much-vaunted Friuls? I’ve never used either, so I ask…?

13

There is no question that the MK’s are more realistic in terms of thickness of the links, that is why i use them, i also prefer plastic over white metal, but MK’s are more work and they are more fragile let there be no doubt about that, but if you follow my tutorial you shouldn’t have any problem … well atleast i haven’t.

14

Hi Svenne.

Yes I checked and the kit I have is the DML 6252. I didn’t know about the tracks with this kit and I thank you for the info. I will keep the kit tracks for this one.

Thanks

Steve