Hey
Guys
What is the difference between these two manufactures aftermarket tracks?
Fruils are metal, individual link track that is workable when built. Model Kasten are plastic indi-link track that are not really workable, but do allow some repositioning once built.
Fruils are really most suited to tracks that sag like German heavies and Russian armor, due to the weight of the tracks themselves. Also, one member learned the hard, expensive lesson, that it made little sense to put them on his Abrams, thanks to the fact that there was no sag, the area was covered with a shield, and not being metal high areas, no reason for sanding the paint down on the pads.
The difference between Fruilmodel and Modelkasten tracks is that Fruilmodel tracks are made with metal and are assembled with metal pins and Modelkasten are made of plastic and are assembled with plastic pins on an assembly jig. Both are excellent in their quality and detail and because of the pieces involved qualify as model kits in themselves. They are generally workable in that they can be realistically sagged around the road wheels for a realistic look. Ranging in price of $25 to $35 dollars they can be quite expensive but will enhance the realism of your Armor tank versus the rubber style tracks that some kits have.
What you should buy depends on what you want from a set of aftermarket tracks.
Friuls are easier to assemble and have some weight to them, however if you’re talking about Tiger tracks they are incorrect, they are too thick and the hole through the guidehorns aren’t correct either.
Modelkasten takes a lot more assembly work and are more fragile, but if you assemble them carefully they can take some handling.
Personaly i prefer Modelkasten simple because i prefer working with plastic instead of white metal.
Friul have a wider range, for an example they make all versions of Tiger tracks, Modelkasten doesn’t, Friul’s are usually a bit more expensive but that doesn’t mean that Modelkasten are cheap, they are both quite pricey.
The Fruilmodel tracks are nice, and as everyone points out, a somewhat expensive option. If I am building a Dragon kit, and it turns out ‘nice’, I splurge and get them off Ebay. I use ‘Blacken-it’ to weather them (I do not even paint them) to a very nice looking rusty-brown-black color. I have difficulty getting excited about building tracks link by link; it’s tedious. The sag effect on the FM tracks is great. And by all means, use the straight pin method most will refer to, not the wire that comes with the tracks; the way to go. Clear out the holes with a pin-vise, then use a straight pin to join the links. Snip off the excess, a dab of acrylate and you are all set to go. I think there are a few threads here in this forum that address FM track build much better then this. I do not think the Kasten tracks offer much more then some well built Dragon Magic or EZ tracks do. Build time is about a minute per link (link prep, joining, weathering, etc).
Peace,
John
I’ve had limited exposure and work experience, but I’ll throw in my opinions.
The fruil tracks are white metal, and assemble very close to how the real thing does. You have to clean out two holes per link, then assemble the links together, using a piece of wire run through, to hold them. The modelkastens do not all come with a jig. There are older modelkasten sets that assemble pretty much as the DML or any other indy-link tracks sets. In terms of detail, both are quite well done, and I’d be hard pressed to choose. When building Russian stuff, I’d say the Fruils are idealy suited, and look just perfect in replicating that typical track sag.
Except for the fact that they are workable and has better detail.
well don’t forget the excellent replacement drive sprockets that Friulmodel adds to their track sets.