After reading a lot about Fruilmodel tracks I just obtained a set for my Hunting Tiger. Has anyone figured out what the factory instructions actually mean? Is there a web site that explains how to put these things together 'cause I have no idea what the wire is even for. I was going to use it for the headlight but I don’t think that’s right.
Thanks!
Tom Wood
You should have two types of track blocks, one with a set of center guides and one without. When assembled they alternate, one with teeth one without etc. The wire is used in place of track pins. I cleaned out the holes in the track blocks with a pin drill, don’t go all the way through on the blocks with the center guides. One end should be open and the other will be the outside of the track when it’s installed. Then I put the wire in until it stops. I snip it off with a small wire cutter, don’t use your sprue cutter, the wire will ruin it. Then I tap the wire into the track. Once I have them all together at the correct length I put a tiny drop of Zap A Gap on the wire to hold it in place. the track should work like a real track when complete and look awesome.
Do a quick forum search, I published pictures and instructions just last week I believe.
Here is a link to Crockett’s instructions.
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=37527&REPLY_ID=378342#378342
Here is a link to some instructions in the Tiger group build by yw18mc
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?page=41&TOPIC_ID=27020
I pretty much do what they do. I have my tiny drill in my pin vice sticking out just far enough so that when the base hits the edge of the track, the tip of the drill bit is just entering the last part of the link. I have gotten really good at eyeballing my pins when I cut them (I used the small size 12 on my Elefant Friuls). I just snip off the head and enough of the shaft so that when the pin is inserted all the way in the point is just beginning to bit into the end of the link. No need to use superglue that way. I tried super glue on two links and because it was so much like water in consistency, it quickly ran all the way down into the link. Had to keep working them so they didn’t get glued solid. After that little problem, I stopped using super glue completely. After about 6 or 7 links, I got the hang of it and was able to really crank out the assembly, roughly one connection per minute.
Be sure the carefully inspect whatever tracks you are doing. On the Elefant tracks you have to alternate one link with a guild horn, then one without, over and over again… lol
Good luck!
I superglue mine. Just don’t use thin CA, use the thick stuff. Put just a drop on the end of the pin right where it goes into the link.
Everyone thank you for your help in figuring out how to do this. I really did try to search the forums before I posted but I didn’t finf your orginal posts. Thanks for all the help.
Tom Wood