I’m a fairly new member to the Forums and returned to modelling a few months ago after being away since childhood.
My next build is going to be the Tamiya KV-2. I’d like to try aftermarket metal tracks (Friulmodel) for the first time. The Friulmodel website shows two products available. One: ATL-10 for KV-1 / KV-2 / SU-152. The second: ATL-51 for KV-1 / KV-2 / SU-152 “Light Type Tracks.”
What is the difference? Or more specifically, what do they mean by “Light Type Tracks”?
Also, for that matter, will either of these tracks be compatibile with the Tamiya kit? Their product info doesn’t indicate what kits they’ll work with.
The ATL-10 tracks are the early type with each link having it’s own guide horn, the ATL-51 are the later type with guide horns on every other link. The ATL-51 also come with new drive sprockets to fit the different spacing. I don’t if there was an official change-over of track types for the KV-2, or if they were simply changed to the later type as needed. According to Scalemates, they are designed to fit the Tamiya kit. Not having done this conversion, I can’t speak from experience. Often times one needs to modify the kit’s sprocket teeth for proper fit.
I don’t have a lot of info on this vehicle, but I’ll see what else I can find.
I built the Dragon SU-152 kit, which came with independent plastic link tracks (orange box). I was very happy with the results. Don’t know if those are available separately, or appropriate for the early KV-2, but just a thought.
Thanks so much, great info! I think I’m going to just go for it and see. To err on the side of caution, I guess I should get the ATL-10 (early) tracks and just consider the model an early version?
Thanks so much, you’ve been a tremendous help! I think the vote is in… I’m going to use the ATL-10 tracks.
If you have any advice in regards to the building and placement of the tracks on the model, I’m all ears. Like I said, I’ve never used aftermarket parts of any kind before.
Some Friuls come with opposite handed insert holes for the wire, where the cast on bolt end detail alternates so that the ends of the wire you use are on the inside. Other sets don’t, they are all the same hand. I only figured that out when I used my second set. It’ll make more sense to you when you shake the parts out.
The ATL-10 set should also have a set of sprockets in the box, I have a couple of sets and both do. You’ll need them for the Tamiya kit, but the tracks are are perfect fit on the Trumpeter kits. Also, they’re not “handed”: on one side you’ll see the pins, on the other the cast-in bolt.
I had posted this before, but it is so funny I have to share it again. So please, virtuous soldier, proceed to the thermodynamic power inhibit at all possible speed in that hour of backstroke break war!
While Tamiya’s KV-2 isn’t a bad kit, it is dated and for the cost of a set of aftermarket tracks like Fruils, you could get Trumpeter’s KV-2 which has better detail and very cheap. It also has both link & length tracks and a set of one piece vinyl tracks that you could use to dress up Tamiya’s older kit.
A quick Google search shows it goes for around $30 delivered. The cheapest I saw in my cursory search was $25 delivered from China.
I will be diving into the tamiya kv2 kit as well. I got it and the tamiya Cromwell for $30 total At this years modelpalooza event. I was contemplating these tracks but went for the aftermarket kv1/2 workable plastic tracks by bronco. They were only $20 off amazon. We’ll see how they go.
LoL
I often wonder, in reading these translations (or transliterations) just how accurate to the original they are.
I am reliably informed that pinyin, the (simplified) Chinese text is not quaite as nuanced as (strict) Mandarin.
But, still, are their kids (or middle-aged factory managers) getting these kits and the tank turrets are being called frid crab cakes? Or, is that just euphamism?
I remember the 80s ESCI kits with six-language intructions that were similarly hillarious if you read the transliterations (just transposing the words, without regard to meaning or grammar).
I remember my folks buying me a (nitto, I think) kit, solely for the label on the box: “Garmen Wear Stuff Care”–the kit being Adolph’s Mercedes touring car.
Tower is what the English word turret often translates to. Same thing with the word “chain” whereas we use the word track. I’ve always wondered about “quick fried”. I think they misspelled fired and that quick fired might mean welded. But that’s just me guessing.
I can’t remember which set of Fruil tracks I used, but if you want to see how they look on the Tamiya KV-1C, I have a thread with pics in the forum here. I’d post the link, but eveidently I can’t figure that out right now.
I know I didn’t use the drive sprockets that came with the tracks, as they didn’t align very well.
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