Hey folks, Tamiya just re-released three old 1/35 scale Russian tanks on a limited basis. They are the SU-85, SU-100 and SU-122. However these kits come with the Tamiya master weathering kits. Here is my question, did they release these kits with the same old horrible rubber tracks that require heating a screwdriver to melt the tracks together, or did they include new vinyl tracks that can be put together using plastic cement. Can anybody tell me if they bought these kits, or if they know. I do not want to purchase them if they have the crappy old tracks. Thanks for everybody’s time.
I cant say, but why not try the kit out and replace the tracks with aftermarket offerings?
I can’t justify spending $20 to $40 on aftermarket tracks for a $30 kit. I was hoping someone either bought the kit and would know, or someone owns a hobby shop and opened one of the kits.
Frankly, I prefer rubber-band tracks and wish manufacturers would stop making everyone use links & length or indy-loops… After-market sets of loop tracks seem to run about 6 bucks a set in most cases, but there’s alway a kit I want that doesn’t have them in the offering… But at 20-40 bucks for after-market tracks, I can certainly identify with ya… I wouldn’t pay 30-40 dollars for after-market ANYTHING lol…
Anyway, I built the “old school” Tamiya T-34/76 not too long ago and it has the loop tracks… However, they were nicely detailed on both sides and quite useable from a detailer’s standpoint… I don’t get why you consider them “horrible”? Were they not detailed on bith sides, or what? I mean, it doesn’t take much work to model “sag” in loop tracks, if that’s the beef you have… It’s certainly much quicker & easier than doing runs of 180 links…
They did have a little fit problem where the two links joined, but that easily hidden by the mud… Plus, most all the new Tamiya kits that have come out in the last ten years or so with vinyl tracks are the “glueable” type which works pretty well, much better than the hot screwdriver-type
Another idea: Maquette makes a usable set of plastic indie-links that usually go for well under $10 a set. In fact, I picked up a few boxes recently that I’m not going to use. PM me and I’ll get them off to you if you’d like.
Hans, that is my point. I think you misunderstood, I like the vinyl loop tracks that are one piece and just need to be glued. I have no problem with those tracks. My question is regarding the re-release of these old russian kits that used the “hot screwdriver type” tracks. I wanted to know if Tamiya updated those kits with one piece glueable vinyl tracks (not link and length) instead of the horrible “hot screwdriver type” tracks. Those old kits used the rubber type tracks that needed to be joined with a hot screwdriver. The kits I am referring to are #89791, 8979 and 89798.
Ahh, gotcha… Sorry, man…
IMO, rubber loops tracks are useless with it comes to t-34s and the like, the reason being that the loops tracks will curve to the circumference of the wheel, usually in the middle of a link. on the track, the tracks only bent where they were connected, giving it a “blocky” appearance.
I believe all of these Tamiya kits are reissued older releases, and as such, come with the rubber-band style tracks, that need to be put together with heat. However, in my experience, those ones offered by Tamiya are probably the best available.
Also, as mentioned in this thread, get a Maquette set of tracks, which can be found for very reasonable prices.