Hey guys, heres my next project I’m starting on. I was inspired to build it after I seen it on the Japanese model building show “Plamo Tsukurou” I’ve only gotten the running gear and some of the hull done and I’m gonna be using the Fruil Tracks with this kit too. So here’s some pix of my progress:
The 36cm tracks are exactly the same as the kits:
They fit the drive sprocket perfectly:
Good looking plastic tracks at that! Nice focused photos also! The second and third shots show a bent piece of track. Having never worked with Fruil tracks, are these easy to fix?
Yeah they are, the instructions suggest to use a .4mm pin vise to open up the holes where the wire goes in case there is a little flash left over from casting. This isn’t needed on most links bc the wire will slide through the holes just fine. I only have a small section assembled so far but they hang loose like a jewlery chain if you can imagine that.
That’s the appeal I believe the tracks have…to me at least. Please post your continuing progress! Thanks
I have the older version of this kit. I’m looking forward to seeing yours built up Tankster!
Funny, I’m working on the old Tamiya Pz IV Ausf D. right now. I wonder if I should do a blog so members can see how this newer Tristar kit compares to the old Tamiya one?
I have the same kit in the stash, so I will be looking forward to this one. Are you doing the swimming tank or the standard one.
I’m going the Ausf D. Theres more decal options for it. I ordered the Dragon 3in1 so it should be here in a few days.
Does the Dragon kit give the option for the swimming tank, I hadn’t realised that. I was planning on getting another Tri start kit to do both options.
No it doesn’t it has options for the standard Ausf. D, the ‘Vorpanzer’ with the bolted on armor and the Tropical Version. I went ahead and got it b/c its hard to find as I think its discontinued but it has decal options for 10 diff kits and has alot more PE than the Tristar one, plus I like the short barreled Panzer IV’s better than the later models for some reason, they seem to have a tough stout type look to them.
Ahh, nice start! Looking forward to seeing how this Tri-star kit builds up. I have their Pz.38t Ausf G in the stash which looks great in the box. It comes with the snap together Modelkasten style tracks, does the Pz IV come with them as well or are they like DML’s Magic Tracks?
They’re ‘workable tracks’ sorta like the ModelKasten but they don’t have the pins that glue into the track. And they dont’ hold up very well so I went to the Fruil tracks. Tristar did make a Limited Edition Panzer IV that had the ModelKasten tracks.
Off to a good start on this one Tankster! [Y]
I’m back on track now I have the turret mostly done and I"m finishing up the tracks. I had to stop building the Fruils b/c I didn’t have a drill bit small enough to clean the flash out of the pin holes but my set of fine drill bits from Tamiya came yesterday so I’m back on track now.