Leopard 2A6M CAN

[Richard55]

You got my attention Mike.Do like a Leopard.Got about 10 Italeri leopard 1s and a Dutch Leopard 2a4 by Revell.Seat pulled up among the gathering frong.

 

[scottie]

Mike,

I used these on my buffel build. They went together well and were no where near as fiddly as the ones you have there.

 

[Edbert]

Yikes! Guess I need to stop whining about the three sets of links I was working on, none are this tedious. Even though one set was enough to make me opt for the rubber-bands Tamiya shipped to begin with.

If you can stay calm, and keep the frustration level low enough, I know you can do this.

 

[Jakko]

One of the best ways to avoid the tedium of building tracks, IMO, is to not try and do them all in one go. Most people build the whole model and then start on the tracks, meaning they have a lot of dull work ahead with nothing else to break it up. It's far easier if you clean up the parts and build the track in stages while working on the rest of the model, like when there's something drying that you need to wait for, or just as a change from what you were doing.

 

[Steve Jones SMS]

Totally agree Jakko. I dedicate 20 - 30 mins per bench time at the start and get as many done as I can. By the time I have built the rest of the kit the tracks are done and a long gone nightmare LOL. However others do find it strangely therapeutic. They clearly haven't done Fruils M48 set of tracks. The worst tracks EVER and that includes MASTERCLUB as well. I'm currently managing around 2 to 3 links per 30 mins and the final look is not a good one. Hopefully that will make you feel a little happier Mike LOL

 

[Steve Ski]

Excelelnt, Mike, and wow, those tracks, sheesh! Watchin this build!

 

[Jakko]

By the time I have built the rest of the kit the tracks are done

For me that's usually the goal, but in practice I usually end up building a good deal of the track after the rest of the model is already finished

They clearly haven't done Fruils M48 set of tracks. The worst tracks EVER and that includes MASTERCLUB as well. I'm currently managing around 2 to 3 links per 30 mins

That is really bad, though. AFV Club's plastic T142s, the ones with the octagonal blocks, are quite good and very easy to assemble; too bad their "T97s" are actually T107s and not suitable for M48s-series vehicles (other than the M88 ARV). They are the right thing to put on Takom's M103 heavy tank, though.

 

[JOHN R]

Totally agree Jakko. I dedicate 20 - 30 mins per bench time at the start and get as many done as I can. By the time I have built the rest of the kit the tracks are done and a long gone nightmare LOL. However others do find it strangely therapeutic. They clearly haven't done Fruils M48 set of tracks. The worst tracks EVER and that includes MASTERCLUB as well. I'm currently managing around 2 to 3 links per 30 mins and the final look is not a good one. Hopefully that will make you feel a little happier Mike LOL

Who finds it " strangely therapeutic " should be shot !

 

[JOHN R]

No wonder you were getting fed up , by this time I'd have sent them to Jakko !

 

[Richard55]

Who finds it " strangely therapeutic " should be shot !

Exactly John.Ive either got sausage fingers or just unpatient when it comes to tracks.Or just plain lazy hehe.

 

[Richard55]

For me that's usually the goal, but in practice I usually end up building a good deal of the track after the rest of the model is already finished


That is really bad, though. AFV Club's plastic T142s, the ones with the octagonal blocks, are quite good and very easy to assemble; too bad their "T97s" are actually T107s and not suitable for M48s-series vehicles (other than the M88 ARV). They are the right thing to put on Takom's M103 heavy tank, though.

Thats good to read.Ive got a couple of T142 sets for my M60 family of kits so phew.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Update,
One length done and 30 links of the second track to do, and still sane - at least my analyist tells me....
In between have been sorting out some of the etch ready to assemble and put in place, and just had an idea that I might cut down the full size slat armour into the late sets used, which were basically four slats removed from the bottom of each section, yes, that sounds like a good idea and will be different....
More pics to follow
Cheers
Mike.
PS, thanks for all the suggestions and comments - all are most welcome.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Update,
Today is a day of celebration, the tracks are finally assembled - would I do another set of these RFM 3D tracks, I think I would rather be a bee keeper in a nudist colony is the answer....


And some brass work on the rear of the hull....


More tomorrow.
Cheers
Mike

 

[Steve Jones SMS]

This isn't you then Mike??

 

[TimM63]

Update,
Today is a day of celebration, the tracks are finally assembled - would I do another set of these RFM 3D tracks, I think I would rather be a bee keeper in a nudist colony is the answer....
View attachment 127596

And some brass work on the rear of the hull....

View attachment 127597
More tomorrow.
Cheers
Mike

Those are awfully clean mats you have there. You should spill a paint bottle or something so they look normal. LOL

 

[Edbert]

Those are awfully clean mats you have there. You should spill a paint bottle or something so they look normal. LOL

I think Mike is the one who recommended putting white paper down for each kit to protect the mats.

 

[Down Time]

This is an interesting build, I like the techniques.

 

[Scratchbuilder]

Those are awfully clean mats you have there. You should spill a paint bottle or something so they look normal. LOL

That is my Sunday going to church one, this is my daily one that no matter how clean you are one touch and you need a bath....

 

[Scratchbuilder]

This isn't you then Mike??


View attachment 127602

Needs more work on the love handles and six pint belly....

 

[Andy T]

Needs more work on the love handles and six pint belly....

Mine is more of a Party Seven these days...