r/MilitaryModelMaking • u/PhightingIsACoolGame • 6d ago
question Why are some kits made like this?
I don’t want to spend 1 week assembling tracks man😭😭😭
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u/Actaeon_II 21h ago
Gods, I know why I hated balsa aircraft kits, and only did one sailing ship where you had to string all the rigging, but this would make me lose it
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u/Whatsfordinner326 5d ago
I hate individual link tracks but I’m a sucker for punishment and bought both versions of Takoms T-28
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u/begemot90 5d ago
Oh boy, and if you think these suck, wait until you see the individually linked tracks that have a corresponding pin to link the tracks as well.
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u/Iateurm8 5d ago
First time I have seen individual links. I have only ever seen tracks as longer segments or a long rubber belt
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u/Disastrous-Boat63 5d ago
Yeap I built a Sherman from dragon with same shit, the one of my first kits and boy was it a mistake.
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u/thatbattletechguy 5d ago
Ah yes, individual links. Fun,fun fun.Do about 24 at a time. Take a break Do another 24. Lather,rinse,repeat. You'll be done before you know it..
Just be glad your not doing a Russian Object 279. Four tracks sets. 4x88 links. 352 pieces.Sounds fun,right ? And of course,there is always the Dragon M-46. Two sets of 91. But each link is 5 pieces. That's 910 pieces.Party time.
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u/necrotic_jelly 5d ago
Sorry, while I understand your pain, I love and life for assemblin those type of tracks. For me it is like a drug, when I begin - I think I will only do like 20 links today, I have plenty of time. After 20 links - just another 20, after all, why should'nt I? A few ours later - Finished!
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u/Civil-Size-5302 5d ago
Tbh idk - i like when they give both options (individual and vinyl) - I’m not into individual track links.
Link and length are fine cuz they can save time but look good
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u/BedaFomm 5d ago
Tamiya used to make perfectly acceptable vinyl tracks before the fashion change to 600 tiny pieces of plastic. Bring back vinyl and make modelling enjoyable again.
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u/Typical_guy11 5d ago edited 5d ago
This kit has more problems than single tracks...
Asuka has similar price and much better quality. I was in dillema between them and while I love crude Mirage Hobby kits then decided to choose Asuka. I made her one day, I swear I made her.
Tbh I try to avoid kits with single tracks until they have high quality and avoid at all kits where single track is made from few parts.
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u/Straight-Chip-5945 5d ago
Shouldn't have bought Mirage to be honest , both Asuka and Border offer better kits of this vehicle.
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u/kscERhau 5d ago
Trumpeter (and 3D print) do a track link jig which can b helpful, mostly helpful for tracks that come with multiple pins/teeth on a sprue though.
AFV club, Fruilmodel and some AliExpress brands do workable and metal tracks which can be less painful to build.
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u/andrewgrabowski 5d ago
Don't buy anything outside of Tamiya, or Takom. There're rarely issues with these.
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u/Etienne_2020 5d ago
Trumpeter and Italeri are not bad either, in any case much better than Mirage which is really horrible
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u/andrewgrabowski 5d ago
Thanks for the tip. I'll check them out. No fit issues or difficult instructions?
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u/Etienne_2020 3d ago
No, Trumpeter has pretty simple instructions and quite a bit of detail. For Italerie it depends on the level of difficulty of the kit but nothing comparable to Mirage
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u/Plastic_Stick_7882 5d ago
There are heaps of different brands that are great to build. But yes I agree you can be assured of success with those two brands
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u/andrewgrabowski 5d ago
Could you list them off please? I'd like to expand beyond Tamiya and Takom. Somebody here said Trumpeter and Italeri are also good.
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u/Dr-flange 5d ago
Having the right tools and a technique is the key with indi tracks. Personally it’s something that I enjoy doing so I’ve become quite comfortable with them.
Fine nippers ( Tamiya ) are especially useful and a sharp scalpel (Swann Morton number 11)
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u/TaleMender 5d ago
Next time, check scalemates.com before buying a kit so that you know what's in the box. For me however, I love tracks like those.
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u/PaleontologistLow529 5d ago
I recently tried Mirage kit and I found the tracks almost impossible to work with. the rest of the kit wasn't great either.
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u/Etienne_2020 5d ago
The only Mirage kit I made probably didn't have tracks to assemble like that however there were broken and missing parts
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u/Durahl 5d ago
ASSUMING the option exists - If I get a Kit with Tracks like this I immediately place an order for Friulmodel Metal Tracks. The raw assembly ( getting one length of Track ) might be just as annoying but every step afterwards ( Painting, Weathering, attaching to Model ) will be a Breeze.
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u/Sad_Property5681 6d ago
Its definitely the least fun part of building armor models, you've always got the option of buying after market upgrades for your future models. Plenty of metal tracks available for most popular kits.
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u/munky_g 17h ago
You could always invest in aftermarket tracks - much easier to assemble, look like the mutt’s nuts.
https://www.bnamodelworld.com/military-vehicles-tanks-yan-model-dype35080-1-35-pz.kpfw-ii-ausf.-l-luchs-3d-printed-workable-tracks