Plastic chemistry is a really complex and interesting subject. The composition of soft plastics can vary greatly, as can the manufacturing process. When last researching plastics used in models, I came to the conclusion that polyvinyl chloride may well be a major ingredient in many flexible tank tracks. “Vinyl”, is a colloquial expression in common usage so I use it. Starting in the 2000s, I suspect that plastics used for models began to vary much more widely. Plastics are currently an area of very active research and invention.
It would be fun to talk to some model manufacturers and ask about what plastics they use and why.
Mainly among American modellers, I think But I guess if you’re from a time and/or place where that stuff got stuck onto car roofs of all things, it worms its way into your brain
(FWIW, in Dutch the colloquial name for tracks like that is dropveters — “liquorice laces” — after a semi-popular form of confectionary.)
Vinyl, or PVA, was also used in phonograph records (remember those?) and many toys, including dolls and action figures. The off-gassing of various chemicals causes all sorts of damage, especially “melt marks” on old GI Joe bodies and equipment.
Vinyl is also used to make the “imitation leather” used in furniture, clothing, shoes, etc.
Going waaayy back, the original “rubber band” tracks used on models in the 1950s-60s were real rubber and tended to deteriorate rapidly. They totally sucked detail wise.
Ken
Interesting choice of parts in this kit. You don’t get the later mantlet and add on armor plates that would make the set up on suspension and differential one piece cast housing more usable. The markings included aren’t a match for any shermans with the features included here. I believe dixie belle was a DV hull with M3 style bogies, eternity had a 3 piece differential cover and M3 style bogies too. Crickdale might’ve been an early DV too, not sure…I think the features here do fit some MTO shermans tho. Altogether it doesn’t look like a horrible kit, some mix and match stuff going on, some parts look like Tasca/Asuka inspired and others look like stuff from the old DML sherman kits from long ago. I wouldn’t touch the 76mm version. But the tracks alone make this one buyable to me, especially if I can get it under 50 bucks.
I developed a nut-and-bolt counteritist during the years, but in all honesty is there an acceptable kit from Border from accuracy point of view? I only bought their T-34s and both are monstrous on this account. Probably there is a market for them, especially if they provide bonuses and their box arts are nice (really love the 251 with the French tank turret and the Germans chasing geese)!
The initial Border Pz IV G & J kits looked pretty good on first inspection. I haven’t built one yet. I don’t recall seeing either of the Pz IV kits shredded by reviews or informed comments. However, the Border AFV kits that followed didn’t seem to be on the same level.
@ignoramusRex@Armor_Buff All of Border’s kits are bad copies of other manufacturer’s kits. The Pz IV G & J kits are copies of the Tamiya and Dragon kits. The forthcoming Shermans are a mishmash of other maker’s parts into a “never was” example.
I built a Border Panzer IV and it definitely put me in mind of a Dragon although the plastic was softer,but it built up well enough. Accuracy I dont know about any of that.
I have their Stug III with the interior,which supposed to be a real nightmare
I have assembled a Panzer IV J and I am in the painting phase of the Flakpanzer IV Möbelwagen. This second one compared to Tamiya’s I thought was better.
All brands make mistakes at some point, in these cases we have two options: either we ignore it and move on, or we fix it in scratch or with aftermarket.
As for being a Frankstein, putting together different forms, I don’t see any problem.
For me what matters most is if the cost benefit is worth it, especially living in Brazil, where the value of taxes charged on the purchase of one model is enough to buy another.
Exactly Wade. But in today’s hyper-critical model market, I can see Border going under when the word really gets around that the King has no clothes. They’re just a Chinese company doing the Chinese thing - copying someone else’s kits and selling them as their own.
Now, Border has released their StuG IIIG with interior. There is an 11 page thread on ML about it because it has umpteen problems and is a real POS of a kit. On the box top, just above the Border logo, it says, “Designed by T-Rex Studio in China.” So now Border is turning around and blaming T-Rex for designing them a POS kit that they then released with the Border name on it. Sorry, but that sh!t don’t fly. Too bad if Border proved they don’t have a research department. They put their name on the kit and they are responsible for another stinker. And Border’s PR solution is to lie, lie, lie.
T-Rex proved themselves doing decently good design work overall for other brands. Of course, those other brands probably paid T-Rex in a timely manner, did revisions when needed etc. Everything about Border screams 3rd rate half-@$$ approach from what I gather.
It’s a sad turn of events, the hobby community was excited and happy about the initial Border Pz IV kit. It proved an excellent selling kit. Border has foundered like band that’s a one hit wonder from the 1970’s since in my view.
Still working on the Border Merkava Mk2D and going by references and build experience so far, I’ll say the details and accuracy are fairly decent if not the best compared to other Mk 2Ds on the market (even without taking the also excellent interior into account).
The only Border kit I’ve built was their Pz IVJ Late kit, & thought it quite good. It is possible that it was heavily inspired by the Dragon kit, but the last Dragon Pz IVJ I built was a Shanghai Dragon issue of the '90s kit. So this was a significant upgrade. But where the rubber hits the road is that this kit came with workable tracks & a metal gun barrel, all for less than $50. A Dragon kit of the same model costs probably between $20 to $30 more (cheapest I saw was $64, most was $83 on Scalemates). So for me the Border kit represented a very good value for what I got. I am not an accuracy expert either, so there may be accuracy issues with the kit I am not aware about, but from a value perspective, I got a lot out of what I paid for it.
Their Panzer IV J was indeed quite a decent kit. Perhaps inspired by others, but definitely not the same, it was different enough to be considered its own kit. The Leopard 2A5/6 kit they released was a very good kit. Even the guys at Leopard Club, who can be quite critical, were very positive. And that kit was no copy from any other manufacturer.
Such a shame to see it all went down hill from then. These Shermans really suck donkey balls and are all around bad. They do not move the needle forward compared to what is already available and in some areas are even a step backwards. Since the tracks are also available from people like Masterclub, ET Models and Heavy Hobby, which are also less hassle to put together, makes buying the kit for the tracks kinda pointless as well.
But I guess if you’re from a time and/or place where that stuff got stuck onto car roofs of all things, it worms its way into your brain 
