Another svelte-looking tank, right up there with the AMX -30, that I’ve wanted to build for a while. I posted earlier how surprised and pleased I was when I first peeked in the box, only wishing for better tracks. The example I have has one-piece glueable tracks but they need to sag so I hit the internet, no joy. I did however find some tracks for a PLA tank that looked remarkably similar so I ordered a set.
The kit I have:
Tracks are from SS Model, were about $30 and have half pins, inserted from each side that click positively into place, no glue needed.
Typical for me, I ordered another Type 74 and will order another set of tracks soon, because if something’s fun, do it again.
I can’t comment on the quality, because I placed my first order with them last week and so am still waiting for it to ship, let alone arrive a third or so of the world away
I used sewing thread to tie down the tracks to the road wheels.
I tied to the second and fourth road wheel to get a gentle curve
from the idler and the sprocket down to just above roadwheel
one and five.
Those aftermarket tracks do look good though.
The aging of soft tracks and wheels makes me want to avoid them …
Chino Model doe very good stuff and I have both the steel and rubber block Type 74 track sets, along with others from them. All well done.
Modelkasten also does Type 74 tracks and they are available, although can be difficult to find.
If you want an all-in-one package see if you can get a hold of Hobby Japan’s Type 74. It’s far superior to the Tamiya, including not just workable tracks, but the whole hydro-pneumatic suspension.
I should be able to see for myself soon — I got an e-mail this morning that I needed to pay for postage from Japan to the Netherlands, so with a bit of luck it will hopefully arrive sometime next week … Not Type 74 tracks, BTW, but T74, for a Sherman
I’ve seen those. I’ll have about half the money in the one I’m doing though. I also saw a very complete dozer kit for the Type 74 on HLJ, out of stock but very neat.
And the tracks in the link above are out of stock as well, both all metal and with rubber shoes.
Do you mean the Chino Models ones I linked to? I don’t know for sure, but I suspect it says “Ships within 14 days” there because they print them on demand. The Sherman tracks I ordered also say that for all types, but it took about a week for them to get to Buyee (the “broker” in between, who you actually pay and who sends the order on to you).
I’ll take another look, at the tracks and the dozer kit. I’m all jazzed now, another rabbit hole to go down. In the meantime I did a little on the one I have in progress. Next is to cover the open sponsons, pure Tamiya goodness.
