I continue to stock up on aftermarker for Soviet pre-war tanks.
These Russians are strange! They put instructions in the kit where there are ready-to-use parts, but they don’t put them in the kit where there are a bunch of small and obscure parts.
It’s good that I’m one of them.
Best deal in a while, $46 for Type 10 via Amazon shipped from Japan, so couldn’t resist.
Vintage 1973 Airfix,
One of my many Xmas presents came today. A big box for a 1/35 boat - even had a plastic handle on the top:
Hobby Boss T29E1 Heavy Tank
Finishing up a Takom T30 heavy tank. Decided to give Hobby Boss a try. 
But before I built that, I’m gonna build this…
These are for a Revel M48A2CG. Sure hope they don’t suck.
They don’t. They go together easily if you follow the instructions: click four or so links together and slide a corresponding section of sprue with end connectors onto both sides.
The ones that suck are AFV Club’s T80 and T84 sets, for the Sherman and Pershing/Patton. Not only do they have ejector pin marks on both sides of the block, you can’t assemble them like these and the end connectors are so loose they come off.
Only snag with the T97 set is that they’re not the right track for the M48 … they are for the M88 ARV and also for the M103 heavy tank, but not for M48 or M60 tanks.
Received today – a mere 7 days from despatch; many thanks to Fabian for his outstanding work documented elsewhere in the site (M48 Fuel Drum Rack); and HM Customs left well alone too – always a small victory:
Very well packaged – brim-full of those small plastic beads – some removed in the second pic so you can see the contents.
‘Not too sure when I’ll tackle my M103s/M48s but may well push this one up the list in the New Year.
All hail to Armorama(!)
Is this a case where two types of tracks look almost exactly the same but are slightly different, like T41s and T51s for M4 medium tanks?
If not, are you referring to very similar tracks with an octagonal pad? Those definitely appear on many M48s.
The box says they are for M48s. The exact same type of track by Bronco–T97E2–says they are for M48s. The exact same type of track by Takom–T97E2–says they are for M48s. Box art for the Revell M48A2CG shows this track. Period pictures of M48A2CGs show this style of track. Even Israeli M48A2s in period photos wear this track. Or do they?
About 17 years ago, I built an Italeri M47 and replaced the flexible tracks with individual links from AFV Club. I vaguely recall having trouble with the tiny pins regularly breaking off.
As for the AFV Club T80 and T84 tracks…
Le Sigh 
Will climb those mountains some day.
Woah, 3 fuel drum rack sets? Looks expensive!
Well James, I have 2 x M103A1s in the stash (one of which is the Dragon one so not too sure yet how far I’ll go with it), and an M48A1 ergo x3!
It’s just such an almost essential accessory I feel to add that little bit extra, and of course, replicating the real things way back in the day. Whilst I’m not too sure when I’ll tackle them, they will look noticeably different on the display tables.
I must just add that in the scheme of things I don’t think Fabian’s prices are too punishing.
You’re a good man, Brian. One of those hobbyists who is encouraging 3D designers by willing to pay the deserved price. Most are simply quick to suggest ideas and unwilling to open up the wallets. Or worse yet, want to get everything for free. Thank you.
Well, I suppose it’s all supply and demand; I didn’t undergo too much tooth-sucking. I just thought that if say, a Brit firm like Accurate Armour produced them they’d end up being priced roughly the same.
I am very pleased that a) Fabian has produced them, and b) that it was all really down to the interest of Armorama members, which was quite remarkable I thought (though not unknown of course).
As I say, I might just bump the M103A1 up the build list a little(!)
Crap, I misremembered and got things the wrong way round. They’re not suitable for the M88, but are for the M48, M60 and early M103.
Those are T142 tracks, and they are indeed correct for late (1970s and beyond) M48s and M60s.
After trying to get some links together, I sold the set I bought for an M4A3 HVSS some years ago and got a set from RFM instead. Also not great to assemble, but at least they stay assembled 
My “handed” tow hooks for CCKW and Studebaker trucks from 3Dptrain have arrived. Quality and service excellent.
Detail goodies for 250 halftrack builds arrived. Another member helped hook me up these choice parts.
Replacement tracks for some of next years planned builds. Really looking forward to a Meng Merkava build.
Kali put on a show when the packages were opened!
Have you used the Quick Tracks yet,I really like them.
What’s tooth-sucking? It’s not commonly used term in the US - at least for me…
Well, it slightly depends on where one is from; it can express annoyance, frustration, anger even; in this case, perhaps pondering would describe it best. Sucking teeth actually refers to the sound that is made when one draws in air yet the teeth are together.
“Chewing it over” might have been a better expression - in any case - I didn’t dither over the decision which is what I really meant! Nor, dare I suggest it, should anyone else who might be considering purchasing these - go for it.
Anthony, yes! They were outstanding!
I used a set of QT Panther D tracks on an old Dragon Panther.
Easy to build, snap together, took like ~30 to 45 minutes to do both runs. They held together securely through painting, several washes, drybrushing and being installed. Zero clean up needed.
They have a special joining link to make that easy. I didn’t use those, just snapped the regular links together on the Panther’s sprocket.
Reasonable priced to compared to other 3D resin or white metal.
