Michael Eastes Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 I have just acquired a Bronco kit of the French H-39 tank, mainly because it has markings for one of the first-ever Israeli tank units, and because it was on for half-price, and I've never seen a Bronco kit. It looks like a gem-full interior, actual springs in the suspension, etc. Since they are going to release the first-ever 1/35 scale kits of the Italian light tanks soon, I really want to be able to build these guy's kits, although the level of detail is higher than anything I've worked on except real tanks and APCs. My problem? It has individual track links-very, very small links, on distressingly thick-looking sprue. The instructions show you to put the completed tracks on the vehicle-period. No instructions whatsoever about how to get the bloody things together, with all the little bends and angles in the right places, etc. How do I go about doing these tracks in any way suitable to a nearsighted old guy with very shaky hands??? Any help on this would be greatly appreciated, since the few link-and-length kits I've completed did not come out very well, and I'm afraid to even open the bags on this kit.
CV9030FIN Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 I have just acquired a Bronco kit of the French H-39 tank, mainly because it has markings for one of the first-ever Israeli tank units, and because it was on for half-price, and I've never seen a Bronco kit. It looks like a gem-full interior, actual springs in the suspension, etc. Since they are going to release the first-ever 1/35 scale kits of the Italian light tanks soon, I really want to be able to build these guy's kits, although the level of detail is higher than anything I've worked on except real tanks and APCs. My problem? It has individual track links-very, very small links, on distressingly thick-looking sprue. The instructions show you to put the completed tracks on the vehicle-period. No instructions whatsoever about how to get the bloody things together, with all the little bends and angles in the right places, etc. How do I go about doing these tracks in any way suitable to a nearsighted old guy with very shaky hands??? Any help on this would be greatly appreciated, since the few link-and-length kits I've completed did not come out very well, and I'm afraid to even open the bags on this kit. As the orginals are not "workable" the track job just takes time. There is also alternative in form of ModelKasten or Armour Workshop workable tracks. If you are staying with orginals, here is a hint for you: Tracks:Bronco provides you with individual link tracks that while not designed to be workable have far better detail than the vinyl tracks of the Trumpeter and Heller kits and fitted together well for easy assembly and by using slow drying liquid cement it is easy to fit the tracks around the drive sprocket and idler wheels. More: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/revi...nco/cb35001.htm
Corinthian Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 Hi Michael. Armorama has a few articles on how to do indy tracks. http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=mod...&artid=1737 http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=mod...e&artid=173 http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=mod...e&artid=127 http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=mod...le&artid=84 Choose whatever fits your kit. I hope it's a success.
TonyE Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 Michael, I have many Bronco and Trumpeter H-39s, and the Trumpeter kits have vinyl tracks. However since the Trump-kits are very lacking in accuracy compared to Bronco i will only use these for spares, so the tracks (which are ok btw) are redundant to my needs. If you decide against using the indy-links in your kit, you can have a pair of my trumpeter vinyl tracks.
DougRichards Posted June 23, 2008 Posted June 23, 2008 Hello Tony Just remember Hobbyboss's H39 tracks as well... Regards Doug I just love this site, so many generous people!
Michael Eastes Posted June 24, 2008 Author Posted June 24, 2008 Thanks, everyone. Tony, Doug has contacted me by email before I read here, and he and I seem to have worked out a deal. To be truthful, the Bronco kit is probably more than my shaky hands can do a good job on, so I'll probably just trade kits with Doug, if he wants to do that. As a fellow model-builder, Doug has been very, very good to me, over the years. Just for my information, what's inaccurate about the Trumpeter kit? Since I'm planning to use it in a diorama, all the interior detail probably wouldn't matter as much, but is there something really big, like a Panzer II turret instead of the H-39 turret, or something?
DougRichards Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 Terry Ashly of Perth Military Modelling (well, he IS Perth Military Modelling.....) did a comparison review of the Trumpeter and Bronco kits that can be found here: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/revi...nco/cb35001.htm Michael, I will be in touch re getting those Trumpeter tracks to you. To save postage and all the rest there is no need for us to swap kits, as I will get some replacement Hobbyboss tracks from Luckymodel in Hong Kong next time I place an order there.
Michael Eastes Posted June 24, 2008 Author Posted June 24, 2008 Terry Ashly of Perth Military Modelling (well, he IS Perth Military Modelling.....) did a comparison review of the Trumpeter and Bronco kits that can be found here: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/revi...nco/cb35001.htm Michael, I will be in touch re getting those Trumpeter tracks to you. To save postage and all the rest there is no need for us to swap kits, as I will get some replacement Hobbyboss tracks from Luckymodel in Hong Kong next time I place an order there. Wow. That's quite an article. I am feeling a bit of something like "penis envy" in regard to my modelling skills... The hobby has advanced considerably since I built my last 1/35 tank kit. ( Tamiya's Panzer IVD, about 5 years ago.) Doug, if you'd rather not trade kits, I'll give the Bronco a go, although for a guy who has built mostly Tamiya over the years, this kit is a little intimidating, even with the very, very welcome vinyl tracks. Still, it is a gorgeous kit, so it's worth a shot, if you'd rather not swap. I'm very willing to send the kit tracks to you if you want them, though. Do you think they would be significantly different than the Hobbyboss set? Thanks again, everyone, for the helpful articles and especially the offers of tracks that won't make me have a stroke. I'm going to have to learn to do individual-link tracks at some point, though, because I will not be denied a CV-35 when Bronco releases them.
TonyE Posted June 24, 2008 Posted June 24, 2008 Thanks, everyone. Tony, Doug has contacted me by email before I read here, and he and I seem to have worked out a deal. To be truthful, the Bronco kit is probably more than my shaky hands can do a good job on, so I'll probably just trade kits with Doug, if he wants to do that. As a fellow model-builder, Doug has been very, very good to me, over the years. Just for my information, what's inaccurate about the Trumpeter kit? Since I'm planning to use it in a diorama, all the interior detail probably wouldn't matter as much, but is there something really big, like a Panzer II turret instead of the H-39 turret, or something? No prob Michael. Regarding the Trumpeter Hotchkiss, the front hull and glacis is plain wrong and it makes the tank look very "snubnosed". The Bronco kit is correct and has the gently round and sloping front. For comparison, here is a Bronco H39: Bronco H39, and here is a Trumpeter H39. While both modellers have made some nice looking H39s, carefully compare the front part of the kit. The Bronco has the shape of the real thing, the Trump does not. For some reason almost no one notice this, propably because it is not a mainstream tank. If this had been done in one of the gazillion Sherman or Tiger kits, the outrage and gnashing of teeth among the scalemodel societies on the net would never have ended. BTW, the Trumpkit was a rushjob by Trumpeter in order to predate the release of the Broncokit, which was their first scalemodel. The Trumpeter kit is heavily based on the old Heller one from the 1970s, but Heller got the hull more or less correct. Somehow Trumpeter did not.
Michael Eastes Posted June 24, 2008 Author Posted June 24, 2008 No prob Michael. Regarding the Trumpeter Hotchkiss, the front hull and glacis is plain wrong and it makes the tank look very "snubnosed". The Bronco kit is correct and has the gently round and sloping front. For comparison, here is a Bronco H39: Bronco H39, and here is a Trumpeter H39. While both modellers have made some nice looking H39s, carefully compare the front part of the kit. The Bronco has the shape of the real thing, the Trump does not. For some reason almost no one notice this, propably because it is not a mainstream tank. If this had been done in one of the gazillion Sherman or Tiger kits, the outrage and gnashing of teeth among the scalemodel societies on the net would never have ended. BTW, the Trumpkit was a rushjob by Trumpeter in order to predate the release of the Broncokit, which was their first scalemodel. The Trumpeter kit is heavily based on the old Heller one from the 1970s, but Heller got the hull more or less correct. Somehow Trumpeter did not. OK, I see the difference. Also, the Bronco kit was done as the IDF version, so I'm saving the article for a reference. Thanks!
irregularmedic Posted June 28, 2008 Posted June 28, 2008 Which Italian light tanks are they coming out with?
DougRichards Posted June 29, 2008 Posted June 29, 2008 Which Italian light tanks are they coming out with?1:35th Scale CB35025 A13 Mk I Cruiser Tank Mk III (no release date set) CB35026 Staghound AA Armoured Car CB35006 CV L3/33 Tankette Italian Army. (No firm release date known as yet) CB35015 German Land-Wasser-Schlepper (LWS) CB35016 Humber Scout Car Mk.I w/twin Vickers K MGs (due soon) CB35019 Hotchkiss H38/39 Light Tank (2 in 1) Revised 2 in 1 kit CB35021 Staghound Mk.III Future Releases 1:16 Scale CB1601 CARRO VELOCE CV35 Chinese Army CB1602 CARRO VELOCE CV33 Italian Army 1:35 Scale CB35007 CV L3/35 Tankette Chinese Army. CB35008 CV35 Flammerable Tankette. In terms of other Italian vehicles - From Italeri Carro Amato L6 But also interesting future releases from Italeri: Staghound AA, Crusader AA with 40mm Bofors turret, PT-Boat crew (that I will be using to crew various LVTs), horse drawn Breda 20. See http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/italeri.htm
ShotMagnet Posted July 4, 2008 Posted July 4, 2008 Probably far too late to be of any service, but if you need any help let me know Michael. Intermittent internet service on my end, but if you send a PM you'll get a reply sooner rather than later. Shot
irregularmedic Posted July 7, 2008 Posted July 7, 2008 1:35th Scale CB35025 A13 Mk I Cruiser Tank Mk III (no release date set) CB35026 Staghound AA Armoured Car CB35006 CV L3/33 Tankette Italian Army. (No firm release date known as yet) CB35015 German Land-Wasser-Schlepper (LWS) CB35016 Humber Scout Car Mk.I w/twin Vickers K MGs (due soon) CB35019 Hotchkiss H38/39 Light Tank (2 in 1) Revised 2 in 1 kit CB35021 Staghound Mk.III Future Releases 1:16 Scale CB1601 CARRO VELOCE CV35 Chinese Army CB1602 CARRO VELOCE CV33 Italian Army 1:35 Scale CB35007 CV L3/35 Tankette Chinese Army. CB35008 CV35 Flammerable Tankette. In terms of other Italian vehicles - From Italeri Carro Amato L6 But also interesting future releases from Italeri: Staghound AA, Crusader AA with 40mm Bofors turret, PT-Boat crew (that I will be using to crew various LVTs), horse drawn Breda 20. See http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/italeri.htm Many thanks! Looking forward to the L6 kit especially.
Michael Eastes Posted July 7, 2008 Author Posted July 7, 2008 Many thanks! Looking forward to the L6 kit especially. Likewise. I can usually actually get Italieri kits built. I just hope they don't fall into the individual track-link fetish. Maybe I'm old-fashioned ( or old fascist ), but I like vinyl tracks.
Mk 1 Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 Thanks again, everyone, for the helpful articles and especially the offers of tracks that won't make me have a stroke.See, I think what you ought to do is build a full COMPANY of 'em! I mean, one frikkin' H39? What's the point? Of course, these models didn't come with seperate link tracks. So maybe you're right... -Mark 1
zaevor2000 Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 See, I think what you ought to do is build a full COMPANY of 'em! I mean, one frikkin' H39? What's the point? Of course, these models didn't come with seperate link tracks. So maybe you're right... -Mark 1 Very nice pics! Well done Mark. Frank
DougRichards Posted August 3, 2008 Posted August 3, 2008 Didn't want to start a new thread on this one, and is almost certainly a forlorn hope... Would anyone on this grate cite have a 'spare' Italeri Priest or Kangerooo that they would be willing to part with, either in a direct swap or for $$, or perhaps, to save currency hassles, I would order something that you wanted, and have it delivered to you. Here's hoping. Thanks Doug
ShotMagnet Posted August 3, 2008 Posted August 3, 2008 Doug, I owe you, and can get one on the cheap. Contact info via PM, and it's yours Shot
DougRichards Posted August 4, 2008 Posted August 4, 2008 Doug, I owe you, and can get one on the cheap. Contact info via PM, and it's yoursShotThank you, most appreciated.
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