Dragon / DML link tracks

[DougRichards]

Call me a Philistine (and no I do not want to debate any Israeli issue here........)

 

I hate Dragon / DML tracks.

I know that some people adore them.

 

I have two sets of Dragon Sherman tracks and another of PZ4 tracks that I would like to swap with a someone who prefers these to Tamiya / Italeri 'vinyl' tracks.

 

Anyone interested?

[Jacques]

Hiya Doug, i may be your man. What are you looking for in trade? The Italeri PZ4 two piece tracks...the Tamiya Sherman tracks with grousers?

 

let me know.

 

PS Now that I am done with work and at home, I can finally catch up on my highly neglected model stuff...I am about 2/3 done with the TU-22, thought you might like to know!

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Just what is the best way to assemble those individual track links? My Shanghai Dragon M1A2 also had individual links. I had trouble assembling and painting it. Just when I was about to install it, it breaks apart! At least now it looks good.

[Ingemar Caisander]

Jacques, is that a Tu-22 "Blinder" bomber? Didn't know there were any models of those around.

May I ask what scale it is? What manufacturer?

 

Cheers, Ingemar

[Jason]

Ingemer, it is the 1/72 scale ESCI kit from way back. It isn't in production any longer to my knowledge.

 

Jacques, wouldn't happen to know where I can find one, would you?

 

I have the Backfire, and I have two of the Tu-16's from Trumpeter, but the Blinder eluded me. I also have the Revell 1/144 Bear and the Italeri 1/72 Il-28 Beagle. My Russian bomber collection is doing okay.

 

Wish somebody would do a Blackjack in 1/72 though, that would be pisser! Hell, as big as the Blackjack is, I'd even settle for a 1/144 scale one!

[Jacques]

as for individual track links, some points.

 

I only use testors liquid glue. I set several pieces together, I then run the glue down the middle to realy soak it in, then I let the tracks sit for about 10 minutes. When I move them , they should stick, but be pliable. I then make enought to make awhole run and stick them ont he tank. I usually prepaint the lower area of the tank first, because I have learned to leave the tracks on once I have them together. Why? Because they SHRINK! Over the drying time of the glue, the plastic shrinks just enough to cause problems when adding the tracks later. Using my airbrush and some weathering, things have turned out just fine...just a change in tactics.

 

The Tu-22 I am working on is the Esci 1/72 Backfire. Doug sent me a wonderful -B model which I am accurzing a bit...should be very nice when done. The Tu-22 Blinder is a hard kit to get...I got mine in Wisconson, at a small hobby store, about 5 years ago. best bet is ebay, but be prepared to pay for it...OUCH!

 

There are 1/72 AN-22 by Toko, there are plans for Trumpeter to soon be out with a IL-76 transport and a IL-50 Mainstay in 1/144 soon. Both will retail around $35.00

 

and there is a 1/72 blackjack. it is a handmade resin kit from russia and runs about $200.

 

I also have a vacu-form 1/72 M-52 bounder, the old soviet "nuclear" bomber (not really nuclear powered, but feared to be). Holy mother of unconsious waterbabies! It Will be a huge project! Maybe i will get to it in my next lifetime, as it will take almost a whole lifetime to build. yowza's!

 

Hope this all helps guys!

[Ingemar Caisander]

Jason, what is your experience with the Trumpeter Tu-16? Is it a good kit?

How's the accuracy, detailing, fit of parts, general look etc?

 

In short, do you recommend it?

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Jacques, thanks for the tip. I have heard though that using a hair dryer to help bend the tracks also helps but I have not tried it yet. Any experience on that one?

 

I used to have a 1/200 or 1/144 scale DML Bear. Damn I was in love with the Tu-95(?) before. Unfortunately it was one of my disasters. Doubly unfortunate, I can't find the same kit anymore!

 

Speaking of bombers, has anyone built Revell's 1/48 B-1B?

[DougRichards]

Originally posted by Gennady I. Beregovoy:

Jacques, thanks for the tip.  I have heard though that using a hair dryer to help bend the tracks also helps but I have not tried it yet.  Any experience on that one?

 

I used to have a 1/200 or 1/144 scale DML Bear.  Damn I was in love with the Tu-95(?) before.  Unfortunately it was one of my disasters.   Doubly unfortunate, I can't find the same kit anymore!

 

Speaking of bombers, has anyone built Revell's 1/48 B-1B?

 

 

Gennady

 

Don't beat yourself up over the Dragon Bear too much, it was fiddly and not a particularly fun kit to put together. If you want a reasonable Bear, try to get hold of the Revell in 1/144 scale. I haven't started on mine yet, but it should look good next to the Revell B-52 in the same scale that I am also yet to build.

 

The hairdryer on tracks works well for the plain, single 'single piece' tracks, such as Dragon's Pz4 or M4 HVSS tracks, but isn't so successful with M4 tracks with separate end connectors.

[Jacques]

have not used a hairdryer on DML seperate track links...only on the vinyl tracks with Italeri and Tamiya.

 

Have not built my 1/48 B-1B but have seen several built. All builders say the same thing: Be prepared to reinforce the interior as the wings tend to pull the seam apart on top.

 

The DML Tu-95 is ok in 1/200 but I too recomend the Revell offering. I recently got one off of eBay for $16.00, so they can still be found for a reasonable price.

[Jason]

Originally posted by Ingemar Caisander:

Jason, what is your experience with the Trumpeter Tu-16? Is it a good kit?

How's the accuracy, detailing, fit of parts, general look etc?

 

In short, do you recommend it?

To be honest, I've yet to really get into building either of them. I have both the Tu-16K-10 Badger C (solid/radar nose), and the Tu-16K-26 Badger G (glass nose). The kits look great in the box. Very little flash, reasonably crisp panel lines, plenty of detail including a nice assortment of anti-ship missiles and the Badger G has an interior bomb bay with bombs etc. The Badger C comes with Russian/Soviet markings for 4 or 5 aircraft, both post- and pre-Cold War. The Badger G comes with Russian, Chinese, and *I believe* Egyptian and Iraqi markings (Can't remember, I think there are Indonesian markings too, I'll take a look and get back to you). The decals look pretty good. As far as fit, I started building the cockpit for the Badger C, and it has little if any fit problems so far.

 

Generally speaking, I would recommend any of the Badger kits from Trumpeter (they also have a tanker variant). Based on my experience building their armor kits, and a couple of their other aircraft kits, I would say that there shouldn't be any real serious problems building these kits. They are reasonably accurate, and the detail and options really impressed me. Plus, as far as Badgers go, there are really not any options, unless you want to go for a big bucks resin kit (I believe there is a 1/72 resin kit from a Russian company).

 

Well worth the money, and a must have IMHO.

[Jason]

Originally posted by Gennady I. Beregovoy:

I used to have a 1/200 or 1/144 scale DML Bear.  Damn I was in love with the Tu-95(?) before.  Unfortunately it was one of my disasters.   Doubly unfortunate, I can't find the same kit anymore!

I'm with the others, having built both DML and Revell's Bears, I'd go with Revell's.

 

However, if you can't find a Revell Bear, and/or you're insistant on building the DML, I can probably get one for you. I'll check tonight, but I believe the shop I frequent (and work at, ocassionally ) has one on the shelf.

[Jacques]

BTW Hobbycraft also makes a 1/72 Badger...no idea what make model at the moment. I also have no idea how good it is. It may even be a rebox, I do not know.

 

There was also both a resin and plastic 1/72 scale Badger available from eastern Europe. The resin kit was Expensive and the plastic kit was VERY hard to come by and not too great in detail. Some rumors are that this is now the hobbycraft kit as the eastern european one is no longer in production. And for the life of me, I cannot remember the manufacturer off hand.

[Jason]

Funny, I had heard the Hobbycraft was a re-box also, but I heard it was a re-box of the Trumpeter kit.

 

I've personally never seen the Hobbycraft kit, but judging from other Hobbycraft recent releases I *HAVE* seen, I'd be inclined to go with the Trumpeter anyhow. Seems like a lot of Hobbycraft stuff has been re-boxes recently, which is a shame, because their 1/48 scale Me-109 series was some really nice work, and if I'm not mistaken, totally their own molds.

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Originally posted by Jason:

However, if you can't find a Revell Bear, and/or you're insistant on building the DML, I can probably get one for you. I'll check tonight, but I believe the shop I frequent (and work at, ocassionally ) has one on the shelf.

 

Thanks for the tip. Haven't seen the Revell Bear. I'm currently engaged in building Tamiya's 1/350 Musashi, finishing up on a friend's 1/144 F-15C, and keeping myself purely insane by superdetailing a 1/144 F14D.

[Ingemar Caisander]

Thanks Jason!