KT Tracks comparaison
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I'm currently building 1/48 afv, and i've some difficulties with tracks and links : i like to paint sprockets/wheels and tracks separately.
Tracks are difficult to glue properly at the end of the process, my skills aren't great 🙂
I'm trying Friul and Trex tracks to build my Tamiya Jagtiger and Tamiya / Ustar King Tigers.
Friuls
First, content is as usual : Friul package contains tracks and wire to connect them.
Casting quality is very good for metal tracks, with good details (much more than Tamiya or Ustar ones). Very few cleanup is needed. 10 years ago, i had a lot of cleanup on 1/35 Friul KT tracks, but tracks quality is very good on the late years.
I counted 115 pairs of tracks, which are enough for a KT (46 pairs on each side) or a jagdtiger (47 pairs on each side)
Notice tells to drill tracks, and use 0.4 mm wire to connect them, but i chose not to drill tracks, and use 0.3 mm wire. I saved a lot of time, and wire don't go off the tracks after that. I even don't need to glue wire, best solution as i want to burnish tracks later.
The final result is great, i noticed that assembled tracks are not always perfectly aligned, not a big deal. Tracks width seems to be a very little under scaled : the tracks don't go all the way around the sprockets (see pictures), except for Tamiya KT model. I think on finished model, it won't be a problem : the tracks are only on some teethes of the sprocket.
Pro : natural sag, very good quality, quick and easy linking, burnishing compatible. Much easier to paint and assemble on model, compared to original tracks.
Con : small under scale tracks width
Trex
T rex package contains tracks and resin pins to connect them (one on each side).
Casting quality is excellent, even the small details of the tracks have been reproduced, and overall aspect is very smooth (no printing lines). In terms of aspect fidelity, these are the best tracks, much better than Tamiya / Ustar ones.
I counted 115 pairs of tracks, which are enough for a KT (46 pairs on each side) or a jagdtiger (47 pairs on each side)
Notice tells to put a pin on each side of the tracks, but these pins are very fragile. I broke some of them, and then i realized that pins go off when i manipulate assembled tracks 🙁 I may could try to glue pins at the end of the tracks, but glue could prevent tracks being movable, and the glue spot maybe visible... So i decided to use 0.3 mm wire to connect tracks. This solution saves a lot of time, is much stronger, and wire don't fall off the tracks (even without glue). The counterpart is : track have no more nuts at the end of the pins (which are present on Friul and original tracks). Some pictures show tracks with original pins, and others with wire.
However, the final result is great and the sprockets fitting is excellent (see pictures)
Pro : Excellent details, movable tracks, quick and easy linking (when using wire). Much easier to paint and assemble on model, compared to original tracks.
Con : Fragile pins, no nuts at the end of pins when using wire
Conclusion : i'm happy with these aftermarket tracks, which have much better looking, compared to original tracks and links. They are much easier to paint and assemble on the finished model.
Between Friul and Trex, it's difficult to choose : if you're enough careful to use resin pins, Trex have the better looking and fitting. I'm not 100% objective, as i like Friul tracks, as i used them on some 1/35 afv. Good news, only KT tracks are available at Trex and Friul, so it depends of which model you're building (Elephant = Tex), Tiger I, Panther and Pz III/IV = Friul).
These tracks cost the same price than model itself, but i take much more pleasure to build a model with them. Highly recommended
