Hi all. Am slowly grinding my way through this monster of a model by Dragon. Quite a kit I must say. The more I do on it, the better I like it.

Have a question concering the tracks on this think. I've never used this type of system before, so I was just wondering if you take the long sections, after gluing the together, and then center them under the road wheels and on top of the return rollers so they just come to the middle of the last wheel where the lay at both ends? Then do the single links to match them up in this position. And by doing it this way, do they indeed match up? Or is there another way that a person is suppose to use these things to make them come out correctly where they come together?.

Also saw on track-link of a new resin shell for this kit from a place called Nuts and Bits for anybody out there who wants a more details round of ammo for this thing.

I think Dragon should be commented for a very fine kit here and I can't wait for that K 5 E to come rolling along!

Thanks and take care, sgirty

http://community.webshots.com/user/tankcarl
Go to the construction album.The last few pictures show how i positioned everything.
Basically,the long runs can go from the rear idler to the front most roadwheel.
then use indivdual links to go fron the roadwheel to the sprocket,and around to the 1st support roller.
Then between the 1st and 2nd support rollers,I use one of the 3 remaining lengths.then individual links to the next support roller,then a length,then individuals.you can make "sag between the idler and support roller,and sprocket and support roller to help make the overall length come out right.
If I plan ahead,I will post more pictures.
properly done,you will have about 6 extra inividual links. (++)

Hi, thanks for the information on the tracks. Liked the photos too. Unfortunately I have already glued all the long lengths together, thinking that they would go on the top and bottom flat areas. I believe I may have screwed myself there! Won't be the first time though. Am considering trying an experiment of drilling out the ends of one of these individual links and maybe inserting a steel pin in them to hook them up, via the Fruilmodel link system method. This may work and again, it may not. But nothing tried nothing gained.

And I think I'm going to try to put a tad bit of liquid glue on the areas of the track I've glued together and gently see if I can pop them apart and try your method. Guess I got in too much of a hurry here.

I was hoping that Fruilmodel would bring out a set of tracks for this thing, but on second thought even if they did it would probably cost around $50 for the set as this is quite a set of tracks for each side. Maybe. I'll have to check with my supplier (R and J) and see what they can tell me on this. I dearly love those white metal track links.

I have heard that Fruilmodel is going to bring out a set of their tracks for the Tamiya Pershing and I've had one of those sitting up in the cupboard all done, minus the tracks, just waiting patiently for some for over a year now.

Patience is one thing you have to continue to keep in mind in this hobby I guess.

Once again, thanks for your help here. sgirty

I think you should try a drop of very liquid glue at the joints.They may loosen up. (++)

Hi. Tried the liquid glue to separte them and no luck without damaging the tracks, so I just fell back on using the length sections for the areas under the road wheels and over the return rollers and the links for the rest and met with SUCCESS! I feel kind of proud of myself for accomplishing this. And you were right. There are 6 links to spare.

I've heard some real horror stories about these link and length things, so I'm just glad I was able to get through them okay. Also I guess I should thank Dragon for getting them to come out all right too.

Now if they could just improve their instructions to some degree! Too bad they can't print them up more like Tamiya, but maybe Tamiya has some sort of licence on this. Who can tell how these corporations operate.

One day here if I can get the 'boss' to buy a new and bigger machine I'll try my hand at posting some pictures here.

But anyway, thanks again for your help here and take care, sgirty :-)