Alan McNeilly takes a look at a new set of workable track links from Bronco Models for the Sherman T54E1.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Hi Alan,

Nice in-box review! I won't wait for you to do an as-built one, because the two sets I have are still only part-built after several months! Clean-up is very tedious - I can clean and assemble the teeth onto the bars at a rate of one whole sprue per hour, but only one sprue per day for sanity's sake. And gluing the pads together is extremely tricky if you want to keep them workable. The end result, however, is very nice indeed.

Some day I'll actually manage to finish a set...

Tom

Hi Tom,

Thanks for that. I save my indies for winter nights and when I want a simple mudane task .

Having seen the beasts I can fully unsderstand what you are saying but they should look cool when you get them done.

I have a good system for the DML ones, just need the right motivation!!

Cheers

Al

Did I mention I really need a set of T54E1s with the "early" duckbills that were only offered by DML in their indy-link T48 sets? I've worked out a way to graft the DML duckbill/tooth onto the Bronco track and still keep it workable...

(Might post it up if I ever finish the whole set...)

Tom

Dedication Tom.

Al

Nice review, Al.

Some real world experience with these: make sure you do NOT use any kind of enamel or Tamiya paints on the connector parts of the links, and be VERY careful about the amount of cement that gets on the connector parts.

In my case, I built the Sherman T-48 set, and it's been terrible: the Tamiya black I used to undercoat the connector links caused the plastic to weaken, and the sets fell apart after painting when I tried to apply them to the vehicle. I've been pasting links in-line since.

I will try another set of these and use an acrylic black shading coat.

Bill, did you paint them before cluing?

KL

Hello!
I'm collecting a set of tracks T54E1. Very satisfied.
Of course accuracy is needed, the work tedious. But the result is worth it!



It is more convenient to collect the details are not as stated in the instructions.
Another alternative suggested by Terry Ashley convenient.
The trouble is that 79 tracks is not enough to collect the track chain of sufficient length.
In my Tasca Sherman is such a number is not enough. Need 81-83 track.

Yes, Kurt, I painted before gluing. I would suggest using an acrylic in either case, as the solvents cut into the plastic with Tamiya or others.

Alexandr, I have plenty of links left over, so that has not been an issue.

So do you think it was an issue of the plastic disintegrating or the cement not penetrating the paint and the parts just coming apart?

KL

Hi Bill,

You'd need to build then paint with this set otherwise the paint will interfer with the glue, had that experience

Al

Kurt, the solvents in the Tamiya flat black I used for pre-shading definitely ate away at the plastic.

Al, you're right, and I wouldn't paint them the next time. Live and learn.