Hi all. Whats the best way to prime paint and fix Trumpeters rubber band tracks to my E 50.? Is it best to fix them to the tank 1st then paint them or prime and paint them before fixing them too the Tank? Which is the Best glue to use to join them together? Best glue to fix them to the wheels? What is the best paint to prime and paint them. I've never used these Tracks before, and have heared some bad things about them. How true are these stories Cheers Geraint

Come on everyone hasn't anyone built a Trumpeter kit with rubber band style tracks? Realy would like to know, before I mess this one up.I'm on a limited budget and really don't whant to go down the road and spend $$$ on AM tracks. Does anyone also know if I could use Transport tracks. Using one Panther Track with duel guide horns connected to a Tiger transport flat track with duel connector. The same track setup as King Tiger transport tracks? Cheers Geraint

Hi Geraint , havent worked with the trumpeter tracks but vinyl can be a bit fussy, did a quick search around the intrawebs and it seems people reccomend Tenax glue, its high power solvent plastic "weld" and works well. It is also good for texturing parts and softening weld seams etc.
other than that you can stitch them or staple and hide the joint somewhere, especially if your using ground work.
As for painting, I vote paint after, but thats just me, it would remove the chance of paint flaking of when the vinyl moves though.
Best of luck and keep us posted!

Cheers Stoney. Have'nt got Tanex But have got this EMA Plastic weld. It dissolves a thin film on each surface to be joined then evaporates very quickly forming a welded joint. Good for Styrene, butyrate, ABS, Acrilic(lucite or plexiglas) and perspex or any combination. not for use on Styrofoam. Is this the same stuff? Its Dichloromethane(Methylene Chloride). Problem is I've not got a spare track to try it on. Cheers Geraint

Just finished Trumpeter AS90 SPG, the tracks weren't a problem. Joined them with heated small screwdriver tip to melt heads of joining pins/rivet and hid the join with the side skirts ( the tracks joined pretty neatly anyway and would probably have looked ok with the joint going round the rear sprocket if I'd left off the skirts)
As regards paint again no probs just a wash with detergent then Humbrol enamels (stick to anything). Painted tracks first no probs with flakinfg off.

Cheers Paul will give it ago never shot humbrol through my air brush, would you prime first or just use the colour as the base? still would like to know what glue to use for fixing the track to the top of the wheels? Obtaining the correct track sag Ta

@bizzychicken – Geraint,

At present I don’t have any experience with the 35th scale Trumpeter vinyl tacks but I have used Paul’s, aka ‘tankglasgow’ method of joining them together on there 72nd scale models with success. I also have the Tenax-7R liquid cement and that didn’t work for me. Perhaps the vinyl for the tracks is not the same for their 35th scale models? In any case please let us know if the cement you propose to use will work on these tracks?

Geraint, as a matter of fact according to the Panzer Tracks book by Jentz & Doyle the E-50 was to use the later model transport tracks same as those used on the Tiger II and Jagdtiger. The Panther II transport tracks are the earlier version of these tracks and are also seen used on the Tiger II prototype photographs. The E-75 would have used the wide single link tracks as supplied in your kit. Trumpeter missed issuing a set of the transport tracks for the E-50, and missed some other things too. But overall this is an excellent kit. Have you already read Charles Reading, aks ‘Creading’ excellent review of the German E-50 (50-75 tons)/Standardpanzer that explains some of the deficiencies in the kit?

If you like the wider tracks as supplied in the kit I have a set of Hobby Boss late Tiger II single link tracks in the stash and the price is just right for anyone on a budget. They are surprisingly very well detailed surpassing some of the better AM tracks. However, I haven’t tried them on a kit yet nor have I seen or found a review for this set (they may not fit around the sprocket teeth on the drive wheels)?

As for the track sag you could try mixing in a bit of talc powder to a small portion of super glue and use the eye of a needle to apply the mixture between the track and wheels. Place some scrape plastic between the tracks and hull panniers and allow the mixture to set up – generally one hour, overnight is better. The talc will add the shear strength that is missing in the super glue.

Happy modeling,
-Eddy

Thanks Eddy, cheers for the load of info. This is a very nice kit. I new about the Transport tracks, Dragon/Cyber hobby do a set I think. looks cool with the larger Tiger II tracks mind you. Still has anyone glued Trumpeters Tracks? If so gives us a nod in the right direction. If not looks like I'm the Guinea Pig. Will give it a few more days then I'll give it ago. Will Pass on the info on what glue/method I used and pass on the results. If it all ends up a bit of a mess, Eddy I will take up your nice offer. Cheers Geraint.

Geraint I use a small drop of superglue on the hidden side of the track joint.
Depending on the track tension or even Tamyia plastic glue if they are not too stiff with some sag.
For the E-25 the track were really stretched and I was afraid to break them.

For the E-50, well I have it scheduled as a 2nd "What If" Campaign just behind a few other kits.
Show me some pics of your finished build ! I'm planning a very different camo scheme for this one...

John. The tracks are very hard ,stiff and rigid, its taken weeks to straighten and take the twist out of them. I've Had them pinned down with weight on them. This is why i've been try'n to find info on them. They do concern me a little. I will post images of the finished model. I'm so far going for a mainly Dunkelgleb finish, well thats the turret colour so far. N joy the Build ,its a great kit, only let down by the air intakes the 4 square ones are solid with no PE mesh covers, I've sorted mine An E 25 is on my wish list. Cheers Geraint

mmhh I see the problem.
I'll have to check the tracks on my kit then.

The E-series are quite fun, did the E-10 & 25 and 100 already

Here's the 25



the E-100


from a few years ago the E-10 with a russian 152 mm canon..

Nice colection of E Pnz's Love the Dark Grey Ambush colours on the E 25. I've heared as paint stocks run low, Reserve stocks of Dunkelgrau were to be used again. Great late war colours, I,ve been thinking on these lines for camo for E Series Pnz's. Olivgrun and grau instead of Dunkelgelb. Thanks for the images. I also remember well you doing the E 10 with the massive Russian 152 SPG,a real deadly little TD

Thanks Geraint, I used some paints from the Lifecolour Luftwaffe set, since the E-25 was for the What if Campaign,a .50 cal on the turret and some remote weapons set and a T-55 main gun..
These E series allow me to clean the spare boxes

Still have the E-50 & E-75 to finish this set !!

Watch for the odler & return rollers on the E-25 they don't allow you to fit the tracks unless you do some surgery.
I had this problem on 2 E-25's kits, so either I'm doing the same mistakes twice or they botched the instructions ..

For my E-50, I only started a few days ago, working on the suspension, I'm planning a jungle camo or a heavy winter set with a dozer blade. I will replace the main gun too (brummbar 150 mm or a Leopard 120mm)

Looking forward to see your progress too !

They botched the instructions. IIRC, it involves the mounting arms for the front rollers each being called out for the wrong side of the tank. Something along those lines anyway, I think there's an old thread about it on here somewhere.

- Steve

John In Panther and its variants, Spielberger there's a nice line drawing of a Panther G with a Brumbar 150mm. Still any one used/ glued Trumps E 50's 75's very stiff tracks? Dont really want to hide them behind the Tiger II type track guards. Cheers Geraint