Jacques Duquette looks at Friul Model''s metal individual track links for the T-80 tank series.
Link to Item
If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
REVIEW
T-80 tracksPosted: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 - 11:08 AM UTC

WildBill1941

Joined: July 04, 2009
KitMaker: 47 posts
Armorama: 46 posts
Posted: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 - 06:25 AM UTC
Hi Jacq
Is there any alternative track than for Xact T-80u?
Is there any alternative track than for Xact T-80u?

arpikaszabo

Joined: February 13, 2006
KitMaker: 674 posts
Armorama: 637 posts

Posted: Wednesday, November 20, 2013 - 06:27 AM UTC
Thank You for the review, Jacques. The Masterclub tracks totally don't fit the Xcact sprockets. Could You perhaps post some pics of the friul tracks sitting on the Xact sprocket?

Blucop

Joined: January 03, 2005
KitMaker: 279 posts
Armorama: 262 posts

Posted: Thursday, November 21, 2013 - 10:26 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Thank You for the review, Jacques. The Masterclub tracks totally don't fit the Xcact sprockets. Could You perhaps post some pics of the friul tracks sitting on the Xact sprocket?
Which Masterclub? The resin ones or the new white metal ones?

arpikaszabo

Joined: February 13, 2006
KitMaker: 674 posts
Armorama: 637 posts

Posted: Friday, November 22, 2013 - 05:55 AM UTC
the resin ones. They might work for the Trump msta or t80BV, we shall see.

Jacques

Joined: March 04, 2003
KitMaker: 4,630 posts
Armorama: 4,498 posts

Posted: Friday, November 22, 2013 - 07:40 AM UTC
Ok, lots to discuss. First, here is a review for Masterclub Tracks: https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/3045

Jacques

Joined: March 04, 2003
KitMaker: 4,630 posts
Armorama: 4,498 posts

Posted: Friday, November 22, 2013 - 08:00 AM UTC
Next: The Business.
The Fruil Model links WILL FIT around the X-act scale sprocket, but it is a TIGHT fit, meaning that you have to really wrap them in there. They are not OVERLY tight, nothing has stretched out or off, but they are tight.

The Fruil Model links are VERY similar to the Master Club MC135050CL tracks. They are SO CLOSE that the tracks will click together! But the MC tracks will NOT work on the X-act scale sprocket for the reasons outlines in the review posted earlier: The guide horn is too tall. Fruils guide horn seems to be short by just enough to fit. It is not a lot, but it is noticeable when 2 links are side by side. (I tried my best to get a good picture, but it still does not really show the difference).

Hope that helps.

Oh, and Spade Ace has 2 (!) sets of T-80 tracks out now, early and late. I will do a review on them once I get my copies. (I got mine off an eBay seller). The Spade Ace links SEEM to have shorter guide horns AND AND AND a hole all the way through ALL the connectors...so only 1(!) wire piece to deal with.
The Fruil Model links WILL FIT around the X-act scale sprocket, but it is a TIGHT fit, meaning that you have to really wrap them in there. They are not OVERLY tight, nothing has stretched out or off, but they are tight.

The Fruil Model links are VERY similar to the Master Club MC135050CL tracks. They are SO CLOSE that the tracks will click together! But the MC tracks will NOT work on the X-act scale sprocket for the reasons outlines in the review posted earlier: The guide horn is too tall. Fruils guide horn seems to be short by just enough to fit. It is not a lot, but it is noticeable when 2 links are side by side. (I tried my best to get a good picture, but it still does not really show the difference).

Hope that helps.

Oh, and Spade Ace has 2 (!) sets of T-80 tracks out now, early and late. I will do a review on them once I get my copies. (I got mine off an eBay seller). The Spade Ace links SEEM to have shorter guide horns AND AND AND a hole all the way through ALL the connectors...so only 1(!) wire piece to deal with.

Jacques

Joined: March 04, 2003
KitMaker: 4,630 posts
Armorama: 4,498 posts

Posted: Friday, November 22, 2013 - 08:05 AM UTC
And remember, if you have the MC resin tracks you can use the SP Designs T-80 sprockets to get them to work with kits: http://saammodels.tripod.com/t-80.html

arpikaszabo

Joined: February 13, 2006
KitMaker: 674 posts
Armorama: 637 posts

Posted: Friday, November 22, 2013 - 10:09 AM UTC
THX a lot, very helpful. I will try to dig out those resin sprockets from the tank graveyard. The other new Friul modern tracks are the same pain in the ... You need to make the metal pins intentionally shorter and add some plastic rod to fill up those ugly holes on the pin connectors. I am suffering through a run of Leo 1 diehl tracks. Its nice, but suggested only to gluttons for punishment (like myself).
![]() |