Hi All,
I haven't been here in quite a while but I am finally back. I have a few questions regarding the metal tracks I have heard so much about. I am building a Tamiya brand PzKpfw IV Ausf. D and I would like to use the real metal tracks as opposed to the vinyl stuff that came with the kit. My questions are:

1) In your opinion what is the best brand of track to buy
2) Are the tracks generic or are they sold for each particular vehicle?
3) Any tips on how to paint,weather....etc?

Thanks in advance; look forward to your input.

-Eyeball

I've used both Fruil metal and Modelcasten plastic tracks and they both work well. The Modelcasten take a bit more construction but they both look nice. If it's metal you want then go with the Fruil.

They are specific to the vehicle, no "one size fits all" so make sure you get the ones intended for that tank. Once assembled you just paint them like you would the band type that come with the kit.

Monty is right here eyeball.

Friuls for me are the way to go. They are robust, not to bad to assemble and provide that wonderful "sag" that looks so good on the appropriate vehicle. In addition, Blacken it will weather them beautifully, or if you wish, they take paint pretty well.

Good luck on whatever you decide.

Steve

Iball,
There is a link below to Hometown Hobbies. I posted it so you could see actual pictures of the different Fruil track sets that are available. Check the link called "Learn How to Build Them" on that page too. It is a pretty good primer but be aware that the tracks come with the hole through them now and you won't have to drill them out. (The ones I have have the hole in them already anyway...) They come with wire too, so you won't have to make the pins.

I love 'em.

Shaun

http://www.hometown-hobbies.com/friulmodel_track_sets

Thanks guys!!! As always a big help

dam home town has some good fruil tracks,
iam going to get some for my tiger 1 and elefant

Hi Eyeball remember for the panzer IV D you need the 36 cm tracks and along with this you had better get the sprocket for the Early IV's other wise the tracks won't fit ...Tamiya did a bit of cheating on this old kit and used its PzrIV H kit as a base...I think the idler will work but if you have a new Hummel kit you can use there idlers (they have both the old and later ones in the kit ) Might be hard to get it to work but is much nicer than the old tamiya piece..Have fun with you project!!

Rick

Howdy Monte,

Being a big Fruil fan, I will have to say they are the best! MK's are good as well, but cost as much, and take more work IMHO. Plus you have the added 'look' of proper sag (especially on german steel).
As has already been said, they are model specific.
And, as for painting them. I'm a subscriber of Chris Mrosko's method of chemical 'aging', and then adding paint to suit.
hth.

Tread.

Thanks Tread. Iagree with you, since I used the Fruils for my Ferdinand I've been hooked. The MK's are nice but concidering what you get with the finished product I can justify the extra cost of the Fruil's.

My next project is a Sturmtiger and it will be wearing a set of Fruils.

:-) :-) :-) Just glad to have another 'convert'!


Tread.

i have just realized our common mistake

not fruil

but friulmodel

thanks,
Orkun

Was aware that it is Fruilmodel. Just calling them Fruil for short

................Fruilmodelissimo........that is right isn't it? Anybody have a box in front of them?

Tread.

no no still wrong )
i was doing same mistake til i saw the box of the track set

f-r-i-u-l model just swicht the i and u

but they are great track sets ..

check the box art

What ever the spelling may be I think that we can all agree that they are a great set of tracks!

Yes, they are. I like them bery much. MK is too much trouble to assemble. But the FV Club offerings are quite good also, and they're cheap.

Sometimes I don't use the wire comes with the F-r-i-u-l. I use 0.3 or 0.4mm steel wire for extra strength. And I don't use CA glue, I put a small quantity of Epoxy putty to seal those little holes.

Im more of a OOB builder, but I have used Friul tracks for an Italeri Panther D as Italeri´s bite the big one. Possibly the finest item in modelling that is. Im sorry my panther isnt up to scratch. Definately go for the friul. You´ll be sold first time. Their own weight adds so much to the finished vehicle and the sag is 100% natural.
For pinning them I use staples. Straighten the "legs" and then you have all wires pre cut to the same length. The big advantage of this is you know they are all pushed in the whole way. Make up in lengths of 10, cut of the excess staple and super glue. Leave a few unglued so you can shorten if needed. A thin pin vise is extremely useful as there may be some flash inside the pin holes. I prime with a hobby primer and paint as normal after that. Another big advantage with friuls is you dont have the last link problem... The only downside to friuls is the price ... more than the panzer D probably!
Good luck.

I am not going by experience here, but by hearsay:

I have read that some modellers use Friul-tracks or MK-tracks depending on the vehicle. And that generally MK-tracks look better on smaller vehicles (like the Hotchkiss, smaller Sd.Kfz's, Pz I), while Friul-tracks look better on the bigger vehicles (like Famo, Tiger I, Pz IV).

They argue that on smaller vehicles the Friul's look a bit out of scale, while on the bigger vehicles the look better, mostly indeed because of the natural sag. And that for them the switch is made with the Pz II / Pz III.

All I know for myself is that the Marder I kit has MK-tracks, I have MK-tracks for my Wespe, and that for my to be built Sd.Kfz 7's I will use MK-tracks (and wheels).

Cheers,

Harm