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Hi Jon,
it isn´t a question of someone´s skills or available aftermarket accessoires. The fact is:
TAKOM declares a T-55A tank in his release. So if you they are a serious company every modeler expects some accuracy, because the kit costs more than 45 Euro. When they chose to put seperate track links inside the box, why not the correct one? Why is the assembly instruction incorrect in so many points like sprocket wheels, attachment points and holders with clamp. Sure you can buy new track links for some more 15 Euro, but is this the point and solution of all problems? Let me compare it with following example:
If I want to buy a VW Passat with a 2.0 engine and automatic climate system and pay for it some 35.000 Euro I do expect a 2.0 engine and not a 1.9 engine with manual air conditioning. Or do I have to go for an aftermarket 2.0 engine.
Well Jon, I hope you´ll gonna understand my point of view. I think none of us modelers has found the money on the street, falling down like leafes in autumn waiting to be picked up. Their official distributor, also as some popular sellers here in Germany are very concerned and angry about TAKOM´s behaviour and "production mistake". I do also have their ZSU-57-2 and this will be for sure the last kit I have ever bought from this company.
Tomorrow I will show you some more serious problems with this kit. It is about their road wheels. I think you can´t even imagine how serious it is ...
By your logic, that would mean that EVERY model company could not be considered a "serious" company, since all of them have made the types of mistakes and omissions that you mention. Why didn't they include the correct tracks? Probably because it would have cost them more money and time. And for every modeller such as yourself that says they will no longer buy Takom kits, there are 50 that will buy them and of those 50, 40 won't care too much about the incorrect tracks or turret bins being out 2mm. They know that those modellers that really do care will buy the aftermarket upgrades as necessary, and they still have your money.
You don't seem to understand that Takom, Tamiya, Bronco, Italeri, AFV Club, Dragon, etc. are in this for the money. They will produce what they feel will sell and within the limits of their business model that will dictate what they can spend to get it at the price point they need it to be so they get a return on their investment. End of story.
And when one of these companies does produce the perfect kit that is 100% accurate, with error free instructions, metal barrel, the perfect amount of photoetch, workable preassembled tracks, 18 markings version in the box with decals accurate and in perfect register with no visible film, etc. modellers will still complain that it costs too much, is too hard to build, has too many or not enough parts, it isn't the version that I want, the plastic is too hard or too soft or not the right color to show the detail, it doesn't have the markings I want, etc. It really is a no-win situation for them so why even listen to modellers?
And if Takom didn't release a T-55A, you wouldn't have anything to complain about since I don't think any other companies currently have one available. Have you considered that just having a kit that appears pretty decent (compared to kits from say 10 or 20 years ago) with things that are easily fixable with time, effort and perhaps a bit more money should just make us happy?
I'm not suggesting that Takom is right or wrong with their decision to include tracks that are not the standard version and that we shouldn't call them out on it. But at the same time, calling the things you mention big mistakes is not, in my opinion, an accurate description.