My wife picked up all three of the Takom Chieftain models today and while I am not going to write a full review, I thought you would all like to see what is in the various boxes. These are the very first Takom Models I have looked at and I am quite pleased with the moulding quality. There are no obvious faults in respect of the plastic parts from my initial inspection. I like that the individual track links are supplied removed from any sort of sprue, with only the track pads needing to be removed from a sprue. The barrel is split along its length which I do not like, but I suppose the intricate detail on these barrels and requirements of mass production make this a necessary evil. I will say I am very disappointed to see that Takom Models has not supplied metal cables with separate eyes due to the reasonably high cost of the models; instead you get it all as an injection moulded part.
SUMMARY
Highs: I like the tracks supplied with these kits and the good quality moulding.Lows: I do not like the tow cables in the offerings.Verdict: We have waited a long time for new Chieftain offerings and these look very worthy offerings.
About Darren Baker (CMOT) FROM: ENGLAND - SOUTH WEST, UNITED KINGDOM
I have been building model kits since the early 70’s starting with Airfix kits of mostly aircraft, then progressing to the point I am at now building predominantly armour kits from all countries and time periods. Living in the middle of Salisbury plain since the 70’s, I have had lots of opportunitie...
Unlikely, I'd say.
The Valentine was a few tons lighter than a Chieftain so I'd be very surprised if the wire tow rope would be the same diameter. I have dims somewhere but around an inch is what I recollect.
Sorry David wrong time period. I suspect Eureka or RMG will come to the rescue. If you just want the cable then RMG offers that I believe. but I will need to check scale.
Darren thanks for the peek into the box, I do have a couple on order.
Regarding the tow cable and I'm not an expert but would it be the same as used on Chally 1? Eureka do have a Chally 1 tow cable set.
Accurate Armour do a set of modern British tank recovery ropes, I'm pretty sure the Challenger and Chieftain items are the same.
Also again with ref to the decals the rear hazard plates are the wrong colour, they should be a high visibility orange and red, they provide red and white which would suit a modern German tank.
Dan
Building my model, I have managed to come across an annoying issue: running alonside the top of the hull there is a rail, which is moulded solid on the Takom kit. It shold be recessed, on the Meng CAD images this detail is represented correctly. Prepare the razor saw, this was not fun to mend at all
It would be a lot of work if you used a razor saw and I'd anticipate the result not looking great anyway. A much better solution (I did it in the 1980s on a Tamiya MK 3) is to remove the upper section and replace with 1mm brass U channel on its side. It is surprisingly easy and quick and looks much better than the solid kit part.
Technically the cross section is an 'F' but doing this gives you a '6', which is better than the kit 'B' section. For a rebuild though, as this kit represents, remove all the wading rail behind the transverse depression stop rail and do not replace it, as that part was all cut off to fit the raised transmission covers. Obviously deep wading as a requirement had been dropped by then.
Sorry if my 'a few tons' caused confusion; call it British understatement😀
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