PMMS
Friulmodel
Mörser Karl-Gerät 040/041
Early Track Links

Friulmodel Set No. ATL-84
Review by Terry Ashley

Trumpeter

Friulmodel have released their set of early Mörser Karl tracks following the resin track links sets from Atelier infinite and Lionmarc (set #CL-30006) with the links also designed specifically for the Trumpeter Initial Mörser Karl kit #00208 with the set containing 265 links cast in light metal allow as is normal for Friulmodel track and a coil of thin wire for the track pins.

Metal track links and pin wire
Friulmodel

Detail on the link face is quite nice but not as well defined as with the resin links but in some ways that better represents the real thing and they are also handed with the pin bolt cast on one side of each link and the open wire pin hole on the other. There are two bags of links, one for each side of the vehicle so make sure you don’t mix these during assembly with the handed track allowing the join pin end to be hidden on the inside of the track runs. The links correctly have a solid guide tooth as it was only the later Karl tracks that had the lightening hole added to the guide tooth.

Cleanup is virtually nonexistent with just a small pour burr on one side of each link which is easy to remove with a sharp blade and no excess metal flash in the drive teeth holes. You will have to drill out the pin holes ensuring you don’t drill all the way though damaging the opposite pin bolt included on the link.

Track pins cut to length and the links showing the very minimal cleanup needed
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This is best done by inserting the appropriate sized drill bit in your pin vice the exact depth required so when you drill the link will butt against the end of the pin vice stopping it going through the end, this way you can happily and quickly drill out the pin holes without worrying about going right through.

The coil of wire provided will then have to be cut to length ready to assembly the links and this is easy enough with an old blade on a hard cutting surface but make sure you cut each the same length to save filing once fitted. To help during assembly you can add a small bend at the end of each pin and this will “jam” the pin in the link hole when pressed through holding the pins in place without glue but a small dab of cyanoacrylate will make sure the pin goes nowhere.

Set drill bit depth in pin vise to safely drill through the link.
Bend added to the track pin for secure fit

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The links fit neatly together and the pin easy to slip through making assembly very straightforward and quick with the assembled track runs being very strong and robust and virtually impossible to make come apart which is something that plagues resin snap together links to different degrees.

The track runs fit very snugly around the Trumpeter kit drive sprockets without modification making fitting to the kit trouble free.

Assembled tracks around the Trumpeter drive sprocket
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Conclusion:
The minimal cleanup and the very easy assembly plus the added weight of the metal links for good track sag will make these track links popular and add that finishing touch to the excellent Trumpeter kit.

Being virtually indestructible once assembled also adds to the appeal of Friulmodel metal track sets with the cast details representing the real links well.

Highly recommended

See the Mörser Karl-Gerät Subjects listings for reviews of additional set available for the available Mörser Karl-Gerät kits.

Thanks to my Credit Card and Blast Models for the review set.



Page Created March 9, 2006

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