Stug
III
Individual Track links
Atelier infinite Set No. 48-005
1:48th Scale
Review by Terry Ashley
Following
their Tiger I tracks, Japanese
company Atelier infinite have now released this 1:48 individual track
set
for the Tamiya Stug III B (Kit
#32507) which consists of approximately 220 individual track links in light
gray resin with the casting being quite good with crisp details on the links
that also include the holes in the guide teeth but there is some fine resin
film
to be
removed
from the teeth holes and around some of the links plus a small casting
block to be removed from the
corner of each link.
The resin in the centre of some links was quite thin and was translucent but
will be covered over when the links are painted so isn't a problem unless you
go poking around with a sharp object.
Resin track links
As mentioned you will have to fully open up the holes in the guide teeth
and also some links had resin film in the sprocket teeth holes and additional
resin film around the links but many only required the guide teeth opened up
so overall cleanup was fairly straightforward.
Details of the links showing the cleanup needed.
Assembly is straightforward as the links are designed to clip together with
two small pins and corresponding holes on the links and you firstly slip
one link over the pin and using a small
pair of tweezers to ‘pop’ the other link together but as the
pins and links are quite small care is needed. You will
also have to handle the assembled track runs carefully as they do tend
to come apart with rough handling which is a common problem with snap
together links.
Method of assembly using a fine pair of tweezers when fitting the second
pin in place
The assembled track runs fit perfectly around the Tamiya drive sprockets
and will allow you to add natural track sag when building the kit.
Links around Tamiya drive sprocket, note holes in the guide teeth
Atelier infinite track links and Tamiya tracks
Conclusion:
Overall a nice set of links with good details that include the hollow guide
teeth and correct rib pattern on the links but there is some
cleanup needed before assembly which is
offset by the simple clip together assembly.
Recommended
See the Atelier
infinite website for details of available sets, it's entirely
in Japanese but if you run it through a translator such as WorldLingo you
can get the gist of what’s there.
Atelier infinite detail sets are available from the excellent mail
order service at Rainbow
Ten.
Page created 22 May 2005
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