I received my set of Tim's steel chevron tracks for the Sherman the other day in the post, and these are excellent! I am floored by the overall detail and quality, it being obvious that this is a labour of love for Tim. It shows.
The parts are cast crisper and cleaner than Tamiya's injection tracks in the kit.
I can vouch, without reservation, for Tim's products and service. Buy with confidence, you will not be disappointed.
Thanks Tim, I appreciate the hard work you've done, it has paid off with some of the very best After-Market products I have ever seen. Period.
Dave Reed (Login dave37167) Registered Users 68.52.83.113
Right on the nail, Pat......
June 2 2008, 7:47 PM
Mr. Perry and I had an exchange about this the other evening. What would YOU prefer....seperate EEC's and sand and glue them on....OR, have sets with them cast on. The problem is...several EEC types of EEC's...several different tracksets they were put on.....Ohhhhh, What to do?? I'm sure Tim hasn't slept...worrying about this.. There, Tim, now it's out....okay EVERYBODY...post your preferences here for Tim to see!!! C'mon!!! Bruce is good for, like, 57 sets....no matter how you do it...Right Bruce??? :-0
Dave
This is a very interesting question. Obviously, if you cast the tracks and track extensions together, this makes for a much easier time of it when considering construction of the tracks. BUT, looking at many photos of WW2 Shermans that have these extensions, often they have been knocked off some tracks, or they are slightly twisted etc. Depicting this would be easier, if more tedious, if the modeler was given separate extention parts. And if the parts were separate you would be able to have one master for the extensions, and sell the set separately, and any set of tracks could then use them. Do them as a "whole" and you have to produce a new master for every type of track.
So Mr Perry, how do you expect to handle this delicate customer question??
Could we get the Tim to make the extenders molded ON the tracks? The whole idea is to not while away the hours gluing lots of itty bits to other bits. And trying to line them up.
It does slow down availability of extender/track combinations. I think those that can't wait for the exact combination of extender and track style from Fighting 48th can very well cut off the itty bits. Then they would be free to happily glue them on the kit track (or manufacturer) of their choosing.
Okay compromise then: Tim make the tracks with the extenders on. For those that need something to "add to the carpet" a set that is just lots and lots of extenders for those that would enjoy the experience?
The way Tim is working the F48 resin tracks is to produce his masters using 3-D printing, then making RTV molds and producing the final track sets using standard resin casting techniques. What this means is that he can make masters fairly easily by designing them in CAD and having the 3-D printer make the mold masters. It would not be that hard for Tim to add the EECs to any of the track sets he does. Of course he will have to make handed track sets, as the EECs were used only on the outside edges of the tracks except for the very few E4 versions that showed up in 1945 for the invasion of Germany; these had spaced out bogies and EECs on both sides of the tracks. I had nightmares considering folding up enough Hauler EECs to do those.....
The most common US tracks fitted with the US pattern "paddle" EECs were the T48 rubber chevron (used on all the production M4A3E2 Jumbos) and the T54E1 steel chevron (used on most of the USMC Shermans on Iwo Jima). These larger EECs were manufactured in the US, but there were several patterns made in Europe to equip tanks as quickly as possible. GasoLine has a set of T54E1 tracks with narrower European made EECs, and these are also often seen in photos. I have a few sets of these, and will use them, but Tim's 3-D mastered tracks are far crisper and better detailed. Nonetheless, Olivier did a nice job, and if you need steel chevron tracks with narrow stamped EECs, the GasoLine set is useful. I don't know when Tim can get to all the types.
My suggestion would be to master the T48 and T54E1 tracks with the paddle EECs, as these were the most common types for US Shermans, and also do the most common EEC-equipped British pattern tracks (T54E2/T62). Then offer the EECs as separate parts for the other track types, with this feature: the mating surfaces (inboard side) would have all the recesses and contours so they would fit perfectly, allowing them to be added as quickly and easily as possible. With small parts like EECs, one run on a 3-D printer could make perhaps half a set for a complete track run.
Well, Tim, lad (TM), the assembled multitudes have cast their "cri du coeur" to the winds of fate. Can truth, justice, and the American way be far behind? The world awaits, Master Tim. Press on, lad - think of England!
Well, you guys must have a webcam set up in my workshop!! Last night I poured some rubber onto the masters for the rubber chevron tracks with the paddle type ECs!!! I'll start casting up the sub-masters today. And I sl'ed the masters for the stamped ones a couple of days ago. I've used the Tamiya track as the basis for the rubber chevron masters, and will probably do one of the metal chevron style with the stamped types; Bruce, I'll read your notes to pick one to start with, any suggestions?
I could cast the ECs as seperate parts, but they would be EXTREMELY tedious to cast, and EXTREMELY tedious to glue into place on for the customer, so I doubt it I will go that way, unless there is a huge demand. Just setting up a pair of 12-link sections was bad enough, I'd definitely baulk at doing 158 of them! Casting them as per the existing track sets struck me as being the most sensible way to go, that is it for the moment. If I get to cast up some sub-masters today, I'll post a pic tonight, time allowing. I've got a training motorcycle trip organised this evening, if the weather isn't too bad, so it might have to be tomorrow.
T49 and T51 tracks are also approaching the shelves, I'm just building up some stock. Give me a week, I'll have them ready for sale. T54e1 and T62 are alread available, of course.
www.fighting48th.com
This message has been edited by wunwinglow from IP address 82.45.21.118 on Jun 3, 2008 3:12 AM
Dave Reed (Login dave37167) Registered Users 68.52.83.113
That's why I haven't heard from you......
June 3 2008, 8:10 AM
You've been toiling away...making up the sets already!! Oh, please, someone send Dragos a bottle of Bruce's wine. He sees this news...he will need sedation!!
I had given Tim several ideas...but the way I was leaning was the KISS method....and that seems to be the choice most favored.
I do have a question pertaining to the seperate duckbills.....Anybody know how they were kept on the tanks to replace the ones busted off?? Or did they have to return to Field Maintainence units?? A box of them on the back of a tank would be cool!!
Dave
Tracks with duckbills sounds good. I´m now planning 4 Sherman projects, all of tanks without duckbills. And now their is a lot more to do.
I´m looking forward to the new tracks.
I am in complete agreement. Fast service and fabulous products. Let's hope that the goodies can continue to come in this unfortunate world financial climate. Chris Schwach
p.s. Pat = can't wait to see your next installment!
Boy, am I glad I posted the pic! Bruce spotted I had the extenders on up-side-down, so I am re-doing the master. No excuses, except trying to make masters late late late at night. I'm getting too old for this! Give me a couple of days, I'll post a pic of the revision, plus the stamped type as well. I will also write out 100 times, 'I must keep printed copies of my reference photographs taped to my monitor screen while making masters....'
Tim that was a sly move give us a link to something new, knowing we couldn't resist having a look at the rest of the site. So when are you planing a 48th LCT or at least selling the pattern drawings?
Allan, my ultimate goal is a 1:48th LCT IV with a load of 79th Armoured Division vehicles in it! The kipperboxes site hasen't been touched for ages, but I use the online storage for my various pics and tutorial texts. I used to do a lot of paper modelling design as well, and flight sim design before that! My teachers always said I'd nevery stick at anything for very long...
I've got a dxf file of the LCT frames if you want it, but it was designed for 1:200th scale, so it will need a lot of additional details for a bigger model. To say nothing about a lot of additional plastic sheet...
Tim I'd love to have a bash at a 48th one but I'm not sure I have anything that will open a dxf file but I am a bit of a sucker for boats I'm sure I'd find a way
Cool I would like to give it a go! Randomly I Knew a fellow called Gary from I think Bovey Tracey, he had a lot of shermans off us at Hart for the LCT's he built they were really impresive things I wonder what happened to him?
