Hi all

You know how it is, it's late, you're alone, on ebay.......

You win something after a bit of a fight with two other bidders and you feel good, that's until you reflect on what you've done....

So guys, is my latest purchase, the Bandai/Fuman Sd.Kfz7 8 ton semi track a reasonable kit or not???

Go on, i'm sitting down.............

IIRC this was one of their better kits. I have one somewhere half built, and remember thinking positively about it. Not that it couldn't use more detail (if you're going to expose the motor, that's a very good place to start). the figures are terrible, though might be a good starting point if you fancy a little sculpting...

Damon.

what I'm attempting. I am using the 1/35 AFV SdKfz 251 track links as suggested somewhere here? I have one side complete and it worked out fairly good. It is just a bit tedious as each track link is 2 pieces. This is one of the better BANDAI kits.

at least I hope not, because I have four of them..... They are about as accurate as the old Tamiya 1/35 kit. Their abiding sin is they are blocky in the details like the Tamiya kit. The wheels are very thick, and the sides of the body also. Some modelers have thinned down the body sides and shimmed out the seats to fit the broader space, but not many have done that. The tracks, like all Bandai tracks, should be replaced, and Steve Faxon has shown the best choice: 1/35 AFV Club SdKfz 251 link tracks, almost perfect in fit and they look completely authentic in detail. There is a great deal that can be done to make this a jewel and it builds pretty well for an old kit. Don't expect Tamiya fit, but it goes together without too much emotional damage..... Unless Tamiya announces one at Shizuoka next month, this old girl is it. Not Miss Universe, but not Ma Kettle either. It's still a decent kit, and best of all, it's the only kit in 1/48 - makes the choice a lot easier.

I just finished making one of these kits, and used 1/35 Sd. Kfz 251 track links by Hobby Boss. This way, I did not trash a kit, and got the upgraded tracks for about $8 - $10. I thought it came out well, and if I ever get a replacement digital camera for the one I broke, I will post some pics!

Jim

Hi Mence;

Just ENJOY the damned thing. I rounded one up a few years back and was totally blown
away with how good it was for an old Bandai kit. Steve's solution for the track is excellent,
but the plastic band ones will certainly hold you over until you decide.
Being the ONLY prime mover we have in TOTS at present, it is a gem.

GB

.....to you all, especially you Steve for demonstrating a near perfect solution to the ever present Bandai track concern.

I feel a whole lot better now and am very much looking forward to the kit arriving.

Thanks again to all of you for your support.

M.

This is clearly one of the best Bandais, and the front body, hood and grille details I remember as particularly impressive and up-to-date looking.

Even the kit tracks might be useable with a lot of mud...

The only minor overall shape flaw I remember is that the real thing's rear body face was sort of "pinched" looking at the bottom, making the Bandai kit's rear bottom body look too "modern"; ie, too square and wide.

The rear view bottom "pinching" made the real thing look a lot taller and narrower viewed from the rear, especially at the level of the top of the tracks.

My advice? Show it parked with the back against a wall...


Gaston.

P.S. It seems to be a universal 1/48th scale problem, with non-tank subjects, that the kit imitates the solid, fat-tired, wide-stance appearance of modern vehicles, and fails completely to capture the narrow, ungainly tall, tip-toe appearance of many 1930s and 1940s vehicles. Your Bandai halftrack rear face is a very moderate example of this. See Tamiya's Kubelwagen, Jeep and GMC truck for the more extreme examples of this trend. Compare Hasegawa's 1/48th Jeep to Tamiya's to see how far Tamiya went wrong, especially in the tires!

G.

Gaston, thank you for your input, much appreciated.

The kit arrived today, still in its cellophane outer wrapper.

Have to say, for its age i'm not at all disappointed, it looks pretty good indeed. Very much looking forward to starting this one soon.

M.

The May flyer has the SdKfz 251 tracks on sale for $5.99. Part number HY81005.

Richard