Model Forum / General / Models / May 2009

Kit Review: Fruilmodel 1/35 scale Kit No. ATL-97; Track set for PT-76,
GSZP-55, BTR-50, or BTR-50PU; 200 track links in white metal, plus
four sprocket wheels and a loop of brass wire; retail price US$39.00

Advantages: clean, neatly done set of tracks for Trumpter or Eastern
Express kits, or resin conversion kits; proper “sag” when installed

Disadvantages: wire roll causes problems in assembly; hingepin holes
often required drilling or reaming to get proper fit

Rating: Recommended

Recommendation: for anyone who wants to give a bit of “heft” to their
model

    The PT-76 amphibious light tank has enjoyed a career of nearly 60
years, and even today the Chinese have a goodly number of new build
variants in service and even in production. Designed as a
reconnaissance vehicle, the PT-76 was never supposed to be a tank, and
when used as one suffered inordinate combat losses. The vehicles based
on it such as the BTR-50 series of armored personnel carriers (again,
command variants are still in service) were more successful in some
respects and the vehicles were even used as the first Soviet tactical
nuclear delivery systems in the person of the “Mars” and “Luna” series
heavy rockets (FROG-2/3/4/5).

    In 1958 ITC came out with kits of these vehicles in 1/32 scale but
they were basically toylike approximations. About 10 years ago a new
company from Russia, Eastern Express, released a pretty good kit of a
basic PT-76B which had single-link tracks in plastic. Now Trumpeter
has released at least three kits – a PT-76 Model 1951, a PT-76, and a
Polish PT-76B with more releases likely in the future. The basic
result is that it was a good time for after-market companies to step
up, and now Fruilmodel has done so with this nice new set.

    The current generation of Fruilmodel tracks are basically “love ‘em
or hate ‘em” items. Made from nicely cast white metal (e.g. lead
based, so care must be taken with them) they are now assembled by
inserting a length of brass wire, cutting it flush, placing a dab of
superglue on the end, and moving on to the next link. As most of the
links do need a bit of TLC with a knife and a small drill (the
directions saw 0.4mm or about 0.016", so an 0.020" bit works fine)
this can be incredibly tedious and painful if the wire goes through
the link and into your finger. But with care they can be assembled and
are far more rugged than plastic links, able to take more punishment
and also easier to paint. It’s up to the builder as to what he likes
and what he prefers, but the result with patience is worth the effort
for vehicles with no return rollers and “dead” track such as the PT-76
series chassis.

    Many modelers who use them frequently generally just get sections of
either 0.020" straight brass wire or plastic rod as it is faster and
easier than the wire roll which comes in the kit. One enterprising
chap even had steel pins produced to exact size to fit most of the
Fruilmodel tracks so that there is a “head” to ensure easier assembly,
but he had to order 10,000 to do it!

    Overall this is a nice and useful set, and should prove popular with
a selection of items that use them.

    Thanks to Bill Miley of Chesapeake Model Designs for the review
sample.