What 1/35 3D Printed Tracks are Best? | Review Part 1
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- And by the time I had edited this video, there are 13 companies, not 12...
I hope you enjoy this review. There are a lot of options on the market now, so maybe this will help you narrow it down a little. If you have any questions, feel free to ask below and I will do my best to answer!
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The tank-themed cutting mat is by Tankraft:
tankraft.com/
Music by:
Sam Kuzel: www.soundcloud.com/samkuzel
"William Alone [Extended]"
DISCLAIMER: I am not paid to promote any specific products or brands; I just use the products I find work best for me through my experiences. There is no reason for me to promote a bad product, as then I would not enjoy using it, not like the result on my model, and not be proud of publicizing it in a video. There's also no point in me doing this to keep up relations with a company if the only benefit would be getting more of the same products that I didn't like. I have not used every product out there, but from what I have used, I keep using the products I like, and that's why I use them in my videos. You can use whatever other products you would like to and you can feel that they are better - that is your opinion, and is perfectly fine by me, thus I hope that feeling is reciprocated. - Jak na to + styl
Tankraft tracks are no longer in production. Instead I would recommend PanzerWerk Design as the new best option. You can buy those from MBK or HobbyEasy.
A few other things to note:
-I did test these tracks on a few drive sprockets I had lying around. Tamiya and Dragon kit no issue.
-Like I said in the video, check out the other YT reviews of 3D Printed tracks for more opinions:
czcams.com/video/3PdYoYh17Js/video.html
czcams.com/video/7s5NCuUhiLI/video.html
czcams.com/video/VEqzKpXK67Y/video.html
@Bob Duckington yeah. I have some UV cured adhesive for bonding glass. Once it's cured, it doesn't react any further.
I just came upon this video review of aftermarket 3D printed tracks, and I thought I'd throw in my experience. I love the look of the TRex tracks, but they are VERY pricey, and, frankly, the tiny pins that they supply are extremely fiddly, in my opinion, making them not nearly as nice of an option as at first glance. Just recently, I ran into the QuickTracks brand, which I'd never heard of before, but the concept intrigued me. I just got the new 1/35 Border Model Israeli Merkava Mk. 2D kit, which includes workable tracks, but one look at the cleanup that would be required for each link had me looking for an easier solution, which led me to the QuickTracks. No cleanup at all, very simple snap together construction, and I did complete a set of these for the Merkava, and I encountered none of the brittle breakage discussed in this video, and they went together very quickly!. In my opinion, these are FABULOUS tracks! I hope they continue to expand their line to cover many more tracked vehicles, and these would be my go-to tracks for any vehicle they cover! Now, while not 3D printed, I still love Fruil metal tracks, Yes, they are expensive, and yes, you have to use pins (lengths of wire) to assemble them, but I love their weight. They had been difficult to find of late, but they now distribute their own product, and so they are now easier to find, once more. So, for me, now, my #1 and #2 choices are QuickTracks and Fruil, respectively.
Really glad Brads stuff (Tankraft) is as nice as it is.
Well it's your design! I'll prime up one of the links you sent me and see now it looks compared to one of his links. They look really crisp.
Great video! Very helpful as I’m trying to sort through some of these many companies that have started making 3D tracks.
Thanks so much for including Tankraft in your review. Glad you like the tracks!
Thank you Brad :)
I really needed this video, it’s a great subject, glad your back .
Thank you!
WOW, great video Evan! Thank you for all the work you put into this. You've helped me determine which ones I would purchase.
Thank you Jerry!
Great review. I haven’t done 3d tracks yet but was very interested in these after seeing this. I will definitely invest in some of those. I’m currently putting a set of Modelkasten late Tiger 1 tracks together and it’s very time consuming with all the little fiddly bits. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Was waiting for this review as i have a trackless tiger 1 on the bench. Knew your attention to detail would be top notch. Thanks
Hope it helped :)
Excellent detailed review!
Great info and for me very helpful as I'm just getting back in to Armor. Thanks for sharing👍
I've been waiting your new video. It's great information. This video must be helpful for every modeler who plans to buy 3D printed tracks. Also, I agree your answer strongly. Anyway, thank you for showing my video. Have a nice week end and stay safe please my friend. Best regards, NOB
Thank you! Your similar review is also very helpful :)
Great video sir. Helped me out a lot.
See you in the next one.
I'm at work, but cannae wait to see this when I get home. This is of great interest to me. Well done.
Thanks Stevie!
Good review, very helpful.
Very helpful video 🙏 Thanks man
Nice video, thank you for the great information.
Great content!
It’s a great help. But I think I will continue with metal tracks. Love the weight. Also nice to see you post again
I do love metal ones for the weight and also for how you can weather them easily with blackening fluid.
Thanks for this. I value your opinion, and appreciate your work. I do hate paying as much, or more for the (metal) tracks, than for the kit itself. Your study will help all of us... Ralph
Thanks for this video! Was really tired of trying to find decent tracks ! 3d resin, or metal, or otherwise. It was getting just maddening !
Great video 👍
It is cool that we are witnessing a sort of revolution in our hobby
Great array of tracks for a proper comparison between the quality and assembly systems. That is really helpful mate! I haven´t got my hands on any 3D printed tracks yet, but the two panzermeisters and their videos have been a good guide, i won´t buy the bad ones for sure :)
Also, i tried to give you a super thanks, but YT just won´t let me for some reason, it is a weird system...but you have my support over on Patreon anyway!
Thank you Michael! I think you should give some of them a try, if you can find them for a decent price at a show or something.
Thank you for reviewing the Hobby Boss, Quicktracks & TRex brands. I’ll look into getting TRex for two different Marder III kits (one is Tamiya Sdkfz 138 and the other is a Sdkfz 139)
Excellent thank you sir!
Just ordered a set of late Tiger tracks from Tankraft based on your reviews here. Hope they work as good as your review. Not your fault if they don’t though. I have a late Tiger I Ryefield kit to put them on. Great reviews.
Wow! How many tracks. In Argentina doesn't exist!! Greatings.
*Thanks for the test on video, printed tracks IF their price is lower than metallic ones can be on good option, more useful that vinyl ones in fact.*
Great review! Good to know there are some solid options out there, although I’m not convinced that the pricing reflects actual production/shipping costs, but rather is set based on the cost of existing metal track brands… but I could be wrong.
I agree; I wish they were more like $20 -- half as much as metal options -- rather than being just a little bit cheaper. The QuickTracks were more reasonably priced at $27 (plus I think $6 shipping from them), and some of the options I'm getting for part 2 are also more in the low $30 range.
Agree and I would say most modelers including myself would rather pay slightly more and have the added weight and look on the model
These companies will need to make their money quickly, before modelers figure out they can buy a resin printer pretty cheaply these days and get the STL files for free.
Thanks for the review! I recently bought some T-Rex Pz. II tracks. Great quality given the size of the tracks. The only downside to the tracks were the pins which were rather brittle and also had no retaining mechanism so they had to be glued. Not bad overall!
Interesting that the Pz II tracks didn't lock in, but the Pz III ones did. I think their products are made by a range of 3D designers.
Ooooooh I love extras!
I had a pretty good experience with T-Rex Panzer II track. Maybe two thirds of the pins just dropped into place, but the rest had to carefully coaxed in and I broke several trying to force the issue. Biggest advantage is not having to clean up multiple sprue gates per link. Also they look great when painted up.
Looking forward to trying out tankcraft track.
Thank you for the comment! People did say the resin was more brittle in the past. I think I only broke 1 or 2 pins total assembling the TREX set in this video. It was very positive.
I’m going to try the tankraft on the Das Werk Tiger after I finish the Jagdtiger. Thanks for showing these
The Tankraft tracks are very good! I have another video reviewing 7 more track manufacturers which will be uploaded Saturday.
Thank you Panzermeister36 for the reviews! I recently got a Panzer I set from T-Rex and I must say, unfortunately, they are super brittle and not designed well for assembly. I have broke 3 out of four tracks attempting to assemble them and I am not ham handed. The problem seems to be that, at least on my set, it seems extremely difficult to fit one end of the track's locator hole over the pin of the connecting track. Fortunately, I only have one other set of Panzer II tracks from them. I think the larger track sets, Panzer 3,4, Panther, Tiger, etc. that use two pins to connect to track shoes should be fine. If I try to go aftermarket in the future for the smaller size track, I will have to try and find MasterClub metal tracks. Made out of metal, they won't shatter.
Thanks for the review. Out of interest i have just used the TRex tracks for Tiger I (Early) and the outside pins keep dropping out when tilted on their side - their is no positive ‘click’ or feel when pushing them in which i get on the inside pins. Not the end of the world, but interested if others have had this? The quality was otherwise excellent - equal or surpassing Masterclub, who i previously considered to be the best on the market.
Nice vid..... 👍👍
On the Trex one, there is some fit issues on some sprockets. The friulmodel sprockets do work but its a tad finicky. And some models may have some issues with them stock. The friul sprockets i have do fit bit trying to wrap them is a bit difficult as it seems to be pressing outwards on the tracks.
Great video. I just got the ET Model late Tiger tracks and they are good. No crack issues like you had and look good. When you say you used glue on the other tracks was it regular glue or super?🇨🇦
Thank you! E.T. Model sent me a replacement set. Apparently I bought a super early batch of their tracks that was defective. The new set uses completely different resin and is printed perfectly. They also redesigned their pin build plate too.
Yes, I just used standard CA. VMS is what I use now but any should work fine.
Excellent review.
Personally I'm most happy when a kit comes with link and length tracks and I don't have to add 50% to the price of a model when buying aftermarket.
There are some link-and-length style ones 3D printed I will review in part 2 :)
Just bought my first set of 3d printed 1/35 scale Panther tracks on Ebay. They look great but I have not started assembling them.
My first set of Master Club tracks ended in disaster. The metal track links were great quality and looked gerat. The cheap crappy resin pins were the bane of my existence. Couldn't even carefully turn the tracks over to paint other side without them breaking into several parts with the resin pins broke off in the track links. Threw them in the box and swore never to buy Master Club again. And now I have set two. Needed the early non waffle pattern T-34 tracks and only ones I could find were Master club. But I have wire and intend to try and assemble them with wire.
I have used Fruil multiple times. IMHO a bit expensive but so far best aftermarket tracks I have used. minus the blood sacrifice from impaling fingers on wire ends they arent too bad.
Watched this video to learn more about Quicktracks and T-Rex tracks for a Pz.IV project.
Thanks for the info.
I've just finished filming a 2nd review of 3D printed tracks....should be up soon.
For the Masterclub T-34 tracks, I also used my own wire -- leftover from friulmodel. The resin pins for the T-34 tracks were unusable.
There is also a company called Faustus models selling printable files! I ordered some of them, quality is quite decent now I never have to buy tracks for the panzer I’ve again xD
Thanks for the great info. Would you consider do some enamel wash test on these resin tracks? Coz I'v had some bad experience on 3d printed parts that some could crack after a wash with enamel thinner.
I will test them for sure. They are going on some current projects.
Hi PM36, just wondering if you could recommend a couple of online model stores that ship in Canada, (not just tracks). Cheers, Llew
Good afternoon
Have you tried the Yan Models chains? what is your opinion of them?
Thank you
All the best
I love your videos
No, I have not tried them yet. At the time they only had one set -- Pz II Luchs -- so I did not bother reviewing them. Maybe they have more now?
I have two sets of Trex one for the Tiger 1 Early and another for the Tiger (P) and they are nice, only the pins are not so good the fall off in 50% of the time.
T Rex Studio makes absolutely perfect tracks, I wish they had the double click as in video 2 then they would be absolutely unbeatable!
You can't get Friulmodel metal tank tracks, I tried believe me I have, if I can get the other ones that will work with a Panther Ausf G that would be great, but it is very hard getting anything in Ireland here believe me it is.
I enjoy your videos. What is the name of your Canadian supplier for these tracks?
Oh man, I ordered these from all over the world. China, USA, Hong Kong, Poland, etc.
And finding winter tracks for any army is so hard...
I looking for ITALERI 1/35 LVT-(A) 1 "ALLIGATOR" track. It was forever to looking for it. Any 3d printer free track?
This is pretty impressive. I didn't even know there were 3D tracks but while I was watching I looked up the Quick Tracks and found out that they do all kinds of tracks for the Panzer III/IV. I think about purchasing their 5C type for a Nashorn kit I have got and want to build in a 1944 version. Do you happen to know how many track links there are necessary for one track? The Geshtzwagen III/IV is longer than the Panzer IV but I can't find any information on the tracks and the number of links.
I don't know off the top of my head. Basic Pz IV is 99 per side. I'd start with 105 and see how close it is.
@@Panzermeister36 Thank you very much! That makes clear that there will be enough track links inside the box. :)
I've never liked metal tracks - fiddly, inferior molding, crazy expensive. These seem like a much better option but for 3d printing, the price is still pretty steep? Thanks for the review! 👍
Yeah, there are still significant labour and shipping costs involved so they are not cheap. But they still are a great option, at least the decent brands.
How do you make your own tracks without pins?
The pins on the Tankraft tracks seemed to drop in to easy, did you need glue on them?
You might need to glue them with a little bit of CA on some sets. My KV tracks from them don't, but the Tiger I set is a little loose.
I place a small drop of slow-drying CA on my workbench and just dip the end of each pin before I drop it into the link. It doesn't gum them up, but it will hold the pin in place. You only need a hint of glue.
I'm with @Carlosmarinito on this one. Trex makes some amazingly detailed accessories but the material they are made of is far too brittle. I tried to use the Trex Clamp Tools for German Panzers. Many of the clamps were broke while trying to remove them from the tree (or whatever it's called) and more broke despite carefull handling while placing them on the model. I just received the Trex PzIII/IV tracks and hate them. My experience was that the ribbed pins simply split the portion of the track they slide into. The track material is so brittle that they can't stand even the slight pressure required to friction fit the pins. I saw the review a thought Trex had improved the elasticity of there material based on the lack of trouble in assembly that was noted. NOT SO. They just break! Don't buy them!
Great video 36, I need your opinion, I would like to build my grandson a tank, he like them, but I have never built any armor before, can you recommend a good starter tank, nothing to difficult, thanks in advance.
Absolutely a Tamiya kit from the 1970s to 1990s would be a good option. Tamiya Pz II F/G was my first build and it's a good option for new young modelers.
@@Panzermeister36 thanks
Hey PM! I wonder if you could help me out? I have Tamiyas newest Panzerkampfwagen iv ausf g and i want to make it a DAK version.
I'm interested in QuickTracks but don't know which one would be for the ausf g? They have sooo many panzer tracks to pick from
You'll want either "Type 2" or "Type 3A" for such a vehicle 👍
@@Panzermeister36 Wow thanks! :)
Ugh I need panzer 3/stug tracks so bad, my stupid dragon rubber ones just broke down constantly and ripped. BTW i loooove Dragon so not bashing them.
I am printing my own at home.
You're doing it the right way!
@@Panzermeister36 yeaah, @tankbrusher has excellent files. he measures from original tracks and designs them excellent, highly recommended!
where can i get these stl?
did you have to glue the heavy hobby ones?
Nope
I'll just keep my friulmodel tracks for the cost is the same. And sometimes I've found them around 30 bucks., weight, sag is beautiful. I used to have trouble with them drilling out the things but found out how to do it with Christmas ornament wire that punches right though them. Awesome video as always.
Thank you for the tip!
@@Panzermeister36
Thanks, But I've used your tips and tricks way more.😁
Got rfm t34 tracks. Pretty fragile and no locking on pins. Wish I knew about trex or heavy hobby at the time
I'm going to get some RFM for Part 2. I know they're not worth it but I'll buy them for the video anyways lol
Hey guys I'm retired special forces I've found that modeling helps with my TBI. I'm currently building Takom king tiger. Which of these sets would work well with my build? Any Intel would be greatly appreciated.
Which kit exactly are you building? There's about 5 different types of track over the many variations.
I've been checking out some hobby tools made using 3D prints lately, and I would concur that some of these brands(a lot of chinese ones are especially guilty) use shoddy materials and suffer from cracking/brittleness... To the points where I would've saved more money/time and gotten a more usable tool if I just bobbled something together using popsicle sticks...
That's not to say you can't get quality, but QC and material issues can cause an unmeasurable amount of distrust in a brand...
I agree completely. The ET Model set was clearly defective if someone had just looked at the product before packaging it. But no quality control is in effect at all.
I bought T-Rex Panther early tracks for my Panther and they were great.
You said in this Video that you bought some of these tracks in Canada? May i ask from what store?? I still try to find a good online Store in Canada to buy these aftermarket items. I mainly buy from BNA in Australia but i would rather buy it right here in Canada.
Which tracks are you interested in?
@@Panzermeister36 I plan on building RFM StuG. III AusF.G next, but its not just Tracks. I would like to know if there is one Store in Canada like BNA, Modelbau-Koenig or Spruebrothers, where you can buy stuff that you can't find in your local hobby store... like resin figures, gun barrels and so on. I know of the Barrel Store but there it always looks like they are out of stock all the time.
These tracks were hard to get in Canada. Sprue Brothers had decent shipping so I got TREX stuff there. Heavy Hobby is distributed by Hobby Hives in Canada. Tankraft comes from Tankraft themselves in US. RochM I ordered from their site and they shipped from China with $4 shipping. QuickTracks I ordered from their own site too, don't remember the shipping but it was not bad.
@@Panzermeister36 Ok thanks for the information.
Very cool video and good review but you forgot to mention one very important point, namely the factual reproduction of the originals. Here the number one is T-Rex which bases its designs on scans or real track links, or original technical drawings. Unfortunately, most of the other tracks presented in this video have smaller or bigger design errors.
They are by far not the only ones. Adam Manns Tiger Tracks (Tankraft) are a exact copy of a original link he owns for example. The stuff I put together lately (hitting the market soon) is 3d scaned and measured from my own tracks.
I also believe some of the Chinese brands use original dimensions; 3D designers move around between TREX Studio and the other companies when making designs of kits and accessories. RFM should also be accurate for example. Heavy Hobby appear close enough. Meanwhile others are just based on Dragon Magic Tracks ;)
All ProTracks are designed from real track links. Could you elaborate on the design errors please? I'd like to research and correct if needed.
@@tankraft5226 for example HH Panther tracks has too high horn and too wide contact point with chevrons. Let's put it this way, not all designs from other companies are bad, some are good but T-Rex is the only company that has all the links right. The same goes for other designs. Another typical mistake e.g. in Pz 4 links m are not the right proportions of the side “eyelets”. Going further, I don't think any other company offers tracks for the Jagdpanther which had a specific horn on the side and these were tracks designed only for this vehicle, no tracks from the Panter were used. Also look on KT tracks designs by T-Rex - it’s crazy how detailed all the types are. In my opinion it’s number one tracks company.
@@Panzermeister36 probably you’re right but Trex has the best designer around on board - Przemek Wojdas. His knowledge is enormous. His name is on many Trex boxes which is quite unseen in other companies. I know him and I trust in his knowledge when it comes to design flaws.
where can you buy Adam Mann designs?
slapferret.gumroad.com
More Trains More Trains....LOL!!!!! .... Hey how's the layout coming along or not?
I actually completely rebuilt it in May. Once I finish laying the track I will post an update :)
an you make rc models with these or arent they meant for that?
They are probably too fragile.
@@Panzermeister36 pity
i have been wanting to make a rc tank for a while now
but i have boon looking for shortcuts so that i dont have to buy a 3d myself
Metal workable tracks should be sufficiently strong. The Kaizen ones were also really good -- plastic with brass pins...if you can still find any of their products at least.
@@Panzermeister36 thanks ill have a look at those
u should've have actually put a few links together to show ease or lack of putting them together
Where are the stug III,s
Next video they will be there :)
@@Panzermeister36 yay
TRex are absolute crap. Sometimes the pins are loose and they come out as soon as you move the tracks; sometimes toot tight and easily breakable. Never again. Think I´ll try Quick Tracks next time
only I dont like about some tracks they dont say what they fit...buy them for say Tamiya nd dont fit...lol
I'm more surprised the USA option is that cheap. Considering costs (taxes, wages etc) are high in the States this low price might NOT be healthy for the company.
OR maybe this company consists of ONE retired guy with ONE 3 D printer doing a hobby thing in the shed???😉
I am pretty sure Brad does it all himself yeah.
Oh, thooose kind of tracks. 🤭
:P
Most of these look to be resin casted, not 3d printed. Maybe SLA but they don’t look like it and definitely not FDM printed. Picky maybe but there is a big difference in the techniques and outcomes.
These are absolutely all 3D printed.