Problems with FW Spartan

[Cian]

Hi folk, started putting my xmas present together a couple of weeks ago (Spartan Tank from forge world) only to find 2 tracks missing,so i rang FW and they were very good about it and posted me replacements. Mean while i cleaned up the side pieces that the tracks fix to, there was a lot of chunky flash to clean off and i used a dremmel borrowed from a mate. Got the replacement parts in the time frame they said i would (12 Days) and started to fit the tracks after cleaning them up only to find the tracks are too long in total by one link. The tracks, even after a warm bath, are bent/kinked at the wrong angles  which means im having to hold each individual section in place with tie wraps and super glue it in two stages  and i just know they will spring open (probably just after i finish painting it).

Now this is my first FW model although i have done many numerous resin kits over the years. Most of the comments i see about FW are positive but being a whole link too long seems slap dash to me. 

Im not being anti-FW here (the detail is amazing and i think the tank will look good) but my kids paid out £98 for this kit because they knew i would never afford it myself and that i really wanted one and imo it should be better.

 

Any advice/tips would be appreciated or maybe even a heads up about possible headaches to come.

 

Cian

 

[Flint13]

Sorry you're having trouble with your Spartan! You also seem to have pretty awesome kids, you obviously raised them right! ^_^

 

FW has had troubles with a few of their kits over the years. Not especially larger models, by all accounts I've heard the wolf and jackal titans go together like a dream. But the spartans, storm eagles and venators have caused all sorts of problems which have spawned threads on here, warseer, dakka etc.

 

I believe its just less of a hassle for them to re-send miscast parts than to completely remake a mold by this point. At the very least, I've only heard and had personal experience myself of very pleasant customer service. What I've found is to have hot water to hand, and be sure to pin any problem areas. Those tracks sound like a place to take a little extra time and insert a few pins while you have those tiewraps on and the glue setting. That way you can make sure they don't pop back out when you least expect it. 

[The_Chaplain]

Yep, I would also recommend pinning the tracks to keep them secure.  It minimizes the potential for tracks falling off.  I'm sorry to hear that you're having trouble with your Spartan, but I hope it's worth the trouble in the end, it is a lovely looking tank! 

[infyrana]

Don't yet own the Spartan, will do eventually though!

 

The idea of having a track section one entire link too long sounds a bit ominous and way too much of a major mistake for FW not to do something for you again - I wonder if firstly your build is correct, or if you are comparing it to pre-release pictures etc, but I am sure you have checked that!

 

Hot water sounds to be the right trick in case of bent pieces etc.  Pinning, Flint13 suggested, sounds a great way for you to retain your model when put into the correct position.

 

As for the quality of FW kits, there are two main schools that I've read and personally experienced - I continue to buy their stuff, so this is not a dig at them whatsoever, nor is it intended to start any.  Yes, they do awesome models and have the detail down to a fine art, there's no doubting on what they produce in terms of looks - and no air bubbles included!  However, the quality / consistency / tolerance of the parts produced seem to be lacking.  For example, bent barrels, thinned out sections of resin to the point where actual resin / casting is missing from the model, and the bad fitting of some parts requiring lots of work filling gaps etc.

 

But... Forge World offer the replacement service, and from all accounts, a very good service indeed.  I would highly recommend if you haven't already messed around too much, to call them again and explain to them your problem.  They may be kind enough to offer you either some advice, or another replacement (especially if you provide evidence of the offending parts and if if truly is a link too long!).

 

The stuff is resin, it is not beyond a fix, so don't be too disheartened :)

[Cian]

Thanks folk, dont know why i never thought of pinning, Doh.

From a preliminary fitting everything else looks Ok, it is just the tracks. When they are all in place the whole 4 track

sections are too long by one link (there is a little room for adjustment on each track section). At first i thought i had been to enthusiastic with the dremmel but i dont think so.

I agree about the replacement service second to none.

 

Thanks again

Cian

[madscuzzy]

This is not uncommon for FW, due to the different shrinking rates of different parts.  I too had the same problem, and have seen others with similar.  This is not something that FW can address to readily.  Rather than 1 link too long, it was half a link too long.  I cut mine, then using hot water, stretched the remaining track the remaining half track.  Be careful not to warp it too much.

[Cian]

Never thought of stretching them madscuzzy but its to late now as pinning is underway. To be honest the overlap was not quite 1 whole link and i have a small gap of about 1mm on the bottom track link up. Its only noticeable if you actually picked the tank up and looked underneath but i know its there.

 

Cian