Tips for mounting rubber tracks

[AaronW]

I just bought the Tamiya Cromwell Mk 4 and it has the typical rubber tracks. I have never had much luck mounting these tracks, they either come out very loose or they are so tight they bend the front and rear sprocket. I am just getting back into model building after about 10 years and it would be really nice not to have this one wind up yet another wheeled tank (I used to have quite a few almost finished tanks with no tracks).

 

So can anyone offer some tips?

 

[Edited by AaronW (31 Jul 2003).]

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Try bonding the track ends with chloroform (available in your drugstore), rather than pressing a heated screwdriver on the pin heads. The chloroform is strong enough to weld the rubber/vinyl ends together. To further strengthen it, stitch the weld joint with black thread. And/or adjust the idler wheel to lessen/increase track strain. I don't know much of the Cromwell, i.e. whether the tracks sag or not. If it does sag, you can either glue the tracks onto the wheels, use thread to lower the tracks to the wheels, or put fine pins on top of the tracks to force it to go down on the wheels.

[Jacques]

What I do with the old tracks is to put them together and heat them, as per the instructions. Then I staple them as close to the guide horns as possible. Then I do my best to hide the evidence inthe roadwheels or under a sideskirt. This has worked very well on a number of kits. Also, you may need to buy aftermarket tracks...like individual links or other rubber bans tracks...I am not sure if they make other tracks for your kit, but this is a option many other use as well.

 

And check the instructions to make sure that these tracks are not the glueable type.

[DougRichards]

As Jacques has suggested, I think that you will find that these are the 'new' tamiya gluable tracks, just don't use too much glue and leave them to set overnight. (ah yes, just found instructions for the Centeur kit (same tracks ) - glueable)

 

These Tamiya tracks are a little stretchy in comparison with older tracks, so they should fit on the suspension very nicely. If you are worried about the strength of the bond of the track ends place this bond in an inconspicuous way on the drive sprocket, in effect using the teeth of the sprocket to help hold the ends together. lastly, these tracks glue very nicely, using superglue / crazy glue to the top of the main wheels, enabling a sagged appearance to be achieved very easily.

[AaronW]

Thanks, nice to hear the rubber tracks have been improved, I almost decided to pick out something wheeled just to avoid the tracks but ever since I saw Band of Brothers I've been infatuated with the Cromwell, its just so chunky, ugly and tank like with all those bolts and flat facings.

[shootER5]

Try Friulmodelsmo tracks from Hungary. They're made of white metal and assemble just like real tank tracks. They're a little pricey (~$30 US) but well worth it when compared to the rubber band tracks that come in many kits. They especially look good on tanks with all-metal tracks (like the Cromwell).

 

Found this site showing construction tips for these tracks: http://www.hometown-hobbies.com/assembling...odelismo_tracks

[AaronW]

Thanks for the suggestion, but the idea of putting together individual links of track makes my skin crawl. I'm sure they look good but I think that would be an express ride to divorce court when my son wondered by my wife muttering like a drunken sailor

[shootER5]

Originally posted by AaronW:

Thanks for the suggestion, but the idea of putting together individual links of track makes my skin crawl. I'm sure they look good but I think that would be an express ride to divorce court when my son wondered by my wife muttering like a drunken sailor

 

 

Naw, they're not that bad.

 

I assembled a complete set of tracks for a T-72 in a couple of evenings (with nary a curse word uttered).

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

I don't want to start another thread...

 

I need help with my tracks - Italeri's (Zvesda's actually) T-26. Tracks are too short. How do you stretch them?

[DougRichards]

Originally posted by Gennady I. Beregovoy:

I don't want to start another thread...

 

I need help with my tracks - Italeri's (Zvesda's actually) T-26.  Tracks are too short.  How do you stretch them?

 

You can try putting them in very hot (near boiling) water, then stretch whilst soft. It may work, but don't count on it.

 

The alternative is to get a set of separate link tracks to replace the lot, a set is available from RPM.

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Thanks Doug! I was also thinking on how exactly to do the hot-water method, but I was wondering when to stretch it (i.e., do I mount it on a board first, stretched and held at that length by pins, then place in boiling water then after some time remove and let dry, or do I just place the tracks there, boil, remove, then stretch?).

 

After-market tracks are a no-go for me unfortunately, since I don't have much money to order them online, so I'll have to contend on stretching them.

 

Alternatively, does a hair dryer work as well?

[DougRichards]

Gennady,

 

I get the kit ready for mounting the tracks - all parts glued and set in place. I have the track ends joined - firmly, with staples if necessary.

 

Put tracks in boiled water - ten seconds should do - then apply tracks to model, quickly, they should stretch as you place them on the vehicle. If they are still too tight then take them off, soak them again and try it again.

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Aye! Will try that later on. Thanks again Doug!

[Brad Sallows]

Gennady, I am in the throes of finishing the same (T-26) kit, with the same track problem. What was your ultimate solution?