I’ve recently begun volunteering at a local military history museum called Motts Military Museum with Specter. Specter and I are going to be building models for the museum. Some are unbuilt and some are almost complete. Anyway, I’ve inherited a partially built Heller AMX-13/75.
The model has been sitting in its box for a few years. The tracks were all twisted up. They look like this.
How can I go about straightening these out?
Erik
Use a hair dryer.
Twist the track to the opposite side then use the hair dryer. Work slow. Heat it up about 5 sec, then check, dont heat it to much or you’ll be sorry.
Works for me, especially those old Tamiya kits rubber band tracks.
Ben
One thing you can try (it works for resin pieces that have warped) is to dip the part into a pyrex bowl/measuring cup with very very (but not boiling) water. The part will reform into its original shape. Dip the kinked part in and then pull it out. Make sure you don’t let the part touch the bowl sides. Then let it cool. If you want, you can dip it in an ice bath to chill it immediately.
That’s not so bad. I’ve had worse. Here’s what I do… 
nothing extreme.
First thing before you build is lay them (unpainted & trackhorn side up) on top of the clothes dryer. Don’t give 'em another thought. Over the period of time that it takes to finish the model you’ll have washed & dried your clothes many times 
(at least I hope so). Patience. The modest heat from the dryer is all you’ll need. The transition is very gradual.
When the model is finished (except the tracks), your twisted treads will be all relaxed and ready to be completed.
If you don’t have a dryer, take 'em outside into the direct sunlight (hot days) and lay them on a flat surface in the same manner as you would on the dryer. Do this every day as you work on the model and you’ll get the same results by the time you are ready for them.
Goof-proof. You can’t over do this. More is better.
DISASTERMASTER
DM – you didn’t mention it, but would taping them flat to the dryer or onto a sunny windowpane be a good thing to do, or does melted glue factor negate the idea?
Well, I guess taping them down to the dryer wouldn’t hurt (I’ve never had to). It doesn’t get “that” hot (as far as melting the glue).
As for putting them under glass goes, well, !http://th6.photobucket.com/albums/y229/babamulon/smileys/th_hot.gifglass really amps the heat and you know how it is when you get in your car on a hot day… Personally, I don’t think it’s a necessary risk.
This is a worry free-passive/casual method for getting the kinks out. So as described, there’s no worry.
If you try the glass thing, let us know how it goes. I’m a bit wary of it myself.
DISASTERMASTER