How You Do Your Magic Tracks?

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I know this has been gone over before, I did a search. This is my first time using DML’s Magic Track. And I’d just like to see some of all of your tecniques? Trying to glue them in place and getting the correct shape and sag without glueing them to the road wheels frankly is just a little frustrating.

Thanks1 Doug

2

I have assembled a couple of sets of the Magic-Tracks. I generally build one run at a time and work in both directions, until I have enough to fit to the model. I then fit them usually around the drive sprocket first, working back across the top until I get to the idler, fastening with Tenax7 to the return rollers as I progress from front to back. Make sure you have just enough slack and not too much on the return rollers. After making it around the idler, I then bring both ends together, if needed adding/removing links to get a fit I like. I usually will leave a little slack at front, on the the bottom run, just under the drive sprocket. Both of these are older builds I did a year or so ago. Still learning as you can see.

Those are MK’s in the spare holders. I built a Panther G with MK’s and assembled them pretty much the same way. Just more parts.

Watch out for the drive sprocket, on this Stug III, I didn’t catch the poor fit. It really stands out. IMHO, if you can do the Fruils, they are so much better. They take more time assembling, but they’re easier to fit and are practically indestructable. Nothing quite as disappointing as a track that needs repairing in the middle of a firefight. One other thing, both of these vehicles should have had open guide horn tracks. Not all of the Magic-Tracks are correct. The Tiger I initial doesn’t have hollow guide horns. DML’s newer releases have addressed this issue.

I’m sorry I don’t have any WIP pictures on the tracks themselves. I assemble the tracks before painting the vehicle, most people assemble after.

I never read the instructions anywho?

Best Regards,

3

What type of putty did you use for the zim on that Panther Mobious? That looks great, I’ve been looking around to see what easiest to work with. I have milliput but it seems just to thick to work with.

Thanks for the tip. Doug

4

That’s my all time favorite Bondo spot putty. It’s laquer based, so it’s easy to cut with laquer thinner. It dries fairly quick, but with thinner I can work an area a couple of times if I have to. I’ve done of couple Tiger I’s, 2 Panther’s and a TigerII. I’ve done several different patterns with it and for me it works pretty consistently. The thing I like most about it is IT’S CHEAP. I picked up a tube and it last me about a year and a half. The bad side are the fumes[xx(] Don’t inhale to many they’ll send ya sailing without a boat. As you can tell from my post they’ve already caused a significant amount of brain damage already!

Best Regards,

5

Take a look at the tutorial at the link below.

http://armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=1737

6

I have a newbie question.

Why are Magic Tracks called “Magic Tracks?” I have some older Dragon kits that have indy tracks but as I have learned they pre-date the MTs. So what is the difference between MTs and Indy Tracks?

Thanks,

DD

7

Magic tracks are usually separate and ready to assemble - they don’t come on sprues (with the exception of the track links for the M1A1 SEP kit) and don’t require any major clean-up, except for the aforementioned M1A1 tracks which have a small sprue stub on each link to remove. Magic Tracks usually fit together with a fairly tight friction fit (but don’t “snap” together) so you can usually assemble them in runs before applying cement.

8

i usually lay a strip of double sides tape (eh don’t know the english for that one). that sticks on both sides and lay the requered number of track links on it. then gleu, and before it dries completely put them on the roadwheels. usually i do them in two sections per side, so the the ones on the ground, and a section to go on top of the road wheels and join them just under de drive sprocket and just under the far rear wheel.

cheers

9

owh, and i paint them when still on the tape, for easy acces. to do this you have to tape both sides in turn so you can paint the underside aswell.

hope it helps

10

Robbioo - A little off topic but what part of the Netherlands are you living in? I only ask because I will be in country from the 11th of July for the 4 Days March at Nijmegen.

Cheers,

DD

11

Hello All,

Thanks wingnut for that link. That definately will help me out. I’ve always had a h311 of a time painting tracks installed. Now I know how it should be done.

Thanks Douglas1 for asking a question that I never thought of asking.

Best Regards,

12

Thanks everyone for all the great responses and all the great techniques it will definitely be a big help and save me from a big headache I’m sure. And Mobious thanks for the tip on the zim, its just what I need, its not exspensive and I can pick it up locally.

Thanks Everyone! Doug

13

ah okay, i live about in the middle, about 50km south of utrecht.

my girlfriend will also walk the 4days at nijmegen so i’ll be watchint atleast two days, the wednesday and the friday.

good luck, hope you make it all the way… it’s to far for my taste.