I’m currently working on my first armor project, a Dragon 1/35 King Tiger. Everything has gone together smoothly so far. And then it came time to do the treads. So far, all I have done are the extra tracks that get placed on the turret (extra protection, I guess?), and I am NOT looking forward to the rest of them. Two main problems: I have to trim the links to get them to fit together properly, and cementing the parts leaves the links inflexible, which will be a problem when it comes time to fit the treads over the wheels (and the links don’t stay together unless I cement them). Can anyone tell me what I need to do here?
I would like to see the answer to this myself. I got some Dragon kits at Hobby Lobby recently, and after looking at all those tiny bits and pieces, I wonder if looking up someone’s one-piece treads might be my best solution.
One method: http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=84
I basically do the same, but leave the tracks split into an upper and a lower run. I leave them off till the model is painted and initial weathering complete. Once the tracks are painted and weathered, I then attach them to the model. A final shot of dullcote and some pastel dusting to blend it all together an it is complete.
Here is how I construct individual track links: http://matt24.fotopic.net/c778272.html
I hope this helps, good luck.
Exactly how I do it.
Thanks a lot for the links! They look pretty helpful, although it will definitely be very time-consuming at the pace I work at.
I think I’m gonna see if I can scrounge some one-piece tracks for my Dragons!
You should give the indies a shot, it’s really not that difficult or time consuming once you get a rhythm going. As per the above, I tend to build mine in sections of 4 or 5 (4 for the KT, since there are two pieces to use), then finished the lower run, extending to around the drive sprocket and the rear idler. Then I glued the upper run, and placed it temporarily on top of the wheels to create the sag, held in place with masking tape until the glue set completely.
Yeah, I got them done a couple days ago. The tough part was trimming the links. They didn’t mesh together properly after cutting them off, so I had to trim all those little connecting points by hand before I could start assembly. That took quite a bit of time; at the rate I work, it took about an hour and a half to completely trim one runner (trimming just the “female” links), and there were six runners altogether. But once that was all done, it was easy as pie. Didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would. Now all I have to do is paint and reassemble!