hey you all I am looking for some help … I am building a M-16 halftrack and I cannot find any pictures of the tracks … so here is the question . Did they have pads on them like the modern tanks do now ? and If I am trying to represent a halftrack that has been through it all what should the wear look like ?
They were literally a big black rubber band molded around steel strips. Like the grocery store conveyor belt with treads.
So the wear on the was minimal ? hardly and metal showing ? [%-)] the only pictures I have seen were black and white so I could not tell . if it was mostly rubber with metal rods going through them then they wear was almost not there right ? now I think I may have bit off more then I can chew
They started out completely rubber coated. After some use, the edges would wear off and the steel strips would show through. They would weather very much like a tire.
I dropped you an e-mail through the site asking for your e-mail address (can’t attacch files ther.) Drop me a note at ajlafleche@aol.com and I’llsend you this picture and a scan of the track from the cover of Squadron’s In Action. I see you’re in KY. If you are near Fort Knox, I’m pretty sure there’s at least one halftrack there.
Had at least two running around post on Saturday and Sunday. Took photos of them at the Memorial Day re-enactment.
Rangerboy;
Go to this website - www.halftracks.com plenty of detail photos in colour to show you heavy wear on treads from all angles and best of all the chassis is fully exposed too.
I think this will answer your question or give you a better direction.
Cheers;
Gregory