Tight Plastic Tracks....1/35

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Hi everyone,

What is the best way to get the plastic tank tracks to fit when they are too tight…I was going to put them in water (not too hot but hot enough) to soften them up and lightly stretch them a little…any other methods out there? The model is a Tamiya 1/35 T34/85. I could buy after market tracks but I want to use the kits ones.

Thanks,

Kevin

2

I’ve never had that problem with Tamiya indy tracks. I didn’t know that kit came with them, I though it came with vinyl tracks. Sorry I don’t have an answer, the water trick might work. Are they all that tight, or can you sand some down?

3

Doesn’t the Tamiya kit come with a screw in the lower hull that allows the builder to tighten or lessen the tension on the tracks? IIRC, it was in the rear of the hull? If you can’t lessen the tension that way, leave off the drive sprockets until you are ready to put on the tracks. Once you are ready, put the sprockets in the tracks and then put the sprockets onto the kit parts. That is what I have done in the past with tight tracks.

4

[:I] Boy do I feel stupid. You WERE talking about vinyl tracks. Wow, to think I only had a whole pot of coffee today. I believe Erik answered your question, so I’ll slither away now.

5

With my T55 I had to cut off the return roller axle stub thing, the thing that the poly cap in the wheel slides over off and re-mount it about 1.5-2mm to the rear. I used CA glue to remount it and then i drilled trough both the axle and hull with a drill bit and pin vice and reinforced it with a bit of brass wire; worked great for me.

Good luck…
Brian.

6

Thanks gang…I already have the wheels glued (next time I’ll try waiting to put on the rear wheels with the tracks) on so I way try the hot water thing…

7

Are they too tight to just “ride” 'em on? If the drive wheel and idler still turn, it should be a breeze.

8

If your wheels are fully cured (better make sure) just soften the vinyl in hot water for a few seconds and slip it on. I do this, to stretch the vinyl, let it cool off, take it off, paint, and slip back on.

9

Thanks…I will do the water trick…

10

Had the same problem with Tamiya’s King Tiger a few years back. I just stretched them a little, turned out fine.

11

if it dos’nt work theres a Russian company that makes the sperate track links for the T34 that are cheap, im not sure of the companys name but there would be someone on here that would know

12

This was in the static kit? It’s part of their RC models but if they include it on their regular ones I’m truly impressed.

13

I’ve got an old Tamiya T34/85 in my hand right now and it has a screw and gearbox in the front. A fella should be able to loosen up the screw slide the idler back, put on the track then slide the idler forward and retighten the screw.

14

I think said Russian company may be Maquette. I think there was thread on this not that long ago. If you were keen to go down this road, do a search on t34 tracks in the forum.

Matt

15

OK…the screw method sounds like the way to go…thanks for the responses…

16

I would not push it, I had the same problem. But i ended up making a three point shot into the garbage with it. [:(!] At least i made it[:D]. I later recovered it and boughtt some indies. I suggest u do the same.[|)]

This is what happens when a tank meets an airplane