Armortek

Out of interest, we’re track links on full size 1:1 tanks ever painted? I don’t mean those in museums.

That's a good question.

Vince

In my experience, I’ve never seen new tracks with paint. You’d have to ask why you would paint a component that has a relatively short life, is subject to such abrasive wear and which is made of such robust material. For German WW2 tanks, I suggest the same Is true, with the added factors of the need to simplify the manufacturing process and the pressure on material supply.

You could apply the same logic to our models and the Knowledge Base does say that Armortek tracks don’t need painting. It certainly takes effort but results in a very realistic appearance, more so than any natural wear could offer. That includes recreating the original colour of the links and adding the effects of weather, terrain and wear.

The track painting I’ve done has been remarkably robust. If anything, it’s been enhanced by running the models, adding natural wear. Yes, it’s a bit tedious to do but strangely therapeutic in a zen sort of way.

Pic below is of a new set of Centurion tracks being fitted to a museum tank in Australia.
Stephen

Stephen

This is a picture posted today of a Chieftain being rescued after several years lying derelict in a field. There is no visible rust on the links themselves. The track pins and circlips are rusty where they’re exposed but they’re both steel. Painting “rust”on model tracks is like putting a beard on the Mona Lisa, amusing but utterly inappropriate. If I was on Facebook, I’d add “just sayin” but I’m not.


Stephen

I'm afraid I have to disagree and say that those links look rusted and pitted to me...

I'm surprised at the amount of overspray on the tyres and return rollers, but not on the tracks, so it looks as though it was painted with the tracks off.

Adrian.

Vince, I didn't want us to hijack your thread, so I've continued this debate on the "To Rust in Piece?" thread here:

http://www.armortek.co.uk/Forum3b/viewt ... ust#p46222

Enjoying your build greatly.

Stephen

Sprocket assemblies have been finished.
Fitted the electric motor mounts, idler bearings and also the drive gearbox casing armour.
When fitting the casing armour noticed that one of the bolts specified was a bit too long so used a 12mm one instead of 16mm. Fitted the front bulkhead, the glacis plate and upper front panel. Used the hull roof to get and check for proper alignment.
Starting to look like a tank now.

Continued cleaning some road wheels. Only five to go.

Vince

Finally managed to finish the clean up of all the road wheels.

Also, turned the model over to start plugging holes and applying weld seams. Started with the easy part of plugging the counter bored holes with milliput.
Haven't fixed the track deflectors yet. As there are many weld seams in that area I thought I would bolt them on after the welds are finished. I also took a decision of not making any weld seams in areas that will be eventually covered in zimm. Hope it was a good decision!

Vince

Good thinking Vince, then you will need to add weld to the track pin bumpers also, nice work, regards Phil.

That's the plan Phil. Do all the weld seams and than fix the track deflector and add the weld seams to that also.

Vince

Hi Vince,
Regarding the track pin deflector plate. When the Germans switched from the 700mm diameter idler to the later 600mm diameter, the deflector plate changed position. I think you already picked up on this, but the wheels changed some time before they got around to repositioning the plate. So nows the time to choose which individual Tiger, unless of course you’re not bothered, after all it should be fun above all else.
Kind regards,
Simon

Thanks Simon for that piece of info. I always assumed that the position of the track deflector was changed when the small idler was introduced.

Vince

The whole idea of the track pin bumper is it does just that, and it is totally functional if it's in the wrong place it just won't work, if you lose a pin collar and the pin drifts the only way it can ie towards the hull it will cause damage, and it does happen, it bends the pin and scratches the hell out of the hull that's not fun , regards Phil.

Meant in the nicest possible way, maybe this’ll be of interest?

http://tiger1.info/EN/Dragon-late-track-plate.html

Great stuff Simon. I'm in luck then. Armortek said this is a June 1944 model. Good thing I angled downwards the track deflector.

Vince