Making Tank Tracks

Jesse James · Post by **Jesse James** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 12:21 am

Has anyone actually MADE their own tank tracks that interlock/link?

I'm curious just for my own projects about how that can be gone about... Or are RC Tank tracks buyable and not horridly expensive? Anyone with info on this stuff I'd appreciate the help.

This has been something perplexing me a long time, and not really being into building tank models, I've never really had much experience with this.

I'm wanting REALLY big tracks, nothing small. 1:18 scale or even larger. Just don't see a good way to go about that.

tankduel · Post by **tankduel** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 12:34 am

You can purchase tracks separately from the 1/16th RC tiger 1, KT,Pershing,Sherman,1/15th Stug,Hummel,Panzer 4 .I can give you the part no's for any of the 1/16th Tamiya tracks (plastic with metal pins) or look at www.backyardarmor.com for all metal tracks.

what do you want them for?

Jesse James · Post by **Jesse James** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 1:56 am

Actually, not a real world project... In Star Wars the Alliance (and to a lesser extent the Imperials) use tanks with tracks... Some "hover" like other vehicles in the movies but the tracked ones always pull elements from Earth tanks... Very neat, and I've got plans to do some, but never quite had figured out how to do tracks.

In general they're bigger than Earth tanks though... Hulking things really (wish I had a pic I could throw onto here). I'd considered trying to make one then produce copies through casting but I felt my efforts may be a bit "rough".

I figured the project wouldn't interest most folks here, but I knew it was an ideal place to ask for the help. Thanks Tankduel!

Do you mind giving me an idea how price usually runs on these? Are they generally cheap or expensive?

mondaytanker · Post by **mondaytanker** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 1:32 pm

I could help with the prices. The Backyard armor tracks are $200 a pair. The Tamiya tracks are $50-$103 for 1 set per Tamiya's description. Depending on which model tracks you order. If you were building a static model you could purchase a pair of metal tracks off e-bay for about $100, these are designed to fit the Tamiya Tiger 1 or the Tamiya King Tiger. The problem with them is the pins are tiny and don't hold up to RC use, so I have read.

The resin Tamiya tracks are several pounds lighter than the zinc alloy metal tracks. This may be a design consideration when scratch building a static model.

Tanker

Jesse James · Post by **Jesse James** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 1:36 am

Thanks Monday Tanker...

I was sort of hoping for more of a functioning toy ala 21st tanks. Something that "rolls".

Seems like steel is damn expensive... I may wind up actually going with trying to make and cast my own links instead. Cheaper, if not a bit of work. If I use the right materials though and do this very methodically I think it's maybe a better idea in the long-run, plus I can make them to my own specs and a design more accurate with images too.

Hmmm, something to ponder perhaps I think.