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chains on tanks

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 12:15 pm
by paulc
Quick question I'm about to start working on a Tamiya panther and Jagdpanther that I brought 2d hand and want to add some detailing to them. I want to put chains on the track holders on the side but what size do I use and where in the UK can you get some
I did mean the chains that are on the pins to keep the spare track in place in the holders. I know these are small but I don't want to get some that are out of scale

Re: chains on tanks

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 5:07 pm
by General Jumbo01
I always get my chains on eBay. Simply search costume jewelry chains. Antique finish then just requires a dirty wash. Buy it by the metre for around £1 and have plenty of spare. Size depends on what you are simulating but just as important is type, that is the link type, flat, twisted etc. but all sorts are there for peanuts :thumbup:

Re: chains on tanks

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 6:51 pm
by STHV
Eastern Front wrote:Never seen any chains on tanks, they carried their own recovery cables.. The only time I have seen chains is on wheeled vehicles.
As a rule, tanks were too heavy for chains, or more accurately you would have to use anchor chain to recover a tank as it would have similar strength as the tow cables.

Hope this helps...

Cheers
He means the tiny chains that held the spare track holder pins and stopped them getting lost

Re: chains on tanks

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 7:23 pm
by jarndice
Military vehicles retain fuel and inspection caps and tow hook pintle pins and sundry other small loose articles by chaining them in place,
Larger items such as pickaxe Handles and Spades are usually held down by leather or canvas straps,
German Tanks had a plethora of Wing/Butterfly nuts used as constituent parts of the many clamps holding down Tow Ropes and Gun Barrel cleaning rods as well as Radio Aerials and all manner of Tools.

Re: chains on tanks

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 7:52 pm
by Max-U52
Have you got a link for the metal track link holders that you mentioned? I would very much appreciate that. I have three different Panthers that all need those holders.

Re: chains on tanks

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 8:35 pm
by PainlessWolf
Good Afternoon,
Crazy Joe sees you and goes you one better! ;o)
regards,
Painless

Re: chains on tanks

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 9:10 pm
by General Jumbo01
No Painless, EF has already said 'Never seen any chains on tanks' so that last image must be incorrect. No, wait.... that was no tank, it was a Sherman Sh*t mover! Always covered in garbage :haha:

Re: chains on tanks

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 9:24 pm
by HERMAN BIX
There are various period film footage segments showing tracked vehicles towing wheeled ones in mud in Russia using chain.
I assume many vehicles carried chain for this purpose in certain theatres rather than try to attach their larger cables onto vehicles not set up with tow points that can accept the large eye on the end.
Supposition at best but it’s plausible & on archived film .

I promised myself that any other Panther I did after my Zu Fuss would get purchased spare track hangers rather that made ones............it’s just easier, or I’m lazier !! :think:

Re: chains on tanks

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 10:21 pm
by jarndice
It was a Court Martial offence in the German Armed Forces for a Tiger to tow another Tiger although there are photographs that show it happening.
The problem was that the 2/3 Famo's that were needed to do the job were almost never available.

Re: chains on tanks

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 11:07 pm
by General Jumbo01
Indeed there are photos out there of a Tiger pulling a Tiger pulling a dead Tiger! The fragile gearboxes was, l understand, the towing problem.