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Tiny Tracks

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 12:31 am
by Afrikakorps
I have just finished building the Takom Type 94 Japanese tankette. It is quite a small 1/16 tank. So, my task was to change it from a static and make it rc. 8O
Several months later, the job is done.
The tank now has forward, reverse, left and right movement with moveable suspension. The turret traverses and the MG flashes. Working front spotlight and rear tailight. Overall I am pretty happy with it as it is my first full static conversion. :D
BUT here is my problem, the vinyl / rubber tracks are too fragile and keep breaking. I have already glued them together several times. :thumbdown:
So does anyone have any suggestions to improve the tracks ?
Maybe some one piece 1/35 tracks. But from what tank ?
Or are there any small metal link tracks, 1/16 or 1/35 that would substitute for the original tracks.
I look forward to any comments, ideas or suggestions.
Cheers
Steve
before weathering
before weathering
5.5mm between track guides
5.5mm between track guides
close up of the track pattern
close up of the track pattern
IMG_4470.jpg (47.74 KiB) Viewed 2274 times

Re: Tiny Tracks

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 12:51 am
by jarndice
Just a thought,
I have no idea what the dimensions of the tracks on your type 94 are in comparison to the rubber tracks on the WSN/Torro M16 half Track but they are robust and very grippy,
They would probably be too wide but being rubber judicious use of a craft knife might do the job,
Like I say Just a thought.
EDIT, The overall width of your tracks appear to be 19mm,
The overall width of the tracks of the WSN/Torro M16 Halftrack is 20 mm.
Whats 1mm between friends :lolno:

Re: Tiny Tracks

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 1:39 am
by HERMAN BIX
PzIII tracks ?
I can measure some up later

Re: Tiny Tracks

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 1:56 am
by jarndice
The overall width of a Panzer111/4 track is 25mm and the distance between the sprocket teeth is 5mm from the edge of the track.
EDIT,
The reason why the PZ111/4 track wont work on the type 94 is the same reason the WSN/Torro track wont work,
The Track guide is in the centre whereas the type 94s track guides are on the track edge,

Re: Tiny Tracks

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 2:32 am
by PainlessWolf
Good Evening,
I've got one of these on the slate ( beautiful build on yours, you should do a build thread btw ) and have put some thought into this track issue. I came up with three possibilities. 1/24 Sherman track from VS ( link or rubber ) or the 1/16 Stuart coming out. Aside from this, do a file up in 3D and have some track segments printed out for you to make up a set. I am in the middle of doing this for my 1/6 Stuart build. Good luck, I 'll be following along to see what you do.
regards,
Painless

Re: Tiny Tracks

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 6:43 am
by Rad_Schuhart
jarndice wrote:Just a thought,
I have no idea what the dimensions of the tracks on your type 94 are in comparison to the rubber tracks on the WSN/Torro M16 half Track but they are robust and very grippy,
They would probably be too wide but being rubber judicious use of a craft knife might do the job,
Like I say Just a thought.
EDIT, The overall width of your tracks appear to be 19mm,
The overall width of the tracks of the WSN/Torro M16 Halftrack is 20 mm.
Whats 1mm between friends :lolno:
The tracks are like 7mm. It is very very small.

Re: Tiny Tracks

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 2:41 am
by HERMAN BIX

Re: Tiny Tracks

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 11:46 am
by Son of a gun-ner
HERMAN BIX wrote:https://www.bnamodelworld.com/military- ... en-mk-k-19

Would 1/35th workable links work ?
Sadly those tracks use a single central sprocket, therefore the tooth holes run down the centre of the tracks.

Re: Tiny Tracks

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 12:04 pm
by HERMAN BIX
Son of a gun-ner wrote:
HERMAN BIX wrote:https://www.bnamodelworld.com/military- ... en-mk-k-19

Would 1/35th workable links work ?
Sadly those tracks use a single central sprocket, therefore the tooth holes run down the centre of the tracks.
Any in that range for example , there’s a big selection

Re: Tiny Tracks

Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2019 12:20 pm
by Son of a gun-ner
I have Rommel's Greif in 1/32nd scale, and the tracks only measure 7mm wide.

And my 1/18th scale SdKfz.251 has tracks 16mm wide, which would translate to around 8mm max at 1/35th scale.
Which would make them viable if they came with twin tooth ring sprockets. But I don't think they did :think: