Churchill Mk III build

[AlwynTurner]

I am currently considering a Churchill build for later in the year and have started doing some prep work.

One of the big problems with building a Churchill is the lack of appropriate tracks, so I thought I'd have a go at making some. They are quite big chunky things with no centre tab for alignment, the tracks are aligned using small wheels that sit outside the edge of the track

This is where I am up to so far



Just printing some off to check if they will work
Alwyn

[AlwynTurner]

Success!

]

All I need now is a sprocket and I'm on my way!

oh and the rest of the tank..........

Alwyn

[lmcq11]

Hi,
If you are planning to create an early Churchill Mk 1 as shown in the graph, you might want to recreate the early Churchill type tracks, different than the late type.

Churchill early tracks

Capture20.JPG (17.26 KiB) Viewed 4505 times

[AlwynTurner]

I'm afraid I'm going to chicken out and probably build a later version with the straightforward tracks, the early tracks look kinda complex.

Alwyn

[HERMAN BIX]

And make a few lengths for Sherman builders that want to up-armour their 'Ronsons' !!

[Kaczor]

Check this track link (I'm not sure about scale- need to be checked)
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5262376

And make a few lengths for Sherman builders that want to up-armour their 'Ronsons' !!

Yes!

[AlwynTurner]

Thanks Kaczor for the very useful suggestions, I have modelled my track link and sprocket on the Mk 2 Churchill (it was easier than Mk 1),

It has taken quite a few iterations of design to get the track link right. There are two sproken teeth to a link, and that meant the central round part of the link had to be raised so that the link would lie flat on the sprocket, what a lot of fun!


Note the step area on the link so that the suspension wheel has something to locate on.]

The track links are very robust, after printing the link holes have to be cleaned with a 0.8mm drill, and the links connected with dressmakers pins - these are incredibly strong and don't appear to move once set although I will probably add just a drop of superglue to the head to make sure.

Anyone wanting the stls for the track, sprocket, and idler wheel should pm me with an email address for me to send to but please no manufacturing for retail, I would be most disappointed if anyone did that.

Alwyn

[Kaczor]

Proper link:
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5262376

[AlwynTurner]

The more I work on this the more I think I'll take a crack at the Churchill. I had a dinky toy of the churchill tank on a mighty antar tank transporter, so I would really like to do this tank.
The sprocket is done and is fine



The tracks fit nice and tightly to the sprocket, so all that's needed now is the idler/tensioner wheel which is just a modified drive sprocket, and the suspension system.

Alwyn

[Ecam]

I've only been around a few 3D printers....

I can only imagen the time it would take to print a set of tracks!