wearing out Tank tracks

[panzer34]

The time my track broke I was trying to get it to climb over a baby gate  bottom bar my mums cousin was on the Arctic convoys he only had one lung not very picky in them days the reason I have not seen much use was this tank track issue

[hatakashi]

I think metal track is a must for any rc tank, as long as u have the necessary upgrades.
Like for my 1/4 KT it gives the realistic movement and the sound, but I always avoid running it on tarmac, and if it's unavoidable...I will try to run straight

[Crispy]

I've never had any problems with the standard plastic tracks on my HL Bulldog, Stug 3 or Tiger 1. The only time i've tried metal tracks was on the Bulldog and the set I had was annoyingly 1/2 a link too short. If I added a link they became way to saggy and loose. Of course the Bulldog doesnt have any built in adjustment.

I also found they had too much traction on the short grass and even the decking in my garden, you'd regularly hear the slipper clutch going where they kept jamming. Eventually I gave up and put the plastic set back on. I agree the metal sets look much better and have that heavy sag seen in reference photos, they also stop that toy-like bounce you get when moving at speed.

I do think a lot of track damage is down to how you drive the tank though. If you pull a lot of neutral turns on rough ground then you're going to stress the whole length of the track and twist it off the road wheels.

[panzerschreck]

I have upgraded half of my Tamiya fleet to metal tracks, although my Sherman (my first 1/16th tank), bought 7 years ago still has it`s original plastic tracks fitted, and there is life in them yet! (plus I can`t work out how to get the damn things off without taking the tank to bits :-[ :-[ ) - as does my Tiger I (bought the following year) now on it`s second set of plastic tracks.

My Tiger II with metal tracks (but standard Tamiya motors/gearboxes) now weighs in at 12 1/4lbs, and has proved to be something of a mixed blessing - very stable tank over rough ground etc. but also now very battery hungry ::) ::) ::) ::) much like the real tank!!!!

The Panther on the other hand, although still weighing in at a good 9 3/4lbs with metal tracks fitted, and also with the original Tamiya motors/gearboxes, is another story - fantastic manouverability, superb climber and has excellent run times on a 3000Nmh battery

My fleet of custom Heng Long tanks - Panzer III, StuIG 33B & StuG III Ausf G, all have metal tracks and have similar performance to the Panther

So I guess it all boils down , like so many things in this hobby of ours, to horses for courses as they say