Metal tracks and drive wheel material.

[Richb77]

Hi all.

I'm working through the planning and designing stages of a scratch built 1/8 Mitsubishi type 10.

Firstly, I wonder if the 1/16 metal tracks are made from zinc? Can anyone confirm?

Does anyone have an idea what material would be good for making the tracks I will need. I thought pewter as its tougher than Tin, but it's still soft. Aluminium would be OK but casting requires much higher temp than i can muster.

Any advice would be great.

[Tiger6]

Tracks from the toy companies (i.e. Heng Long, Taigen) will be Zinc (Zamak). Pewter contains lead, which is banned in anything aimed at children (all be it only vaguely these days given the price of RC tanks...)
Pewter tracks are available from small specialist scale model aftermarket companies like Spade Ace, but these are generally intended to be for static use only.

I've never dealt with Attracks, so I can't speak about what he uses in his products. https://www.facebook.com/Attracks/

The only other guy I know of who makes his own large scale tracks can be found here http://tanks.linite.com/

[Kaczor]

1/16 metal tracks are mainly made zinc-aluminium alloy AKA Zamak or ZnAl. My father used to make tracks out of type metal (lead, antimony and tin alloy).

[Richb77]

Thanks chaps. Yes. Pewter was a long shot as I think it's too soft and whilst I'm no fool with lead can forsee difficulty in getting it.

Zamak is penny's and pretty robust. Melts at less than 400C which means a good blowtorch could allow casting at home.

Thanks for the information gents.

[MrChef]

For what it's worth. After I did a little investigating on Zamak awhile ago, I had found that there are several "levels?"or blends of the stuff, some better than others. Some more robust, some more brittle, some absolute garbage, etc.

[Richb77]

Agree. Not all Zamac is equal. ZA12 is one of the strongest, best options. I wouldn't be using old hotwheels for material.

Im also considering buying a furnace to use aluminium. This way I could get the parts hard anodised which is a TOUGH finish.