Road wheel track wear

[grim_marmazet]

I'm trying to gather some info to help make my tracks look realistic and my question is, would rubber-tired road wheel polish the track to bare metal? I know steel wheels would, but would the rubber ones have the same effect?

I'f anyone has any wartime pictures of track wear, that would be really appreciated.

Cheers,
Rik

[tankman]

Sorry Rik no wartime pictures but I did used to drive heavy plant back in the day, and yes rubber tyres did used to leave polished sections on the track much the same as metal wheels do today. Hope this helps
Alan

[grim_marmazet]

Thanks Alan, I guess i'll add them to my tracks then. I'm going to experiment with some weathering techniques on a spare set to get a good look.

Cheers,
Rik

[971wright]

Hi Just paint them completely and let them wear where they rub it will soon show ,I have a Panzer III which had the tracks painted all over it has rubber tyres and the inside of the track is very bright now.When you run them outside they weather themselfs instead of trying to simulate it.

regards pete

[BREL]

pete is right just paint them and running the tank will wear away the paint to leave a nice shiny track where the road wheels and return rollers have run over the tracks, all my tanks that have metal tracks are doing this

[grim_marmazet]

Hi pete, my Tiger's not really going to be much of an outdoor runner due to all the photo-etch on it, its mostly a shelf queen. I wanted to add some weathering to the tracks in the form of washes and filters, and posibly some mud, and them seal them with a matt varnish to protect that which would probably stop them wearing naturally, but thanks for the tip.

Cheers,
Rik

[hatakashi]

Oh Rik, your tank will be sad if it doesn't get run outdoor!!
A good thing about running outdoor is, you'll get REAL weathering and REAL damages!!

Like my old 1/6 KT...the tracks and wheels weathered perfectly well, and since i never washed/cleaned my tank, things came out pretty good

[grim_marmazet]

My Tiger will get some time outdoors, but mostly at meets as there really isn't anywhere to run outdoors round where I live, and I built my Tiger more as a model with RC capability, rather than the other way round. I'm experimenting with effects to get a muddy look and still remain functional.

Most pictures of Ardennes tanks i've seen the tracks aren't very muddy, not with clumps, as I imagine the ground was probably very hard and frozen.

Your KT's 'weathering' is awesome. I would be forever paranoid about running my Tiger about too much outside. Its definitely not a battler! lol

Cheers,
Rik

[hatakashi]

hehehe Rik come on let ur tank run a bit more outside, that's what tanks are, they're meant to be run outside, in the mud/water/sand/grass!!
I run my 1/16 Tamiya KT the same way and after 3 yrs it's still going strong and smooth!

[tankmad]

You would swear they wheels are off a real kt Hatakashi they looks fantastic and all natural too.
Stevie