Advice on what surface ruins metal tracks

[winker]

hi again, can anyone tell me what surface is no good for metal tracks, as i've just fitted a set to my panzer 3 and don',t want to ruin them by not knowing, any advice would be very welcome, thanks, Malc.....

[winker]

Ok cheers for the advice again Frank, you can't beat experience in these maters, all the best, Malc...

[Woz]

I find platsic tracks are worse on carpets as they seem to snag more.

You'd have to do a lot of running to wear out your metal tracks. The biggest problem is the wheel's/tracks getting clogged with mud/snow/sand or just about anything that will break the track or a track pin (though usualy your tank will stall before this happens).

I did this to the track pins on my Tiger some years ago running on wet sand-



I replaced the pins and the tracks are still running fine.

[twelvebears]

Having now seen the quality of the metal in Asitatam tracks, I thing other things would wear out before the tracks!

That said, I think Kenny Kong tracks are a softer metal so my wear quicker, but I really don't think you need worry. And anyway, a bit of wear-n-tear just looks more authentic!

[BigPanzer]

Hi,

The oldest set of metal tracks I have are on my 1/8 Panther. I got it in 2004 and its still on the original set. It doesn't get the hours of running that some of your models do, but I do hammer it. I avoid fine dry sand because it gets into the pin holes and concrete running has scrubbed some of the chevron pattern off. However I was towing my wifes MX5 at the time! I've had one or two broken links, but I've attributed this to off centre drilling of the pin holes.
A couple of times a year I will take them off, wait till the wife goes out and put them in the dishwasher and give them a squirt with WD40. This lubes them, but unfortunately it also prevents mud sticking.
I've also found that running it in fresh deep snow is not a good idea because the same problems occur with the model as the real ones on the Eastern front, but I suspect a 1/16th model will belly out before this happens. (Perhaps somebody can confirm this or otherwise)

I won't run my Gepard on carpet because it has rubber pads and spin turns tends to rip the pads off. But its a heavy model (now almost 17lbs) very powerful, with serious mechanical upgrades, 8 cells and a 2 speed gearbox. No problems on any other surface.

My Tam Sherman and WsN T34 run on plastic tracks. Both are quite old now and I've not had track problems with either of them though once again I avoid fine sand. I once got very silly and tried the T34 on 9 cells. Still no problems! The T55 is crying out for metal tracks because the original ones are made of a fairly weak type of plastic more suited to making washing up bowls.

Peter

[Johnf]

My asiatam tracks are abused but showing little wear if any.

[Saxondog]

My Asiatam Tiger has been run through dirt,mud and snow. They have held up very well, I used WD40 when they were new as a protection coat to preserve the pins and making them very flexible. I also found after installation the track did stretch a little requiring adjustment. The one surface I avoid is concrete,this seems to scrub the tracks leaving them shining in spots and this looks bad to me.

My Jagdpanther has metal tracks as well but this set I painted and weathered, and mention this as an example. If you intend to paint the tracks obviously do not spray them first with WD40.

Saxondog

[971wright]

Hi I allways run new tracks around the patio its all flags ,it loosens them up and removes paint to leave a nice worn look.after this you can run them anywhere ,Stay away from tiny gravel they get jammed in the wheels and can cause the tracks to come off,

regards pete