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I couldn’t figure out what ITL meant, and not being so familiar with 1/35, I thought ITL might be an aftermarket brand. But when I read 90 ITL, I figured it out. Madness, one link at a time.

Herr Dr. Professor wrote:I couldn’t figure out what ITL meant, and not being so familiar with 1/35, I thought ITL might be an aftermarket brand. But when I read 90 ITL, I figured it out. Madness, one link at a time.

Good morning Herr Doctor
Oh forgot to mention what ITL means. ITL "Individual track links "come in two types, plastic, metal. The latter is much easier to work with IMO. I built a plastic ITL track for a Panzer III, IV and found out that there are several types for these Tanks and of course I had the wrong one for my model so the one I built did not work for my model but the experience was not a total waist of time, I did learn that plastic ITL is "maddening " to build. So I tried a friulmodel metal ITL kit for a Chieftain and they were actually not that bad with respect to plastic ITL.

Finally got some time to hang this track today

I am using this tank to size the tracks for the Desert MTM version build. This will give me the centerline of the drive sprocket axle location.

I have some bench testing of the Friulmodel metal track on the Italeri Crusader and the result is very good!


here are a few short videos of my progress

Bench run @ WOT showing track stability
https://youtu.be/DhBJTGYEoFY

bench run with 1 track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enGqixqDz4g


I am working on the right side track and hope to have it completed today.

I got both tracks on the tank and have test driven the Crusader and it is a special day for me being able to drive this tank on my work bench track as a metal track tank and
44 years ago,(1978), I built my first Radio Remote Controlled tank using the Italeri Crusader III with very crude toy grade radio equipment and now, I have built what I think is the star of my collection of 1/35 scale tanks with this new build. The metal tracks make it very special on any 1/35 scale model tank IMO. Since I built this one with the Tamiya all metal gearbox, it is a keeper and I will treasure it in my collection and now the next phase is to build a Tan Desert version with MTM gearboxes and metal tracks.

Anyway here is a short video with the body on this dark green Crusader III. It is difficult to drive and do the video. The Tank is super smooth and the video does not do the tank justice.

https://youtu.be/4qA5UdMXFjg

I can hear your excitement from Lakewood, all the way across eastern Indiana, around the southern tip of Lake Michigan on jammed-up I-94, by-passing Chicago on I-294, and another 90 miles out here in the sticks. It is fine to see you work so well with 1/35 and the MTM goodies.

Herr Dr. Professor wrote:I can hear your excitement from Lakewood, all the way across eastern Indiana, around the southern tip of Lake Michigan on jammed-up I-94, by-passing Chicago on I-294, and another 90 miles out here in the sticks. It is fine to see you work so well with 1/35 and the MTM goodies.

Yes Herr Doctor, The metal track aspect of the last two builds (Chieftain,Crusader), has increased the fun of running the models as it adds realism and even more visual pleasure in watching them run. I had a model Tank in the late 70's with metal tracks and I had forgotten how cool that was. With respect to 1/35 scale, it is beyond cool

Next I will do a Desert Crusader with MTM gearboxes and metal tracks. I choose the Crusader because it has narrow tracks and even as metal, they are reasonable in weight and the MTM GB with my axle build procedure, should have no problem driving those tracks. The Chieftain on the other hand, has large heavy tracks that may be too much for the MTM GB.

I am in the process of changing residence and have had to put my Tanks into storage until I find a new residence.
I will continue this and other projects asap. Just thought I would leave an update as to why the absence from this site as of late.

regards
modler

I am still here. My Condo is up for sale and have had to move my Tanks and equipment to a Garage I own thats 25 miles away from my home so I do not have direct access to most of my models. I still have access to a few of my best

The topic of this thread is still doing well and is my favorite 1/35 scale model converted to RRC. This Crusader is 1 of 2 tanks I have with metal tracks


New Video of Crusader with its precise FWD\REV tracking and 5 mix control...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y5cI8tiddw

I am thinking this may be the only 1/35 Italeri RRC Tank with metal tracks in the known Universe

You could buy a decent 1/16 RRC Tank for the cost of this Crusader build I'm sure. Estimated cost to build one like the one in this thread = $$$

Care to give a build estimate including parts, model, labor?

I am back after a long absence due to moving. The CRUSADER MK III of this thread is my best 1/35 scale RRC model and I think it may be the only one of its kind. I plan to update it in the near future