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Re: 1/10th Stridsvagn 103C

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2024 12:00 pm
by Barthez
Hello,
I’m not aware of that product, I used a two part rubber https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266270964862 ... media=COPY
The pigment is added before mixing the two parts together. There are lots of colours, not that you want yellow or pink tyres .
I went for a hard compound due to the weight of the tank, 20kg is at the moment. I have fair bit of experience with silicone rubber making moulds for resin castings. But silicone would just be too soft. For this application.

I almost got 15 tyres from the quantity I bought. I did fluff up and mix two of the same part together so it never set. :poop:
There is always a little wastage too , I did not google too much so I did not find another supplier. Often materials like this are supplied in large quantities , not geared to the hobby user. I don’t like having too much rubber or resin stored not to be used for years.
I only had one mould, had I made t more than one I would not have mixed more than new tyres worth at a time due to the sort potlife.

Not sure how that urathane in a tube would cope with the UDT pattern on your Draggon Waggon tyres , excellent choice for a project, getting in and out of the various air pockets in the mould.
As mine is liquid , and a very simple shape. I am able to tilt my mould to get it flow and I suck the air out as I poor to help it flow.
It’s the experimenting with different materials I enjoy and if it’s economical to as well then that’s a double win. There is a lot of material in a standard sealant tube so very much worth trying out. If your tyres wear out quickly you can make spares cheaply.

I will soon start making the tracks. I am in two minds about the rubber track pads , I could not use my current method to cast the pads ,I could I suppose but it would be very tedious. I am minded to to cast the rubber onto the metal links direct. As I don’t know how attaching each one would be feasible.
The urathane you show may be the answer I have a method using something like that in my mind now.

I am already planning my next project A US T30, I would love a diamond T to haul her around with, so I would need a lot of tyres . Planning the next project before I have completed the current one is a bad habit of mine.
Regards

Bart

Re: 1/10th Stridsvagn 103C

Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2025 11:25 pm
by Barthez
Hello,
Blimey another year into this project, I have done quite a bit more work but slowly not sure where all the time goes and what else seems to steal my time . I want to get this project done this year. I did have a few moths off due to work but I am back on track now.
I am , and have been a making tracks for the last few months when I can.
This has been the most tedious part of the project having to scale things up from a 1/35th kit creates a few problems and this is my first tank .
The tracks are made from mild steel, there are quite a few steps to make each one. I decided to fit the guide pin with a small screw. Obviously on the full size this would be a part of the casting.
Once the tracks rust up a bit this will blend in. The track pads are polyurethane rubber , the same material as the tyres. I ran out of pigment so my test pads are the natural rubber colour. I superglued them in place, they are firmly attached.

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I now have to make another 140 or so guide pins, the first one was hand filed, I did make around 150 connecting links the wrong size :headbang: that was very frustrating to say the least.

Re: 1/10th Stridsvagn 103C

Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2025 3:02 am
by Herr Dr. Professor
It is interesting that you found the error "very frustrating to say the least." I can understand, but, then again, I cannot understand. You have more skill than I can even try to imagine as I putter away at simple modeling tasks. You are a foundry, machine shop, design shop, and who knows what else all in one! Amazing!

Re: 1/10th Stridsvagn 103C

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2025 5:40 pm
by Barthez
Thank you Puttering away is what this hobby is all about. If I were an engineer I would be a little quicker as it is there is a lot of trial and error and what my wife calls a “a good coat of looking at “ which she means you’re staring at it a lot.
I made the drive sprockets . The webbed part that holds the front sprocket is not quite right . This is down to both my marking out and the rotary table I used to hold it. It was very cheap many years ago . They will do for now . The sprockets are made from cast iron, the tooth profile is not quite right , I did re cut two of them when I was starting to make the track links , next week’s job.
The hub is made from mild steel in two parts as per the full size.

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The idler is made from one piece of aluminium, the cut outs have the same issues as the web cuts outs I mentioned above. I will invest in a better rotary table when I build my next one.
Progress has been slow over the last few months but I am off work next week I have the metal so I should be able to make progress.
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Re: 1/10th Stridsvagn 103C

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2025 6:49 pm
by AlanWhite
Those look damm good to me :thumbup:

Re: 1/10th Stridsvagn 103C

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2025 11:46 pm
by Herr Dr. Professor
Gee, and all this time seeing what you accomplish I figured you were a mechanical engineer, machinist, and all around wizard. This is such superb work!