RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

What a hassle it was replacing the plastic tracks with the metal ones on my HL Tiger 1,read up on how to change them thanks to the forum, yep dead easy to take them of but the trouble came when i started fitting the metal ones. First of got the tracks on and started putting the connecting pin in got half an inch down and wouldn't go any further cursed and moaned for another half hr then took the pin back out and tried it without joining the tracks and there was the trouble, the rest of the holes were blocked with metal slag,thanks a lot,thankfully there was another 3 links of track that came with the order,this time i tried out the spare pin that came with the tracks and it slid perfectly down both sides.now i had to pull out the pin to replace the other piece of track, Holly cow ! it was supposed to come out easy? Bulls#it this pin took me more then an hr to get out finally after 4 hrs i finally managed to get the metal tracks on.
Hey i though this was supposed to be fun! came close to demolishing the whole tank and now i have the metal mudflaps,machine gun,loaders hatch and the 2 front hatches to replace as i already have them,,HMMM wonder if i will succeed or scrap the lot and buy the Taigen one which the agent in Aus says he will have before Christmas..


Cheers Diesel

I say old chap
have a cup of tea old boy ,this is the perils you will have to endure or be like me and r.t.r. sometimes I add on but not good at, like to respray
but tracks are not easy if you don't have the necessary ? there is always the torro tiger as nick has suggested these are detailed r.t.r
they manage grass no probs, I have one was going to get shut, but have changed my mind I let norman a 10yr old have it for a while he was not gentle with it but it survived now back home had a fresh dulux job runs a treat? [pic in swop ] the mad house is beckoning get a grip.......

Good Morning,
You'll be all right, Diesel. I have learned with metal parts to give them some prep before attempting to use them. This involves just sitting down and giving them a thorough look-see with a flashlight and\or a magnifying glass, usually next to the plastic part I am replacing it with. Gives you a jump on any differences that stand out in size or shape. Then, files\sandpaper\tools and cleanup of any left over molding\casting flash will help insure that actual fun is had installing it on your tank. See you round the Tank Laager!
regards,
Painless Wolf

Who told you changing tracks was going to be fun???
The fun comes once you have them changed and you will see what a difference it makes running. I assume you changed sprockets and idlers to metal too...
Good luck with the rest of the mods. I would suggest a little rum better than tea to relax....

Hi Diesel,

Putting tracks on by joining them once they are on the tank is a pain. It is much easier to join them into a complete loop off the tank, remove the sprocket, and then replace the track and sprocket together. Its still not easy but much easier than trying to hold the ends of the track together and push in the pin.

I know the advice is a bit late as you have the job done now, but perhaps it might help in the future.

Thank you scalawag at first i did try joining the tracks when they were on the tank but after 2 hrs i gave up and took of the sprocket and joined the tracks when they were free then put them on the sprocket and easy..went on straight away.
dgsselkirk Thank you yes changed the plastic cogs for the metal ones, instead of rum it was a few glasses of wine..
PainlessWolf i have learned my lesson the hard way,from now on i will inspect each item to make sure its free of slag and other
impurities before trying to fit them.

Thank you for the advice cannedheat

Today decided to have a go at cutting out the front hatches,read about the cotton thread method but decided on using the Dremel,glad i did cause it was fast and did a good job..

Diesel,

What attachment did you use to cut the hatches ? The one in the pic looks like it is just the sanding drum.

MichaelC

MichaelC i used a small drill,drilled all around the hatches then with the same drill using the side of the drill press hard against each hole it acts like a saw,then smoothed the cut out hatches with the sanding drum and you get a good result..

Cheers Diesel

Hi I see that you have done your tracks now, But for anyone else this is a tip which I did. I looped a peice of polyester darning thread through the links to be joined using the sprocket drive holes in the tracks and then with a slip Knot just pulled the ends together and pushed the pin through, (the thread acts just like the track joining tool on real tanks) And then just using a small dolly or anvil on one side of the track and a 4 oz hammer on the other side drive the pin home. I have changed the tracks on my Abram, Tiger and Walter bulldog with this method and had no trouble.
If this helps anyone else.
Denzil

Denzil that is a great tip,wish i had known that before but now i have it for future removal as i'm sure the tracks will be coming off again..

Cheers Diesel