Making Track Links

[enginepeter]

My next project might be a 1/16 Black Prince.

Having learnt from past mistakes I want to sort out the track and drive gear first.

The scale track width is 38mm with a 13.2 mm pitch.

Given the shape of the black prince track links none of the nearest options (JAG Panther 42mm, T34 34mm or Pershing 36mm) look right.

I therefore have to consider making them and am looking at the options.

I have roughed out 3D links but really want metal ones but...

I consider my options to be :

a) 3d print with wax filament to use in lost wax casting of zinc alloy. I appreciate these will need drilling and tidying up

b) 3D print masters and then use fine casting sand to print a row, several at a time

c) An outside option to print extra strong using Carbon Fibre filament


Has anyone any experience of any of the above or better ideas (excluding building a different tank!)

Thanks

[Tiger6]

You can cast using ordinary PLA filament as the 'lost' element, not sure how reliably you'd be able to drill the pin holes tho?

Personally I'd try a batch in PLA and see how they get on - they are quite chunky links afterall. Other suggestions would be to do them in PETG, tho the higher tempertures are more demanding of the printer power supply - or sub out the whole job to Shapeways and see how much they quote for doing them in their laser sintered Nylon process (be sure to nest your parts really tightly tho to minimise the volume used).

[Ad Lav]

You could send a master to atilla in Hungary - Attracks. He makes bespoke tracks at a fairly reasonable cost.

[Max-U52]

You could send a master to atilla in Hungary - Attracks. He makes bespoke tracks at a fairly reasonable cost.

"Bespoke"? Now there's a word you don't hear every day. I like it.

[enginepeter]

Thanks for the replies, You have given me something to think about. I might experiment a bit to see what I can do!

[tomhugill]

You could send a master to atilla in Hungary - Attracks. He makes bespoke tracks at a fairly reasonable cost.

You could but I've been waiting 2 years for a set of e100 tracks he had done the cad for so I'm not hopeful.

We're black prince tracks the same as Churchill tracks? If so dklm Churchill has metal tracks, you could ask Carson about a set?

[enginepeter]

Thanks Tom. No the Black Prince tracks were somewhat wider at 600 mm.

[Ad Lav]

You could send a master to atilla in Hungary - Attracks. He makes bespoke tracks at a fairly reasonable cost.

You could but I've been waiting 2 years for a set of e100 tracks he had done the cad for so I'm not hopeful.

We're black prince tracks the same as Churchill tracks? If so dklm Churchill has metal tracks, you could ask Carson about a set?

We’ve had a custom set of Jagdpanther tracks made for a mate in 1:8th scale.
Perhaps you should ask again nicely

[RobW]

You could just print them directly in metal? Touch pricey, but think of the possibilities!

https://www.aniwaa.com/best-of/3d-print ... d-printer/

[enginepeter]

Thanks but I think I will look to other options first.