RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hi Guys
Working on finishing up a tracked 3D printed model Will made a few months ago. We have been cleaning up the track links and were using old paperclips for the track pins.
But i wonder if there is a better way to do it?

0.8mm is the diameter paperclips we are using, is piano wire of same diameter a good option or lockwire?

If anyone has any good advice for track pin material please let me know.

It has to be 0.8mm or very close as these are quite small tracks. All will be revealed in a few weeks once we have it assembled and ready for testing!

For pinning the tracks on my 38T I used actual pins. The are available in various lengths and thicknesses. I then cut them to length with wire cutters though being steel, they did chew notches out of one pair

I personally would use piano wire

I know some companies sell their bright/plated spring wire in various lengths, which would probably be better in damp conditions. Although, good quality paperclip's should be made out of spring wire.
There is also stainless steel spring wire.
But basically, any high carbon content wire like piano wire will do. Although, plated spring wire has its obvious advantages.

If you have some piano wire the same thickness as your paperclips, cut a bit of each at the same length and see which bends the easiest, if your paperclip wire is the same toughness as the piano wire, there's no need to change what you're doing.

Although, Richards idea of using pins on such small tracks is also a good idea, and the cut end may help retain them a bit better.

Excellent. I was thinking piano wire.
For pins that is good idea also. I was just going to bend the ends anyway, but all good advice.
Thanks wifey for the thread and to the others for feedback

WCP RC MODELS wrote:Hi Guys
Working on finishing up a tracked 3D printed model Will made a few months ago. All will be revealed in a few weeks once we have it assembled and ready for testing!

Now I'm curious! VERY, VERY curious!

Cheers,
Eric.

Piano wire is hard on snips , if you want clean cuts every time buy Bacho Lindstrom or Knipex snips .

EAO wrote:

WCP RC MODELS wrote:Hi Guys
Working on finishing up a tracked 3D printed model Will made a few months ago. All will be revealed in a few weeks once we have it assembled and ready for testing!

Now I'm curious! VERY, VERY curious!

Cheers,
Eric.

Curiousity pictures




I hope to have it running around for my Christmas present to myself. I can't wait to get it setup and ripping up the garden trails. It has plenty of power and torque and a slow tractor speed. I just wonder if the tracks will hold up to my abusive driving haha

WOW! That wasn't what I was expecting at all! I love it! I can't believe the amount of small details you can get on one of these little gems! Love the amount of travel on the tracks too! It'll be very cool to see it running! Your creations just keep getting better and better! O.K., I've run out of exclamation points now!

Cheers,
Eric.