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Replacement track dilemma

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  • Member since
    November 2014
Replacement track dilemma
Posted by BLACKSMITHN on Monday, June 22, 2015 10:20 AM

I have a 1/83 diecast model of a Cat D7 bulldozer that came with rubber tracks. The tracks look very toy-like and I'd like to replace them. Short of scratchbuilding my own-- which I have no desire to really do, as this is not a life time project for me-- is there something available that I might kitbash or jury rig (since it's an odd scale, I'm thinking 1/72 or 1/87 might work for a replacement) to make this look better? Painting the track helped a bit, but the paint has made the track sticky, which on top of everything else is annoying.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Monday, June 22, 2015 1:55 PM

Well you have an oddball subject in an oddball scale, for armor. So aftermarket is not likely an option. My only suggestion would be to look for a mainstream kit (preferably inexpensive) of traditional AFV kit with similar looking and sized tracks. Perhaps a WWI tank or Soviet BT comes to mind. Buy the kit, use the tracks on your dozer, and consign the rest of the kit to your spares bin. Or sell the parts off.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Monday, June 22, 2015 2:12 PM

Or search the HO train suppliers for a similar Dozer. HO=1/87 so that might work.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Monday, June 22, 2015 2:23 PM

You could probably use 1/87 Tiger or Sherman tracks . Or Woodland Scenics makes a Dozer you could use the track units from .

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Monday, June 22, 2015 3:01 PM

But you want them to look at least similar, the only tank tracks I see like that are World War 1.

D7:

Mark IV Female:

Less than $ 10 online:

Of course you'll have a trackless tank. Or maybe you'll only need some of it and can do a one sided model.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    November 2014
Posted by BLACKSMITHN on Monday, June 22, 2015 7:09 PM

Thank you one and all. The problem with getting a similar dozer in 1/87 scale is that for the price I'd pay, I'd be better off just using the 1/87 one. I've looked at the Sherman, Tiger and USSR BT tracks, but I think the WWI tracks would probably be a closer replica. I'm sure that I'll be able to find a number of uses for the leftover parts, so that's no problem.

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Monday, June 22, 2015 11:57 PM

Every good D7 needs a couple of machine guns!

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    November 2014
Posted by BLACKSMITHN on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 8:36 AM

LOL! I know some construction workers who would agree!

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 8:47 AM

Machine Guns !

  Aren't you forgetting the 50s and a flamethrower or rocket launcher , to be on the safe side ?

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 2:26 PM

I would suggest looking for a different companies kit of the WWI tank. The Airfix kit comes with rubber band type tracks that are likely to be of the same quality as to what needs to be replaced.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    November 2014
Posted by BLACKSMITHN on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 2:51 PM

In going through all my parts drawers  (yes, drawers, plural) I came across a set of tracks from a 1/72 Panther that might do. They're a bit wrinkled though. Is there a good way to straighten them? They appear to be standard rubbery plastic (vinyl maybe?) that such tracks are usually made of.

  • Member since
    December 2011
Posted by Chrisk-k on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 3:25 PM

A bulldozer with the Panther tracks would look odd, I guess.

Iwata HP-CS | Iwata HP-CR | Iwata HP-M2 | H&S Evolution | Iwata Smart Jet + Sparmax Tank

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