Indy Track SNAFU

Oh that sucks. I've never done them before, but I hear a great trick is to glue them into one long run, wait an hour, then wrap them around the wheels and such. Yeah, next time leave the idler and sprocket unglued.

Did you do a top run as well? 

I'm glad to hear that the Dragon tracks worked well enough on the Tamiya kit. I have an extra set myself.

Eric,

See that's the thing.  The idler and sprocket ARE unglued.  I can still pull them off, and was wondering if splitting them like I have would make any difference.  Screw it.  I may just bust off the wheels, clean them up and blue tac them in place.  Not like this is going to a show or anything.  And yeah, the tracks work like a champ.

you're good. Just continue with that straight run, at the bottom of the picture, on your bench top using liquid cement until you have enough links to connect the track loop.

while still pliable, form this around the remaining and liquid glue the ends to the other part already set onto the wheels. Let this cure. 

Once it's cured, remove the drive wheel with track loop for painting. It is very fragile but if it becomes disassembled at a link then just re glue 

I am guessing you have not done the other side yet so lets start with that one.  You have picked the best spots to join then since you have something underneath to for support.  Make the two runs so they meet at those spots and while still pliable installed and clip the end together somehow.  Little alligator clicks, a hemostat or something like that.  use tissue tog et whatever sag you want.  When they have cured they should be easy to take off without being able to take off any of the running gear.

For the side in the pic, by the time you read these suggestions that run in the pic will have set so getting some sage may be a problem.  Once you have the lengths correct maybe a little more liquid glue just on the links where you want some sag to soften them just a little.

The small track run in the foreground is actually the bottom run for the other side.  I will still be able to get the sag in the upper run on the side that's 50% finished.  I will just run the empty side with the same break points as the one I'm working on now.

Bleargh.  At least my M1 Abrams has the Bronco workable set, and I didn't install any of the wheels yet.  Live and learn I guess.

Update:

Got the top run on the left side.  Added some Q Tip stems for the sag, not much sag on the top side.  Using the kit box and my 1/48 StuG IIIB (link and length) tracks to eyeball the sag on the top.  I was 1/2 of a link too short, so I added one, which makes the run a little bit long, so I'm trying to take up that extra with more sag up top, to pull everything together.

First time using indy track links.  A little bit of a learning curve.  Next time, leave all the running gear blue tac'd.  The track is glued at the idler end, and I should be able to 'gently' get the track off after it cures, since the drive sprocket and idler are still just mounted using the friction between the parts.

Good job! Honestly, I always glue the sprocket and idler in place, and build the track in two separate sections. Never had any problems yet.