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Forming rubber band tracks???

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  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: Paducah, KY
Forming rubber band tracks???
Posted by chopper9994 on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 4:44 PM
OK... Back into modeling after several years out and am back in with a vengeance. Anyway, got a few armor projects going and have two kits with the one piece "rubber band" style tracks. These are Academy 1/25 scale Panther G and Academy 1/25 Jagdpanther. My question involves on how to get a realistic look by forming them into the proper shape. i.e. sag across the top of the roadwheels etc. They are very stiff and definitely need some method of bending them around the idler and drive sprocket. Can I heat them with a blowdryer or maybe place them in boiling water to soften them up?? Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks

"Happiness is a clean bench, a new kit from the stash and a fresh #11 blade!!"

Currently on the bench:

Airfix 1/24 JU-87B-2 Stuka (Airfix Group Build)

Dragon 1/32 1 P-51D, Petie 2nd "Blue Nose"

Academy 1/25 Panther G Late

Academy 1/25 Jagdpanther

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 5:08 PM

There are several ways I use, depending on the tracks..  For tracks with return rollers, I apply CA to the return rollers from 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock.  Then I insert dowels between the tracks and the fenders. This pushes the track down around the rollers...  

For tracks without them, I use black sewing thread looped around the axle of the roadwheel and the link  to pull the center link down, almost touching the appropriate roadwheel in the case of tanks like the T-62 (3rd Wheel), or down to the first roadwheel for Tigers and such...

Just be sure the sag you're trying to make is appropriate for the tank/AFV you're doing... Some guys put way too much in, as if the idler has been deflated completely,  and if it were a real AFV, it'd throw a track at the first turn...

Stay turned here.. I've got a Marder on the bench that I'm about to add sag to...  I'll post some photos in the next day or two...

 

 

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