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Rubber Tracks

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  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: Maryland
Posted by usmc1371 on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 4:21 AM

You have to be careful with that approach.  I did that once and the tracks shrunk length-wise.  They shrunk enough that they no longer fit on the tank.

-Jesse

  • Member since
    May 2011
Posted by rhudson62 on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 7:54 AM

Well, it wasn't hot tap water, it was boiling tap water, lol!

  • Member since
    December 2011
  • From: pennsylvania
Posted by kettenkopf on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 6:33 AM

Try looping them "inside-out" off the model first.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: San Francisco Bay Area
Posted by bufflehead on Tuesday, January 10, 2012 12:02 AM

Hmmm, I've never had much success with hot tap water on vinyl tracks; they barely softened the tracks let alone melted them....??? 

However, I've had success pinning the tracks vertically  to a piece of cardboard and setting it out in the warm sun for a couple of hours.  Depends on the temperature....winter might not be the best time for this method Tongue Tied  If not, try using a hair dryer set at low temp.  The key is to pin the tracks at both ends with enough tension to keep them straight WITHOUT stretching the tracks.  Hold or set the cardboard with the tracks vertically and slowly apply heat from a distance and moving closer until they soften a bit.  Use your hand as a guide...if its too hot for your fingers, its too hot for the tracks!  I accidentally ruined a T-34 vinyl track by using the high setting! Black Eye

Hopefully you'll find a method that works for you!  Good luck!

 

Ernest

Last Armor Build - 1/35 Dragon M-26A1, 1/35 Emhar Mk.IV Female

     

Last Aircraft Builds - Hobby Boss 1/72 F4F Wildcat & FW-190A8

     

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Northern Virginia
Posted by ygmodeler4 on Monday, January 9, 2012 11:10 PM

I usually just get a couple of my physics books and set them on the tracks on a table and leave them there for a couple days and that takes care of that

-Josiah

  • Member since
    May 2011
Rubber Tracks
Posted by rhudson62 on Monday, January 9, 2012 10:10 PM

Hello fellow tankers,

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to smooth-out the folded and twisted rubber tracks that comes out of the box of tank models? A few years ago I tried hot water but it melted the track. I usually just slap them on and let time straighten them out, if I don't have the individual link option.

Also, can any one give me pointers in using white paint. Currently I'm working on an 1/48 Monogram F-4, as well as a 1/35 Trumpeter Pz.Sfl. IVa Dicker Max, and I thought using a primer coat would help. But, I've run in to the same problem. When sprayed the white doesn't coat completely and when I use the brush it looks awful, as in clumpy with micro-bubbles.

Tanks for the memories, Rich

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