Using pins for Friuli treads

Hi, Larry!
I recall reading something like that in the Panther group build thread.
Sounds like a good idea, indeed!

Larry,

It was on this forum, but it's been a while. I can't remember who was talking about it, though. Sorry.

I did my Friul tracks a little differently than the "normal" way, and I think it was easier. I put the wire in the links and cut it off about a half inch from the end of the link. Then after doing about 10 links, I'd go back with a brass wire with a drop of thick super glue and put a small amount of super glue at the base of the wire. Then I'd let them set up for an hour or so and go back and trim off the excess length flush with the end of the link. You need to make sure the wire goes all the way into the links, though. It was a pretty fast way to do it. I had very little trouble with it, other than the time the wire missed the inner "brackets" on the links. I didn't notice and glued it up that way. I had to soak the link in debonder for a while to pull the links back apart. But even that wasn't too bad.

I read someone was going to replace the Friul wire with brass wire. I think that would be a good way to go. The brass is much less flexible than the wire Friul gives you.

Good luck.

Pantherlehr (Max) has a few comments on this subject in the Panther Group .... think it was in the first 5 or 10 pages.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Pantherlehr (Max) has a few comments on this subject in the Panther Group .... think it was in the first 5 or 10 pages.

Thank you Robert. I will check in. And it's the very tank I had in mind!

I use .020 brass wire when building Friul tracks. It works better than the wire that comes with the tracks. I'm going to build the AFV Club tracks for the M1 and see if they are any easier than Friul tracks.

I had the bright idea of just buying some of those #17 pushpins you see in stores -- with the different colored heads? -- and giving them a whirl. So far, so good! I just stick the pin through and clip off the plastic head and the remaining exposed pin shaft and go on to the next link.

I'm doing them in sets of 10 and then combining them, as always. Only thing you have to be careful of is sticking the pin too far forward and having the point emerge through the nicely cast pin head. [:0] I've done that a few times, but well that's what mud is for!

Best thing is that I'm not even drilling out the links -- I can force the pin through, because it's got the plastic head. Works a treat so far. I did two lengths last night until the missus made it clear that she exists on this planet and maybe I should be paying attention to something other than all the plastic and metal pieces in my life!

Kaleu, maybe the next time I build Friul I will try the brass wire. Do you snip them to the right size and hammer them in?

Larry, what set of tracks are you building?

Bill

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw Larry, what set of tracks are you building? Bill

The Panther combat treads (the ones for all Panthers except the D).

Thanks, I was just wondering how wide they are.

Bill

QUOTE: Originally posted by Larry_Dunn Best thing is that I'm not even drilling out the links -- I can force the pin through, because it's got the plastic head. Works a treat so far. I did two lengths last night until the missus made it clear that she exists on this planet and maybe I should be paying attention to something other than all the plastic and metal pieces in my life!

Oooh yes, I know that one too..

Aww.. Now I'm going to have to go and buy some fruils for my Tiger.. Thanks guys, its all your fault

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw Thanks, I was just wondering how wide they are. Bill

Haven't tried it yet, but I think the pins I'm using might even work for a Tiger II. I may build Dragon's Tiger II serien turm, and if I do I'll use the friul treads.

Thanks for the tips.
Congrats Larry on your 500th post.
mark956

QUOTE: Originally posted by mark956 Thanks for the tips. Congrats Larry on your 500th post. mark956

(Steps up to podium.)

"Thank you, thank you all. I'd like to thank the Academy ....

or just plain Academy!"

my original post was here
http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?page=12&TOPIC_ID=9124

works very well , i'll probably do the same thing again next time i use fruil tracks. ended up putting a drop of CA on each pin to make sure it didn't go anywhere

I think I'll do the same thing, Pantherlehr. Thanks for turning me on to the idea. I'm going to work on my treads all weekend! (Well, hopefully not all weekend.)