Help for Individual tracks?

Here's a track assembly sketch that I use for individual links:

I use a metal straight edge when assembling the links to keep them aligned straight.
I then use liquid cement to attach them together. I paint and weather all the subassemblies before attaching to the model.

Hope this helps some...
Dan

boybuddho,

Thank you, that looks like a good approach. As far as the upper section of track goes, what's the best approach to give it a bit of sag?

Thanks,
Chris

I just did DML's t-34/85. I use tamiya extra thin cement to glue them together. What you do is cut out all of the treads. Then you glue them together with the Tam extra thin Cement in a chain of about 25 treads. you apply glue to the wheels and wrap the segment around the wheels. The glue will not cure, so the treads will stay movable and bendy-like. Keep doing this untill the whole thing has treads. To do the sag, you just glue them together like above and sag them over the wheels. Sagging signle tread links is easier than saging vynil treads. Just let the whole thing dry overnight and there you go, it's rock hard in the morining. I don't paint anything untill all the treads are glued on. I sprayed the t-34 in tamiya dark green (acrylic) and then sprayed the treads (with a very small and fine spray pattern) in red brown. I went back again and fixed any problems untill it came out just right. Then I did my work with the treads and gunmetal and before I knew it it was done.

For sag, I was able to form the upper sub assembly over the return rollers while the glue was still curing. I am going to have to try the Tamiya liquid glue...have heard good things about it.

Dan

QUOTE: I am going to have to try the Tamiya liquid glue

Yes! I would recommend to anyone to buy it! It is a must for single treads, makes the job a whole lot easier. You can also use it on dry squadron putty. If the putty is dry, you can apply the liquid cem. and it will make the putty playable like it just came out of the bottle. The only real problem about Tam extra thin cem. is the smell! It really stinks bad! But it works good, just make sure you have some serious ventaliaiton and it will be fine.

Thanks for the tips armormaster...from a guy who still uses testors!

Dan

Your welcome boybuddho, hope everything works.

I came up with something different for assembling the individual tracks (except for the sag stuff).

I have had trouble with the whole "individual tracks lined up against a straight edge and glued" thing. I add a new link and the ones in front buckle.

So, I added a new step. Put a piece of Masking tape stickyside up on a surface. Add your straight edge. NOW add your links. They won't buckle and you can glue as normal.

Good idea, ngc7293!
I've been fortunate so far with individual tracks and haven't had buckling issues. But I will remember the tape trick.

Thanks, Dan

Wait a minute, hold the phone. I'm cornfused (confused). I'm building a 1/72 M10 alright. I thought that you glue the tracks on individually. There is long sections. Actually, it looks exactly like the picture boybuddho posted. What then, same technique as what you guys said or what I said? And how similar is Tam's liquid glue to Testors liquid glue?

Sorry to confuse scubaboy...
We were talking about all individual links...but I still glue them up into sections like the picture. Then I glue them to the model. And the talk about the liquid glues were just the differences...Tamiya gives you more time to work with while Testors doesn't. So I am learning new things too.

Dan

Scubaboy, I know what your talking about. I would super glue those sections together. 1/72 armor will have a couple pieces of treads for one side of treads. Tamiya ex. thin cem. isn't needed there, just super glue them together, but be careful! It'll set fast and you better get it right the first time. You could use reg. cement, but I'd use the CA because you don't have to let it dry and the CA wont glob on a small scale kit.

I'll have to try my local hobby shop for Tamiya's Liquid Cement. The owner of my local hobby shop needs a new car, sometimes I feel like I'm funding it.

QUOTE: Originally posted by ridleusmc I'll have to try my local hobby shop for Tamiya's Liquid Cement. The owner of my local hobby shop needs a new car, sometimes I feel like I'm funding it.

too true! I know how you feel!

QUOTE: The owner of my local hobby shop needs a new car, sometimes I feel like I'm funding it.

Yep, I think were all funding our LHS owners' cars!

QUOTE: Originally posted by ArmorMaster Yep, I think were all funding our LHS owners' cars!

How about their boats?

QUOTE: How about their boats?

Yep, them too!

When I do indy links, I build the straight sections up and let them dry overnight so I don't get a ripple in them when I put them on the tank. After that, they go together just like the link and length stuff scubaboy was talking about. Other than that, I use pretty much the same techniques armormaster was talking about. I also use the Tamiya Extra Thin cement. But strange, I don't notice too much of an order about it. Bad sinuses, I suppose! One thing to be very cautious about, though, is that being so thin, it evaporates relatively quickly. I loose way more to evaporation than I do to my models! Even keeping the cap VERY tight when not in use, I'm surprised at how fast I go through the stuff. I buy a new bottle and refill my "use" bottle from it. That way, I've always got a bottle that has a nice, fine new brush in it if I need it.

Good luck.