Track sag correction (maybe)

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Track sag correction (maybe)

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 14, 2004 1:21 PM

I installed a scratchbuilt roller bearing to force the rubber treads into a more realistic sag. It doesn't interfere at all with function, now I just have to trim it down a little and conceal it. If I can't hide it it will have to go.
After painting, I was thinking about mud and also adding a strategic dent to the skirt. Any other suggestions?
Thanks to J-Hulk and Okieboy for pushing me over the edge on this one. Every bit of input helps a will make this a better build so please keep 'em coming...

As you can see, the track sits nicely atop the roadwheels now...(the deck's off, it's not a extra tall Tiger Wink [;)]

)

Close up of the roller....

The assembly from a side view...

There are earlier pics in my begging for criticism post. Thanks again.

Reply
Edit

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 14, 2004 1:26 PM

very nice touch there ausf.

I like it, looks great now with the sag. On the first pic I can hardly see the roller.

Reply
Edit

wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Monday, June 14, 2004 1:28 PM

Well, ausf, that's an interesting and inovative solution! Looks pretty good. I really am impressed by your wihtewash! How'd you do it?

Very, very nice.

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

Reply

tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Monday, June 14, 2004 1:39 PM

Great looking Tiger Ausf. Just curious, before you installed the roller, did you try a pin first? If it's weathered up, you may not really notice the roller. Good luck.

Eric

Reply

wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Monday, June 14, 2004 1:47 PM

Anybody notices, you could always claim it was a late war field mod to tension the track!! lol

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

Reply

lizardqing

Member since
July 2003
From: Dahlonega, Georgia

Posted by lizardqing on Monday, June 14, 2004 2:57 PM

Pretty cool modification, I agree with Eric and think maybe if you painted it the same color as all that mud it would be very hard to be noticed.

Chris The Scale Firehouse The Lizard's Workshop

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 14, 2004 3:07 PM

I'll try concealment tonight. I think I'm going backwards here. Tongue [:P]

I also think I'm becoming addicted to critique...
The more to guys can pick out, the better I can make this look. It's becoming a solo group build. Hope you don't mind. Thanks.

Bill, the whitewash is watercolor, you'll find more info in a recent post of mine asking for help.
Keep the ideas coming, I'll keep working. Big Smile [:D]

Reply
Edit

wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Monday, June 14, 2004 4:07 PM

Hey, here's a wacky idea...if you really don't like the way it shows up, and I don't think it's bad, mind you, you could take the fender off from the front, bend it up a bit, and suspend it from the last one or two attachment bolts. Like it had just been customed by a tree or something, but hadn't come the whole way off yet. Seems like a lot of work to me for something that's not that noticable, but thought I'd through it out as an idea.

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 14, 2004 8:41 PM

Bill,
That fender's going to feel some pain I assure you. About removing it from the bolts, that would leave me having to basecoat again as well as return once more to the PE fret for the mounting squares. Honestly, I think the whitewash idea is just my delaying tactic so I can avoid finishing the tool clamps. The thought of PEing again might make me see if this Tiger can fly. Wink [;)]

Reply
Edit

Buddho

Member since
March 2003
From: Newport News VA

Posted by Buddho on Monday, June 14, 2004 8:57 PM

What a great fix, Ausf!

Regards, Dan

Reply

rebelreenactor

Member since
October 2003
From: Clovis, Calif

Posted by rebelreenactor on Monday, June 14, 2004 10:40 PM

I dont think i was paying attention in other posts, What kit is that???????????
Sorry!

John

Reply

Dwight Ta-ala

Member since
July 2003
From: Philippines

Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Monday, June 14, 2004 10:45 PM

Novel idea, Ausf. Just great, too.

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 7:06 AM

John,
It's Tamiya's 1/35 RC Tiger I.
Eric,
The kit supplies this kind of 'guide' (you can just make it out in the two closeups on the right side) which doesn't come close to the tracks. I was looking at the possibility of a larger version of that when the roller idea hit me. I could make it shorter because the main support goes through the hull. I could also make it smaller with smaller stock but this is what I had at 10 PM on Sunday night.
It was just an idea and if I can't hide it effectively, I'll try something else.
Thanks for the input, guys.

Reply
Edit

J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 7:09 AM

Looks good!
I'd say if you painted the roller black, you'd never see it.

~Brian

Reply

spector822002

Member since
December 2003
From: Southern Maine

Posted by spector822002 on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 2:22 PM

heres what i would do in this case ausf , the fender above it ? Tear it and bend it around the back of the roller to conceal it , that is if it is PE metal , that should hide it on one side anyways ! If this is to be a competition model they will notice it , believe me here . If not who cares , not many of us count rivets on tanks anyways ! Much less hidden track sagging devices !

Reply

renarts

Member since
April 2003
From: Sunny Florida

Posted by renarts on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 6:31 PM

I've resorted to putting a bracket or shelf on the inside of the hull where I want the sags to be. I run a small piece of stiff wire or rod through the outside of the hull at the lowest part of the track to make it sag. The bracket or shelf on the inside keeps the rod horizontal and from being leveraged upwards by the tension in the track material. It hides almost seamlessly between the tracks or grousers. If it is too apparent under inspection it gets the mud treatment.

Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 7:21 PM

I am with renarts... thats the technique I use on say Pz III and IV with rubberband tracks.

Ausf... that is a very effective and ingenious device .... Superb...

Reply
Edit

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 7:21 PM

I am with renarts... thats the technique I use on say Pz III and IV with rubberband tracks.

Ausf... that is a very effective and ingenious device .... Superb...

Reply
Edit

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 11:08 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by renarts

I've resorted to putting a bracket or shelf on the inside of the hull where I want the sags to be. I run a small piece of stiff wire or rod through the outside of the hull at the lowest part of the track to make it sag. The bracket or shelf on the inside keeps the rod horizontal and from being leveraged upwards by the tension in the track material. It hides almost seamlessly between the tracks or grousers. If it is too apparent under inspection it gets the mud treatment.

Ah, but here's the rub...these tracks have to move. Hence the roller. I probably could have made it a little shorter and still might if it is visible after 'the treatment' (mud, dirt and guttywots).

By the way, this isn't for competition (do they even have 'em for RC?) and I'm not a bolt-counter, I just like to put as much into it as I can. I do plan on filming this (old habits die hard) and a visible roller would probably bother me more than the lack of sag.....

Reply
Edit

renarts

Member since
April 2003
From: Sunny Florida

Posted by renarts on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 12:38 AM

Oh....... nevermind then. Wink [;)]

Question though, is the tension of the tracks and the friction and drag over your roller add on going to be a problem? Is there a possibility it will catch or the horizontal force of the tracks running along it going to cause it to snap off? Or worse bind up and cause undue stress on the motor?

Mike "Imagination is the dye that colors our lives" Marcus Aurellius A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"

Reply

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 6:33 AM

Friction shouldn't be a problem because it is an actual roller, there's a smaller tube (shaft) inside the one you see. After painting I may squirt some molylube in there to grease it.

In terms of construction, the shaft goes through the hull so it's pretty sturdy.

I only did this to one side so far to see how it works. There is no drift when driving it, so I assume there is no drag or strain on the motors.

Great points, Thanks.

Reply
Edit

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 7:49 AM

I agree with J-hulk. Paint it black and see if you can see it. It is hardly noticeable in that first shot. If you weren't so good at close up photography we wouldn't even know it was there.

Reply
Edit

THE MAGAZINE

CONTACT US

RECENT ARTICLES

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT REVIEWS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT REVIEWS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT VIDEOS

POPULAR TOPICS

RECENT THREADS

CATEGORIES

NEW PRODUCTS

OUR STORE

CURRENT ISSUE

SEARCH FINESCALE.COM