Hummel tracks

If you want to have a quick look at one I've done, this is a link to my website page.
http://www.geocities.com/petbat1961/panther01.html?1087424048359
The last pic on the page is showing the Dragon Panther links I drilled the guidehorns out of. These links are just clicked in place and held with tape - just for the pic. Some guys line them up like this and then brush the glue in the join as I said above. The pic just shows how easy they do stay in place.

The final result can be seen in later pics, just click the next page icon at the bottom of the page, although the schurtzen hides the top run.

Chris, Cyano will dry way too fast and you won't be able to shape the tracks. Ordinary Liquid glue is all you need. I use Tamiya but don't use their 'thin' stuff or it will run everywhere.

Brush on just enough to hold the track links together, as too much will just melt the join together and you will lose the definition; try to get it in the join, but not on the face of the track to prevent it sticking to the wheels. Some guys line up a few links then glue, I usually dab glue on each link then add it to the others one at a time. This works better for me, but some guys say it doesn't work for them.

It only takes 20 minutes or so to get a strong enough hold, but still not enough to stop the shaping process. Trick is to make sure that you leave the track in place overnight (turn the kit upside down for the lower run) to make sure it stays the right shape, otherwise gravity can sometimes make the tracks bend outward. Sometimes a little tape to hold the tracks to the idler will be required, but the teeth on the DS should hold the track enough.

Hope it works for you.

PS don't paint the links first, the glue will not hold through paint and you will just have a mess. Paint the tracks when the runs are dry. Take care drybrushing, as too much pressure may break the links. Subtly is the way to go.

Thanks Petbat, I'll give that I try. As for the glue, do you use superglue or something else? I only ask because of the putting 45-50 links together and then shaping them before the glue dries. Thanks again for the help.

Chris

Chris. The Hummel was bult on a Panzer IV chassis, but was it was an extended chassis version. You will be hard pressed to find ones the right length.

Give the kit ones a go first, they are not as difficult as they look. Trick is to set them up, a few at a time, against a straight edge (I use and old picture frame) and run a little glue in the joins. I do a run of 45 - 50 links and before the glue sets hard, I set the model on the run and shape the tracks up half around the Drive sprocket and idler. Don't glue the DS or idler on and make sure you only do enough links to go half way round them, That way when the glue on the tracks is dry you can remove the runs without damage.

Then I prepare the top run and drape it over the return rollers and around the DS and idlers. Make sure the ends join the lower run then shape the curve between the rollers to take up the 'slack' in the run.

When you remove them for painting, it is best to lay them on a piece of paper so that you can write which pieces go together for the proper fit later. Then only do one section and return it to its place on the marked paper.