Basic track construction

Are you reffering to actually scratch building individual link tracks? If so, that is a huge undertaking. Some of the best scratch builders in the modelling world (i.e. Tony Greenland, Tom Cockle, etc.) use aftermarket tracks (i.e. ModelKasten, Fruil, Resin) for there builds. You can make one track link, then make a resin cast of the original and make copies. That is my only suggestion.

Cheers

Mo

My hat's off to you my friend if you are looking to scratchbuild the actual track links. If you are looking to scratchbuild the running gear (drive sprockets, road wheels, etc.) that's a different story altogether.

What vehicle are you looking to scratchbuild for this project?

Jim, are you sure you want to actually fabricate the track links from scratch? That really sounds like a major undertaking,and unless you have loftsman and pattern maker skills, I'd go for after market tracks. To make from scratch just seems cost prohibitive. Moses idea is probably about as close as you'll get to scratch build an individual link. Just my thoughts. Good luck. semper fi, mike

i'm scratchbuilding the sand crawler from star wars episode 4. now that i"ve probably lost most of you do to the sci-fi reference, the problem is that the tracks are flat and i haven't seen any thing that matches them. my plan is to buid the wheel set up and the use a styrene strip and scribe the actual track into it and run it around the wheel assembly.the scale of the model is probably where i'll run into trouble trying to find what i'm looking for. but i'm not actually looking to fabricate link by link unless i have to.i just want to get a basic idea on the wheel assembly.

Doesn't sound so crazy now...recalling from memory how they looked, they had a flat plate like design similar to that used on Catepillar construction equipment. As for the wheel assemblies, not much help to offer you there except to again reference what's on construction equipment. Lucas was famous for adapting real-world like designs into his machines for the trilogy, especially the earlier episodes due to limitations on special effects of the day.

dont forget the harrier engine for the back
i have the Star Wars Chronicles book
the base of the tracks are flat but theres some detail on the top, they kitbashed alot of things to make the films, like theres some panther cupolas on the Seeker (the thing Luke trains with, with his lightsaber)
and the B29 fusalage on the Rebel mecical frigate
just look at anything that looks close for the tracks like they did in the film