Tank treads?

[Lance Sputnik]

Anyone have any good tips on creating or simulating tank treads? I don't expect that they would need to be functional, though that would be gravy. They would need to be pretty long for a project I am contemplating.

If you want to stay functional and don't mind a little of a rough look, I would look at machine belting. Some of the transfer systems at work have a transver belt from the motor pulley to the drive axle. They are smooth on the outside but have teeth on the inside to match the teeth on the pulley. Flip them inside out and they look like treads. I picked up a few at a local equipment shop that are about 1" wide and maybe 16" in circumference. You can get them in different sizes and then just need to figure out the wheels to run them on.

[Lance Sputnik]

Hmm. What sort of supply store? Would that be like auto supply or would a place like Home Depot carry that?

How wide do they need to be? You can get 1/35 scale tracks in a variety of styles at hobby shops that carry military models. AFV club sells both flexible rubber tracks, and individual link hard plastic tracks. There's another company that makes individual link tracks out of die cast metal. The individual link tracks cost more, but you can make them as long as you want.

I've got a set of AFV Club's individual link chevron style tracks on a model M60A2, and they're about 3/4" wide. The individual links are just a little bit narrower, and the side links make them just a bit over. Modern U.S. octal pattern tracks should have the same dimensions, since they see use on a lot of the same vehicles. Some of the WWII era German tanks probably had wider tracks.

The link tracks are meant to be static, but I was able to convert the ones I have to be functional. It was tedious (but not difficult), and I don't know if it would work on other styles, but the chevron and octals. They work fine on a powered model. If somebody wants to know how I did, let me know, and I'll try to explain it, here.

MOBAT's suck and are super cheap....and they've got rubber tracks and wheels you can bust off.

[Lance Sputnik]

MOBAT's suck and are super cheap....and they've got rubber tracks and wheels you can bust off.

I think I'd need something a little bit wider than the Mobat's tread, and definately longer... Probably about the width of the MCCs treads, if memory serves.

Greyryder, your post intrigues me in many different ways... Any links you can provide would be helpful, and any further explanation you can provide would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Wish I had some good links, to share. I bought my tracks at a local hobby shop chain, in Columbus Ohio, and AFV Club doesn't seem to have a website. Modifying the ones I have to not fall apart under continuous movement basically involed opeing up one end of each hole in every end link, putting the tracks together, and flaring out the pins that hold them together with a thumb tack heated up over a candle. They might work on a push model, but not over hard surfaces.

Dude! Legos! I totally forgot about it, but Lego makes working individual link caterpiller tracks that are designed for this kind of use. I bet a quick Google search would find places that sell individual lego parts where you could buy the tracks you need, and a couple gears to use as drive sprockets.

[Lance Sputnik]

Hmm. I know Lego.com sells individual pieces. I'll have to check into this and see if it's cost effective (These are going to need to be LONG treads, and I have to do 2 of them...) I'll definately check it out though.

Thanks!

Model kits. Functional, semi-cheap and available in various sizes.

Check out your local Grainger store and NAPA AutoParts for those belts

Hmm. What sort of supply store? Would that be like auto supply or would a place like Home Depot carry that?

I doubt Home Depot. Looks like you have a lot of ideas coming your way already, but what I have is similar to these: http://www.royalsupply.com/store/pc/viewCategories.asp?idCategory=1040

Take a timing belt inside out and it is a crude track. It won't be as nice looking as some other options, but it is cheap. Just google an industrial supply store or even a farm and fleet type. Just pick your width and circumference.

Did you see Carns Hiss Mk V? Those are moveable tank treads made from the Mobat's treads and the wheels where from the PTE Abrams or you could get a few wheel things off of a Mauler. He says the treads move just find across carpet.