3D tracks for armor

[rockpaperscissor]

Sergey Kamotsky of Robototehnics is the originator of this ingenious method of creating 3d strip type tracks for armored vehicles. The labelling is in Russian, but it's pretty self explanatory. I believe that the blue/purple colored part is to be doubled, or even tripled. The completed strip would need to be painted. I've seen photos of some of his models that have these home made track strips, and I must say they're pretty convincing looking.

[KCStephens]

Great tip Don
Thanks for posting this

[SCEtoAUX]

Did some machine translating

[rockpaperscissor]

Thanks, Doug. That's about what I expected.

[Burning Beard]

That is pretty simple and elegant.

[Dane]

There is only one question left: how will such tracks behave when bending around the wheels or it is needed to glue them in bending condition?

[CharlieC]

I think they'll tend to bend on the single thickness part. It looks reasonable for small scale tracks. I think the method I developed years ago would work better at larger scales and that has the advantage of having hinges between the track plates.

Charlie

ps. I looked but the original thread on building band tracks has vanished. I did find an image of KV-2 tracks built this way.

[maurice]

There's still remnants of a discussion in early 2004 on this topic on that other place (the one we don't mention if we can avoid it) - but very frustrating since all images are missing.
Did you keep the pics you posted then ?

[CharlieC]

Mmm... How about an easy question first - meaning of life, lotto numbers.

I think I've still got the hard drive from the computer I had at that time, I'll see if it will fire up and if the images are there.

I didn't even know "the other place" was still around.

Charlie

[Kevin WS]

Sergey's method for making 3d tracks, as described by Don above, is very effective.

Bear in mind the method is designed for use on 1/50 or smaller vehicles.

a) Simply copy two sets of tracks and then, before you cut the tracks out, draw up the templates on them (or work out where your cuts should be to create the templates), and then cut the tracks out to the template shapes.

b) Using this method there is no need to colour the finished tracks, as you will retain the model track colouring.

c) Colour the cut edges.

d) Then glue the two templates together.

e) Cut off the surplus material.

f) At 1/50 or smaller scales you should have no trouble bending the tracks.