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Forums - Site / Build Logs

Messages in this Build Logs forum are automatically posted when new Build Logs or Chapters are added. Other modellers can then comment on them. Refer to the Build Logs section for more information.
Topics  81
Messages  3070
 Subject:  [Chapter] Chapter 22 - Just the Tracks MaamList thread.  
  
 Date:  Sep 8, 2005
 From:  James Wechsler 
Chapter 22 - Just the Tracks Maam

I decided to use the excellent RHPS WE210 Double I Bar Tracks for this project. Of course the T51 Rubber Block tracks (also available from RHPS) would have been appropriate too. So why did I use the Double I Bar tracks? Because they look cool! Honestly, that’s the only reason. I don’t have any reference material to say one was more right than the other.

I really like the RHPS tracks. They are injection molded and the molds are setup so there’s no ejector pin marks on the parts. Also, where the parts are attached to the sprues is designed such that you can simply clip them off with a decent sprue cutter and no additional clean up is required. My kind of effort. The parts are setup so that the end connectors can be pressed on to the links and the whole assembly ends up flexible and workable so you can paint it off the vehicle. Much easier.

One note, sometimes I’ve found that the press fit is a little loose. This problem is fixed by dipping the pins on the track link into Elmer’s Glue (white glue) before pressing the end connectors on. The track is still workable but the end connectors stay on better. A side note. I’ve used the technique of dipping the pins into white glue on the Dragon link to link tracks (like those in their Firefly and M4A3(76) kits) and those can actually be made workable enough to paint off the vehicle as well!

Normally, I would snip all of the links and end connectors off, assemble the tracks and then paint. However, I was thinking that it since the Double I Bar tracks are rubber on the top and bottom, I’d probably paint the tracks in a rubber color and then have to go back and hand paint the end connectors in a metallic color. I’ve done this before and it’s pretty time consuming.

Being lazy, I got to thinking that maybe I could just paint the links and the end connectors before I even snipped then off the sprues. As I noted above, the links and the end connectors are attached to the sprues in a way that they can be removed by a simple snip from the sprue cutter. I thought about it a little more and decided that I wouldn’t even need to touch up the paint. It seemed too easy but I just couldn’t figure out a reason not to try it. So I did.

I decided to paint the links in Testor’s Model Master Dark Drab which has about the right color for rubber tracks in a desert environment. I painted the end connectors in Testor’s Model Master Magnesium which is shiny but a little darker tone that either their Steel or Aluminum colors. I wasn’t subtle. I put on a latex glove, opened up the airbrush to a wide spray and let loose. The whole painting job took about 30 minutes for both colors.

Up Next: Please Maam, just the Tracks
 
Thread Listing 
  [BLOG] Sherman III Early in North Africa - James Wechsler - Aug 13, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 1 - What items am I going to use? - James Wechsler - Aug 13, 2005
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 1 - What items am I going to use? - M Wawrow - Aug 14, 2005
. . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 1 - What items am I going to use? - Martin Dogger - Aug 15, 2005
. . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 1 - What items am I going to use? - Jim Wechsler - Aug 15, 2005
. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 1 - What items am I going to use? - Billy Bishop - Aug 17, 2005
. . . Re: References and markings - Paul A. Owen - Aug 14, 2005
. . . . . . Re: References and markings - Jim Wechsler - Aug 14, 2005
. . . . . . . . . Re: References and markings - Paul A. Owen - Aug 15, 2005
. . . . . . . . . Re: References and markings - Martin Dogger - Aug 15, 2005
. . . . . . . . . Re: References and markings - Kurt Laughlin - Aug 15, 2005
. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: References and markings - Paul Roberts - Oct 19, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 2 - Lower Hull - James Wechsler - Aug 15, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 3 - The Upper Hull - James Wechsler - Aug 16, 2005
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 3 - The Upper Hull - Andrew Herbert - Aug 17, 2005
. . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 3 - The Upper Hull - Jim Wechsler - Aug 17, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 4 - The Front Fenders - James Wechsler - Aug 18, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 5 - The Sand Skirts - James Wechsler - Aug 19, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 6 - Painting the Lower Hull - James Wechsler - Aug 20, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 7 - Weathering the Lower Hull - James Wechsler - Aug 20, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 8 - Those Pesky Front Fenders – Part Deux - James Wechsler - Aug 22, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 9 - The Suspension - James Wechsler - Aug 23, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 10 - Front Hull Details - James Wechsler - Aug 26, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 11 - Rear Hull Details - James Wechsler - Aug 26, 2005
. . . . . . a couple of suggestions..... - Chris SMith jr - Aug 29, 2005
. . . . . . . . . Re: a couple of suggestions..... - Jim Wechsler - Sep 1, 2005
. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: a couple of suggestions..... - Chris SMith jr - Sep 1, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 12 - The Pioneer Tools - James Wechsler - Aug 28, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 13 - The Turret - James Wechsler - Aug 29, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 14 - Painting - Part 1 - James Wechsler - Aug 30, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 15 - Painting - Part 2 - James Wechsler - Aug 30, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 16 - Painting - Part 3 - James Wechsler - Sep 1, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 17 - Painting - Part 4 - James Wechsler - Sep 2, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 18 - Dry Brushing - James Wechsler - Sep 3, 2005
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 18 - Dry Brushing - Aaron Cole - Sep 3, 2005
. . . . . . . . . Re: Dry Transfers - Paul A. Owen - Sep 4, 2005
. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Dry Transfers - Aaron Cole - Sep 4, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 19 - Dry Transfers - James Wechsler - Sep 3, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 20 - Detail Painting - James Wechsler - Sep 5, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 21 - Weathering - James Wechsler - Sep 7, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 22 - Just the Tracks Maam - James Wechsler - Sep 8, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 23 - Please Maam, Just the Tracks - James Wechsler - Sep 9, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 24 - Stow it - James Wechsler - Sep 10, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 25 - The Crew - James Wechsler - Sep 10, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 26 - All Together Now - James Wechsler - Sep 11, 2005
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 26 - All Together Now - Andrew Herbert - Sep 12, 2005
. . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 26 - All Together Now - Paul A. Owen - Sep 12, 2005
. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 26 - All Together Now - Andrew Herbert - Sep 13, 2005
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 26 - All Together Now - Jim Wechsler - Sep 13, 2005
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 26 - All Together Now - Jim Wechsler - Sep 13, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 27 - Well, isnt that special - James Wechsler - Sep 13, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 28 - The Base - Part 1 - James Wechsler - Sep 19, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 29 -The Base - Part 2 - James Wechsler - Sep 21, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 30 - Final Assembly - James Wechsler - Sep 23, 2005
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Chapter 30 - Final Assembly - henryk gorkiewicz - Sep 24, 2005
. . . . . . Awesome! - R.C. Hill - Sep 24, 2005
. . . [Chapter] Chapter 31 - Perspective - James Wechsler - Sep 25, 2005
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