I have never been a big fan of rubber band tracks so I decided to try and make some for my Gaza Mk I Male tank. I first added 2 strips of .030x.040 stripe styrene to the top of the sponson sides. This is just enough to raise the tracks off the sides. Make sure the trough is level because if it is not the tracks will tilt to one side. I then added .010x.040 strip from the first angle in the sponson to around the drive sprocket and sanded it into the .030x.040 strips. Next I cut .010x.250 strip styrene into stripes a little over .093 wide to give it the individual track link look. After I finished applying the track pads I added .020 rod to the link sections and coated them with Mr. Surfacer 500 so the rod would blend into the track pad. I then filed the edges of the rods to an angle as per the real tracks. I am in the process of adding the Archer Fine Transfers Rivets to the tracks. Unfortunately I ran out so I will finish them when I get more. This is a long but easy process and I think they look more realistic then the rubber band tracks.
-- Edited by plastic fan on Saturday 18th of June 2011 05:29:40 PM
Thanks PDA. I really appreciate the kind remarks. I am thinking of changing the track link method for the other sponson. Instead of .010x.250 strips I may use .010x.125 strips and cut them to .250 long. Helens plans will be indispensible for the details.
Thank you all the encouragement. I am putting on the rivets for track as it will be in sandy soil. However if you intend to make a MkI on the Western Front then you could skip the rivets by adding mud and dirt to the tracks and that would hid them.
I have never been a big fan of rubber band tracks so I decided to try and make some for my Gaza Mk I Male tank. I first added 2 strips of .030x.040 stripe styrene to the top of the sponson sides. This is just enough to raise the tracks off the sides. Make sure the trough is level because if it is not the tracks will tilt to one side. I then added .010x.040 strip from the first angle in the sponson to around the drive sprocket and sanded it into the .030x.040 strips. Next I cut .010x.250 strip styrene into stripes a little over .093 wide to give it the individual track link look. After I finished applying the track pads I added .020 rod to the link sections and coated them with Mr. Surfacer 500 so the rod would blend into the track pad. I then filed the edges of the rods to an angle as per the real tracks. I am in the process of adding the Archer Fine Transfers Rivets to the tracks. Unfortunately I ran out so I will finish them when I get more. This is a long but easy process and I think they look more realistic then the rubber band tracks.
-- Edited by plastic fan on Saturday 18th of June 2011 05:29:40 PM
Just wanted to say how good that looks!
After a visit to Bovington with my friends I fell in love with the MK1 Tank... and then was rather disappointed with the models around. I couldn't be sure about it, but the models just looked wrong!
So in a strange way I have to thank... or curse, Airfix for their model and my ending up producing a set of plans.
I thought of that but I know Matador Models does them already. I may do sections in resin for myself but though. I like to do scratch building to improve a kit and in this case I feel the Airfix is still a good kit BUT far from perfect. If anyone is interested I may submit this in article form to Landships II.
