Landships II

The problem with the smaller sizes of plastic roller chain is the jump in size - BC312 used 1/8" pitch plastic chain to drive the sprockets (far too small for tracks), the next size up is 1/4" pitch (very slightly too large as outlined above). Plus the plastic chain is considerably more expensive foot for foot (Motionco chain, which is what BC312 used, is the cheapest I've seen, but they only do 1/8" pitch and at that size I'd be worried about fragility - I've seen 1/4" pitch plastic chain elsewhere that costs around £14/ft i.e. over £200 for 5m, whereas 5m of metal chain costs £38! And even if you only bought enough for one model, around 1m, it would still cost getting on for £45 just for plastic chain).

But if expense isn't a concern, I agree, plastic chain would be ideal.

EDIT: This is where I found 1/4" pitch plastic chain:

http://www.hpcgears.com/products/plastic_chains.htm

At the bottom of that page you can download a PDF file with more info and data on their chains and prices.

-- Edited by Roger Todd on Friday 9th of March 2012 03:58:58 PM

You can get plastic roller chain in smaller sizes than 1/4 inch (6.35mm) pitch; it comes in 3.177 (or is it 3.117?) at smallest, which is probably the size used by BC312 (he purchased his from motionco.co.uk and this is the size they sell), then 3.747mm. I think the jump is then to 6.35mm. Scale track pitch at 1/35 is about 5.5mm.

Some places sell plastic roller chain by the foot, and some sizes are available in different plastics, like acetal, polypropylene, nylatron; these types have slightly different properties and prices, but nothing significant for a small model.

if you want to use roller chain, my recommendation would be to use the plastic types, as they will probably require no lubrication and snap together, making it easier to make chains the right length.

Thanks Tincan, i think these can be strengthened, if need be with track pins as on the original and slightly modified, that if they need it and even copied and cast in pewter metal as the Friulmodel tracks are, by doing this you are almost there as you have an already formed master, or you can have them in plastic. Most of the work is done on these tracks and the cost is very good compared with the cost of time experimenting with something from scratch. So lets see some RC MK IVs being made, may be a Whippet.