Republic of Texas Tank

sotoolslinger · May 05, 2011, 11:40:37 AM

As used in all my previous RoT aircraft builds here is a quick synopsis of my alternate history.
The attack on Pearl Harbor did not occur early in the war as in reality. Doves and isolationists in the US keep America from entering WWII until much later.
Texas never entered the Union and owns most of OK,NM and the upper Mexican states. The RoT,Australia, New Zealand ,Canada and various Central and South American countries have formed a loose alliance called the Combined Commonweath.
The 1st Texas Tank backstory. As it became obvious that the Axis powers would soon draw the the CC into a world war the RoT began to investigate armored vehicles. It was obvious that the Axis had advanced designs both in service and on the drawing boards. Casting about for suitable designs the Texicans obtained and tested various designs from friendly nations. In 1937 it was apparant that most existing concepts would soon be obsolete. The Republic knowing that they had to have something quick chose the US M3 tank design and heavily modified it with their own engines and weapons.

Yes I know it is nutty buckets

GTX · May 05, 2011, 01:08:53 PM

Watching with interest what you are going to do with this.

Regards,

Greg

sotoolslinger · May 05, 2011, 01:11:38 PM

Thanks G

Any idea what glue you use to adhere to Vinyl tracks?

This is my first tank ever

Steel Penguin · May 05, 2011, 02:08:05 PM

normaly they recomend melting the studs with a hot screwdriver tip. failing that staples or stiching have been mentioned.

sotoolslinger · May 05, 2011, 02:45:30 PM

Thanks bubba but I want to add pads to each track link

philp · May 05, 2011, 03:03:25 PM

Think super glue should hold the pads on the vinyl tracks. There is also vinyl cement and possibly Gorilla Glue.

frank2056 · May 05, 2011, 04:13:51 PM

Most vinyl tracks will laugh at superglues and the like. The easiest/best long term solution is to melt the tracks together as shown in the instructions. I had some luck using Gator Glue between vinyl and plastic, but I also had a mechanical connection. Staples (and other mechanical connections) will work but there can't be any tension in the track; otherwise the connecting material (even string) will cut through the vinyl or stretch it.

sotoolslinger · May 05, 2011, 04:36:18 PM

Well dangit does superglue work or not

My first thought was to just use different tracks from another model but the closest I have are too short. I have never done armor before so I only have 5 models

GTX · May 05, 2011, 06:38:08 PM

Quote from: Steel Penguin on May 05, 2011, 02:08:05 PM
normaly they recomend melting the studs with a hot screwdriver tip.

That's what I did with the last tank I did. Can't advise beyond that sorry.

regards,

Greg

frank2056 · May 05, 2011, 07:18:58 PM

Quote from: sotoolslinger on May 05, 2011, 04:36:18 PM
Well dangit does superglue work or not

To connect the ends of the vinyl tracks together, superglue will not work, at least not for long. For best results, melt the studs.

For gluing pads onto the vinyl tracks, superglue may work but will be a very weak join.

rickshaw · May 05, 2011, 07:42:54 PM

I've always sewn them together with thread. Melting tends to ruin the track, I've found and if done too lightly just pulls apart with any tension.

A trick I also used to use on 1/72 tanks where some form of track "sag" was required such as on Panthers was to sew the tracks so that the sag was replicated by sewing the upper run with a few threads hidden behind the road wheels to the lower run. It worked well for wargaming models and was basically invisible if done well.

Brian da Basher · May 05, 2011, 07:54:47 PM

A Republic of Texas tank is a killer idea and you seem to have chosen the absolute perfect "real" tank as a starting point.

You know you've got my attention with this one, Ron!

Brian da Basher

Old Wombat · May 05, 2011, 10:23:49 PM

I tend to use super glue to stick them together, then carefully melt the stubs so they grip & are, with the help of a little putty/super glue, almost invisible. Even then I make sure they are at the bottom & under a road wheel, unless the vehicle has decent side-skirts & I sometimes hide the joins behind them.

PS: Is that a M41 turret I see before me?

PPS: I've also used one of those 2-part glues, with the "primer" pen & adhesive tube.... they don't really work that much better than SG, though.

manytanks · May 05, 2011, 11:57:47 PM

Theres a couple of rivets missing .....,but seriously great choice

sotoolslinger · May 06, 2011, 07:32:23 AM

Thanks all y'all

I will see if I can find some vinyl glue

That is a M41 turret you spy .It will be extensively modified

All the rivets will be missing when I get finished with her.

Warning this is the first of at least 3 armor projects upcoming.