FINISHED IT 1/35th Sd.Kfz. 173/4 (1. Serie) ‘Sturmpanther’, early 1945 😁

Wardukw · April 29, 2023, 02:32:49 AM

I'd go with the weakness side of it..white metal is very soft and depending on the weight of the tracks it probably wouldn't hold for very long and with the amount of handling you have to do to build these things it will twist the tracks and end up breaking them .
Jakko matey I think your right about the different track types ..as ya know there's dozens of em and I'd be pretty sure that there's many the old system wouldn't work for especially double pin tracks like what the M1 Abrams uses .
Penguin mate this metal never seems to go hard ..it does something like semi hard with age..it's still soft but it's harder then it originally was..it's bloody weird what it does

It's hard and soft at the same time ..yeah that should clear that up

Steel Penguin · April 29, 2023, 03:03:24 AM

yup i get that,

the metal hardens but not a lot, but enough to be a right annoying thing

Wardukw · April 29, 2023, 01:25:49 PM

Quote from: Steel Penguin on April 29, 2023, 03:03:24 AMyup i get that, the metal hardens but not a lot, but enough to be a right annoying thing

Yup pretty much ...but ...it can be weird..ive had very old tracks which some have remained sold.. other semi hard and others turn to steel..all from one the packet..now of course it could be 3 different metals being used to make these tracks but since the metal is in a big block when they melt it you'd think there would be enough.
Also these tracks will oxidize with age and if there was 3 different metals involved you'd see different types of oxidation..ive not seen that tho ..all the links look the same ..same amount of white and gray ..strange man 🙂🙃

Wardukw · April 29, 2023, 10:42:15 PM

The Heavy Hobby tracks a done boys

They went together like a dream ..absolutely hassle free .
I looked at the holes in the links and tried a piece of .5mm brass rod ..then watched it fall straight thru the link..it's bigger ..by .2mm ...so I hunted thru my pile of wire and the only thing which was stiff enough was this was high density .71mm copper wire .
Jakko mentioned he used copper and these tracks are so light I thought why not

2hrs and 27 minutes later their on the tank and I'm one happy crappie

They fit the Meng Panther perfectly..fact better than the Meng tracks .
If I build another Panther I'll be looking at these tracks first

Jakko · April 30, 2023, 02:22:24 AM

Good to know

NARSES2 · April 30, 2023, 05:39:16 AM

Quote from: Wardukw-NZ on April 29, 2023, 01:25:49 PMAlso these tracks will oxidize with age and if there was 3 different metals involved you'd see different types of oxidation..ive not seen that tho ..all the links look the same ..same amount of white and gray ..strange man 🙂🙃

Different metals rubbing up against each other can have some very odd consequences, especially when it comes to oxidation. Some far more so then others.

Wardukw · April 30, 2023, 11:28:46 AM

Quote from: NARSES2 on April 30, 2023, 05:39:16 AM
Quote from: Wardukw-NZ on April 29, 2023, 01:25:49 PMAlso these tracks will oxidize with age and if there was 3 different metals involved you'd see different types of oxidation..ive not seen that tho ..all the links look the same ..same amount of white and gray ..strange man 🙂🙃

Different metals rubbing up against each other can have some very odd consequences, especially when it comes to oxidation. Some far more so then others.

Oh totally forgot about that 😅
Same issues I have had in the past with cars..Alloys and steel in contact with each other ..always a pain for oxidation.

Old Wombat · April 30, 2023, 05:23:10 PM

Yes, like Ford's brilliant idea to have steel blocks & aluminium heads in their cars in the 1980's.

Wardukw · April 30, 2023, 07:36:42 PM

Quote from: Old Wombat on April 30, 2023, 05:23:10 PMYes, like Ford's brilliant idea to have steel blocks & aluminium heads in their cars in the 1980's.

Better yet Guy...Fords alloy wheels on Falcons

I've honestly had to use a sledgehammer one a couple of occasions to get them off

PR19_Kit · May 01, 2023, 02:16:41 AM

Quote from: Old Wombat on April 30, 2023, 05:23:10 PMYes, like Ford's brilliant idea to have steel blocks & aluminium heads in their cars in the 1980's.

Quite a few manufacturers have done that in the past, originally with competition versions of their stock engines.

So long as they used the correct gaskets, coolant and bolts etc. it worked OK. After trialling such setups like that, they were moved into the standard production area. One that comes to mind is the late 60s Sunbeam Rapier H120,.

kerick · May 07, 2023, 10:06:41 PM

It's called galvanic corrosion. One metal is more chemically active and causes corrosion. It's why they bolt a hunk of magnesium onto ships and bridges. The magnesium is more active and corrodes away saving the steel parts. Only way to stop it is to have nonconductive gaskets between the two metals. I don't think paint would be enough of an electrical barrier.

Wardukw · May 07, 2023, 10:38:28 PM

Oh yeah...ive changed those blocks on out board motors before..didn't even think of that .
Then the brain box ain't what it used to be .

Well now seems like a good time to update this thing...95 percent done..just a wee bit more detail painting and weathering..then matt varnish.
The new tracks are making this look much better and I'm happy with it now.
Finished pics should be up on Wednesday .