Individual Track Links

[McLeod]

In my upcoming build the Dragon kit has individual plastic links, now I've used individual links in the past although they were always metal after market ones, I think Verlinden or some other brand through Historex.
I was wondering how you chaps tackled these plastic ones ?

Also I found this handy little tips video which seems to make it all so damn easy lol

Track Links Tip

[DC87]

They should more or less clip together by themselves, I usually use a small dab of glue on the connection between each link and keep it moving as it dries.

Hope that helps.

[HobbyModeller]

I do it in sections usually the bottom top and two curves on each side using normal poly cement for it all

[gosselin2112]

You can build the tracks in sections and then attach them to the chassis, as hobbymodeller says. Or you can glue them all together using a slow drying glue. In the US, Testors standard plastic glue works good. No idea what the equivalent is overseas. Hamilkar Barkas has some good videos on this type of assembly. Once all glued, just install by wrapping over the road wheels. some builders leave the tracks right on; others remove the tracks after the glue sets, so as to paint them. To remove track, just leave a link unglued. This should be located by the drive sprocket or idler wheel.

There are many methods to choose from. Use the one that is comfortable for you. Don't want to overwhelm you. Be patient, have fun, and good luck!

Russell.

[Gav0909]

I am also in this position of having my first kit to come with indy links. In terms of putting them together there isn't much issue as the kit comes with a jig! Just as well, as each link has two parts. The instructions call for me to just sit the bottom parts of the links in a row and then glue the top parts on, but surely then I could end up gluing the bottom parts together and would this then make that section of the track non-flexible? I don't understand how you can glue these tracks and they remain flexible! Confused.com!

[UKscalemodeller]

QDC728a does a lot of dragon kits with magic tracks, maybe have a look at one of his videos.

[Gav0909]

I have seen his videos before, watch them all the time lol. But yeah it just seems that with the magic tracks you line the links up and put a touch of glue where each joins the next. I just don't understand how the tracks can still be flexible, is it something to do with the material magic tracks are made from?

The kit I have is a Meng kit, so the tracks are just your standard styrene plastic I think (they are all on sprues). I guess there might be some spare links so will check if there is and practice on those!

[McLeod]

I think I'm going to try the method in the video link I posted, just line them all up in a line, then brush a light coating of cement (tamiya extra thin/ mr cement whichever I can get easiest) on the top. By the looks of it the inside flat part of the tracks will be stuck but the actual main connection between the links wont be so it will be flexible - just like scoring plastic - you bend it, it snaps - you score it opon the inside and you can bend it around.

Well I'll post some pics or maybe a video - camera permitting, got a Panasonix TZ5 so it only does video in small chunks lol.

[Gav0909]

Just mind with Tamiya Extra Thin etc that even if you brush it just over the top of the tracks, it will flow down between each link as its so thin. So you will be gluing the mating faces of each link. However that does seem to be the way people do it, so it must work!

[McLeod]

yeah that had crossed my mind, I had the idea of putting a few tiny blobs of Revell conatcta along the links and brush it across, I think its slightly thicker than Tamiya.

[gosselin2112]

SLOW DRYING glue is how the tracks remain flexible. You have to work fast, however. I use Testors Liquid Plastic Cement. It is a lot thicker than the brush applied stuff, which dries really fast.

If I had lots of cash, I'd invest in Model Kasten tracks. Workable tracks with almost no work involved. It was love at first sight

[chief5437]

^^ yes, I think the idea is to use the 'cement' type glue which sticks parts together, rather than the solvent weld stuff (tamiya extra thin/mr. cement S), which melts the plastic first then sets hard as one piece.

[Gav0909]

I had a play last night and found that the upper track links glue onto a flat surface, trapping the small pins of each link together. So there is no problem in that respect for the tracks I have.

[McLeod]

when I do mine, I'll do an in progress series of photos, I'd love to do a video but as I don't have a tripod setting the camera up to get the right shot could be a nightmare, but I'll shall have a fiddle and see what happens lol. I will be getting either a tripod or a small webcam that clips onto things, but actual modelling materials will be taking up most of my money for the next couple of months at least. Boy when I get a job my first pay-check is gonna go so fast lol.