my sons tank

[Nige201980]

My son and i are doing a airfix 1/76 chieftain but im having trouble with with the tracks they are the elastic type i know i know but im not getting any where with them its says to use a heat gun to join them but we cant find my wife's heat gun i have tried using a hair-dryer but its not working so i tried using super glue but ended up with more glue on me and still didn't stick so any tips would be welcome.

[UKscalemodeller]

Have you got a soldering iron?

[Gav0909]

No, don't bother with heat guns, glue or anything on these tracks. Technically they need to be joined by melting the pin heads when they go through the holes (if this is the type of track you have?).

What to do is put the two track ends together and secure them such that they stay in that position on a flat surface (tape each side or something). Take a small nail, or something with either a flat or slightly rounded head on it (I use a picture frame hook nail). This in some pliers or something, anduse a lighter or candle to heat the end of the nail. Then use this to flatten the pins by melting. Take care and do it slowly so as not to melt right through the track etc.

Hope this helps! Worked on my 1/76 Sherman tracks.

[Nige201980]

Cheers gav will give this a try.

[chief5437]

Yeah, Gav's way is the way I do it too. Although I use a soldering iron instead of the nail. Horses for courses.

Good luck Nige.

[Gav0909]

Yeah soldering iron would be the simplest tool to use for sure. I just don't have one lol.

[Nige201980]

need to put a plug on mine so a lighter will do it ill just wait until he's not about ie in bed lol

[chief5437]

need to put a plug on mine so a lighter will do it ill just wait until he's not about ie in bed lol

Safety is not a dirty word, lol!

[Nige201980]

Too right mate can just about handle me getting burnt but he's a different matter lol

[chief5437]

After reading your injuries list, I'm sure being burnt is nothing, lol!

Looking forward to seeing your lads tank.

[UKscalemodeller]

Please note, that quick reflexes are a good thing when something delicte drops off the table, such as your mums best china. Not such a good thing when your soldering iron drops off the bench,.

Quick reflexes = less chance of catching the right end = OW!

[chief5437]

Please note, that quick reflexes are a good thing when something delicte drops off the table, such as your mums best china. Not such a good thing when your soldering iron drops off the bench,.

Quick reflexes = less chance of catching the right end = OW!

Ha ha! Is that the voice of experience?! Lol

[Nige201980]

Please note, that quick reflexes are a good thing when something delicte drops off the table, such as your mums best china. Not such a good thing when your soldering iron drops off the bench,.

Quick reflexes = less chance of catching the right end = OW!

I know that feeling got no end of little burnt bit on my hand from solder when I was in Germany.

[Paul]

Please note, that quick reflexes are a good thing when something delicte drops off the table, such as your mums best china. Not such a good thing when your soldering iron drops off the bench,.

Quick reflexes = less chance of catching the right end = OW!

I know that feeling got no end of little burnt bit on my hand from solder when I was in Germany.

Man solder burns like hell, ive still got a small cm wide scar on my hand from where i was holding a pipe my old man was soldering the floor above me, solder dripped down and landed right on my hand, that was 18 years ago and the scar is as fresh now as it was then.

[Coen]

Ummmm OUCH!!!
Liquid hot metal and skin... never a good idea.
Gav's method for the tracks is the tried and tested method Nigel.
If you toast it up and it doesn't work you can still save it... a bit of thread.
You can sew tracks together.
you can also sew them to the tops of the road wheels to create track sag, instead of using super glue or the pin method.