crawler tracks

[cfesmire]

On several occasions I have had discussions that concerned the building of tracks for crawler type vehicles in 1/87 and the general concensus is that there really isn't any truly convincing tracks out there. The Kibri tracks can be heated with a hair dryer to look a little better and some of the Roco military pieces have some that are fairly respectable but really nice tracks are something that can only be found on some of the very expensive pieces from folks like Classic Mint Collectables and Classic Construction Models. Has anyone found any that look good on a model that have a price tag that doesn't resemble a mortgage payment?

[Lee]

From what I am seeing on the powered thread, it seems that someone in Germany is making them. Anyone know anything more about it? Like maybe a website that sells the tracks? ;D

I see on the link that Eric posted that a built up tank sells for around 120 euros. The treads/track is made out of rubber.

[cfesmire]

I just remembered dealing with Langley Models UK in regards to some magnificent dragline buckets. He was willing to part out his Bucyrus cranes for the buckets. If his tracks are as nice as his buckets, they would be worth investigating.
www.langleymodels.co.uk/acatalog/Shop_Front_HO_Scale_Cranes__1_87th__37.html
He actually does not list any 1/87 stuff on the website but a little scrounging around will find the cranes and a few 1/87 scale boats.

[Lee]

Didn't see any tracks on that link but I did see a nice kit for a Holmes 750 wrecker, which I believe someone was looking for about 6 months ago. ;D The only drawback is it is in 1/76 scale.

[Barnaba]

I'd like to buy a Langley Models RB22 dragline,
but the manufacturer told me that the tracks are one piece casting?
Has anyone got this model?

For some of my Kibris, I'm thinking of casting the tracks in resin as resin is easier to work when heated with an hairdryer and mantains its shape when cooled down.
Anyway I've tried to shape the plastic Kibri tracks on a Liebherr 974 and it looks quite good after glued in correct position.

[Lee]

Hmm. I, for one would love to see a picture.

I have been thinking about tracks. It would be fairly easy to do using injected molded plastic. You would only have to make one good master link with pins on one end and holes at the other. Cliping them together would give you any size you wished and yes, they would droop. Sounds like a project for Jordan.

[cfesmire]

The Kibri tracks become very flexible when heated, one has to hold them in place for a few moments until the set. This is an old Kibri Menke crane with the Langley bucket and crows foot. It also has the Sheepscot brass boom pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/stryper50/detail?.dir=4cc7&.dnm=7559.jpg&.src=ph

[Barnaba]

x Lee
do you want to mean that is possible to make injected plastic links at home?
When I have to mould items I use silicone mould and resin.

x cfesmire
here is a picture of the Kibri 974 tracks (only just at the beginning), that have been just heated and shaped: this is a first try, but at the end the effect will be better.




PS the Menck looks nice!

[cfesmire]

Barnaba that is the effect I was talking about, yes, looks good. It would be nice to have tracks that come in a strip so one could cut them to the length you needed to fit on whatever you were modelling. As I previously mentioned, the proprietor of Sheepscot was working on some that were also somewhat flexible like rubber. By the way, he has some terrific cranes with metal link tracks. www.sheepscotscale.com/

[Barnaba]

I'd like to make a crawler dragline, could you please tell me something more about the existing kits?
I only have the Kibri Menck M154, but I've seen there also are the Langley models Ruston Bucyrus 22RB and the Sheepscotscale Link Belt. Could you describe me this kits, their quality, if you have ever seen one?
I'd like to know something more, before spending a lot of money.

[Lee]

Barnaba said:

x Lee
do you want to mean that is possible to make injected plastic links at home?
When I have to mould items I use silicone mould and resin.

No. Injected molding takes expensive equipment and dies. But it is something that a company like Jordan Products or Grant Line could do. Williams Bros with their molding equipment just might be up for sale.

[cfesmire]

Barnaba,
I will say that I have never been disappointed in anything that I have recieved from Sheeepscot and his kits are very well thought out with extensive directions. I happen to know George personally and he takes a great deal of pride in his accuracy to prototype and quality of product. I have many of his pieces in my collection that can be seen on my photo site (go to the link above and click "back to album")
If the dragline buckets from Langley are any indication of his level of quality I will say the same for him.

[Barnaba]

Thanks for your reply.
So Sheppscot cranes are good. Could you please tell me if the interiors of the cab (engine, winches, pulleys...) are reproduced or the cab is closed.

Could you please explain me how to reach your photo site: I've not understood, sorry.

[cfesmire]

Barnaba,
Alas, the Sheepscot crane is about the only thing I have not done of thier offerings and cannot tell you more about the interior. You can see an Autocar C90, C100 and U90, IH RDFC in daycab (Navajo IH) and sleeper version, R190 (midnight oil), and a Mack B-61 that are all Sheepscot products on the photosite: pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/stryper50/my_photos

[Barnaba]

Thanks for the link.
Your models look very interesting!
Just one question about the Sheepscot trucks: are the cabs solid or are there transparent windshield and windows?
I ask you this, because the crane looks to have black windows and than to be a solid block.

Thanks
Barnaba