Upgrading a static model?

[DavidN]

Alpha! Thank you for your response! All my tanks that I want to upgrade are HLs, so they all have HL's sprockets. I would like to upgrade my Panzer III, IV, V, VIB (King Tiger), M4, and KV1. You asked me to be specific :-) At this time I am looking at tracks that are available from Taigen, Torro, Mato and HL. Are there others with reasonable prices? Thank you!

[Rubicon99]

Alpha! Thank you for your response! All my tanks that I want to upgrade are HLs, so they all have HL's sprockets. I would like to upgrade my Panzer III, IV, V, VIB (King Tiger), M4, and KV1. You asked me to be specific :-) At this time I am looking at tracks that are available from Taigen, Torro, Mato and HL. Are there others with reasonable prices? Thank you!

With the WW2 tanks you mention stick with the metal HL tracks as there is no advantage to going with the Mato tracks. WW2 era HL metal tracks are actually rather good and often proven stronger then Mato metal tracks.

[Rob1970]

Oh well... just picked up a KV-1 for peanuts... It's going to be a fun project on the side... Some plastic decor missing, and I think it's a 5.xx board? But hey, for the price I payed I am happy with it. Already have ordered a 6.0S board to upgrade it, along with the IR gubbins. Wiring I can do myself.

[Rob1970]

My really cheap KV-1 arrived... and the postal service managed to do what many German tank failed at...



Both front idler wheels snapped off, and a chunk off the fender. Wheels are being fixed, and we will call the fender battle damage. Altho MEK and ABS works great, might be fine..
*sigh*

*EDIT*

Fixed!! It ain't pretty, but it works. Kinda like me. "In Soviet Russia, Comrade Tank Mekanik weld STRONK!!" Just need to put in that "bolt" that was glued into the tensioner. I had to saw that out. tho..



...but meet my new friend! Mister Nutter!! This is probably my new favourite tool. Awesome for scratchbuilding. Had to hunt around for one, they seemed either sold out, or going for a ridiculous price. But I managed to find one. Still wasn't cheap, but totally worth it.



Also; ain't that little hammer not the cutest ever!!

TTFN,
Rob

[sclui56]

Rob, may want to check out this KV-1 build if you haven't seen it https://www.rctankwarfare.co.uk/foru...p?f=22&t=31829

[Rob1970]

Rob, may want to check out this KV-1 build if you haven't seen it https://www.rctankwarfare.co.uk/foru...p?f=22&t=31829

Found it, and inspired by it! Thanks for that!

[DavidN]

My Kvs' works were quite simple: washed, dry brushed, rusted, and coated. One for the Russian and one captured for the German. I am waiting for the order on the metal tracks and ge ars for replacement.

[Alpha]

With the WW2 tanks you mention stick with the metal HL tracks as there is no advantage to going with the Mato tracks. WW2 era HL metal tracks are actually rather good and often proven stronger then Mato metal tracks.

DavidN I completely agree with Rubicon. He really knows his stuff. I tend to look for Mato tracks on my modern tanks. Leopard, Abrams, etc. '80s and forward. That being said, I haven't had any problems so far with the stock metal tracks from Heng Long and Torro. For the most part they're all serviceable under normal use and if you're not a super-scale nerd like myself. When in doubt, cover it with dirt.

[Rob1970]

When in doubt, cover it with dirt.

The mantra that is the blessing of every scale modeler doing heavy armour... if only airplane modelers were that lucky... Best we can do is make a crash diorama.

[DavidN]

Many thanks to Alpha and Rubicon about my metal track issues. I notice a couple of my metal track links have lost a few teeth. I was concerned. The tank still runs fine. Anyway, I can just replace the individual link if I really feel there is a need. I will stay with HL metal tracks then.

[thebates]

All electronics done. Started doing some old winter weathering on top deck and turret. Range has at least doubled with the addition of the Lego IR unit. With the exception of the smoke unit, which is the old puffer type, all the hardware and equipment is working well considering this was a static plastic version!

[DavidN]

For member who had his static tanks upgraded, you can get these gearboxes cover from Toucan to protect your inside components from the grease at very reasonable prices. I have just received my orders:

[DavidN]

For $11.50 (cost of the metal Toro panzer IV barrel), I have just upgraded a HL panzer IV F2 to a panzer IV G :-)

[DavidN]

I am waiting for the side skirts set to arrive and turn it into this.....

[DavidN]

Top is from Toro with metal turret. Bottom is from HL with ultimate HL steel gearboxes, metal tracks, wheels, sprockets, and idlers. The tank now has LegoDEI IR emitter and receiver. The lighting includes launching light, aiming light, MG light and frontal light. It is ready for battle in January 2022 :-)

[DavidN]