My T-34/85 metal upgrade: Metal tracks
The T-34/85 is my second recent HL tank purchase. I got the plastic version after disappointment with the Professional version quality of the German Leopard 2A6.
When I looked at the HL T34 plastic track closely, I found that it is not a single pin design, but a much worse open pin loop. The HL metal and Mato metal track are the same unrealistic open pin. It is unstable and traps dirt easily. The 4 spare links on the front of the T34 is even more an eye sore and I replaced them with realistic looking closed pin links too.
I decided on the Toro tracks sold at the Taigen Tank store. When I installed the Toro tracks, another problem showed up. They are too tight, making the track an U-loop. I found that the Toro track is 2 m.m. shorter than the plastic HL track. The Toro and HL track both have 68 pieces of links on each track. Since the real T34 has 70 links per track, the first thought was to add the 2 missing pieces. Well it did not work, way too long.
Back to the 68 link tracks. I noticed that the T34 HL is very light weight compared to the Pershing and German Leopard. A good operating weight for the HL T34 is about 7-9 pound. The Heng Xin steel gearbox gave the front the right weight distribution. I added 2 pounds of lead weight to the rear and it seems to work correctly. I have a level looking track and a smooth moving tank.
The next post will be on the Heng Xin steel, all bearing, almost fully enclosed gearbox.
The T-34/85 is my second recent HL tank purchase. I got the plastic version after disappointment with the Professional version quality of the German Leopard 2A6.
When I looked at the HL T34 plastic track closely, I found that it is not a single pin design, but a much worse open pin loop. The HL metal and Mato metal track are the same unrealistic open pin. It is unstable and traps dirt easily. The 4 spare links on the front of the T34 is even more an eye sore and I replaced them with realistic looking closed pin links too.
I decided on the Toro tracks sold at the Taigen Tank store. When I installed the Toro tracks, another problem showed up. They are too tight, making the track an U-loop. I found that the Toro track is 2 m.m. shorter than the plastic HL track. The Toro and HL track both have 68 pieces of links on each track. Since the real T34 has 70 links per track, the first thought was to add the 2 missing pieces. Well it did not work, way too long.
Back to the 68 link tracks. I noticed that the T34 HL is very light weight compared to the Pershing and German Leopard. A good operating weight for the HL T34 is about 7-9 pound. The Heng Xin steel gearbox gave the front the right weight distribution. I added 2 pounds of lead weight to the rear and it seems to work correctly. I have a level looking track and a smooth moving tank.
The next post will be on the Heng Xin steel, all bearing, almost fully enclosed gearbox.
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