May 15 Centurion Update...
so, the new Track design looks like its a GO!
Other than one small tweak still to do, everything looks good.
I finished one section (26 track links) and tested it on the Tank model.
The track looks pretty much the same as the first assembly, so there's no disappointment there
...overall dimensions are pretty much the same, so no visible change in that respect.
I may as well run through the basic assembly (since these threads are often instructional as well
as newsworthy)...and for the benefit of those people who helped me sort out the first track design.
1. I start with a printed page...this contains almost all the parts for one section of Track (thats 26 link sections).
You must print 8 of these pages to assembly two full tracks.
And the first step is to score all the fold lines and crease points (before cutting anything out).
2. Next, cut out all the little inside holes. There are about the same number of holes to be cut, as with the old
design, but they are all the same size and shape, and all aligned the same, so it only takes a few minutes.
Biggest change here is with the main (separate) parts for each track link - replaced by the long strip of links shown
at the top of this photo - which eliminates the need to cut out a ton of notched and oddly shaped parts!
3. Next, cut out all the parts and sort, ready for assembly...also do some edge colouring at this point.
4. These are the "cleats" - which still have to be folded and glued into shape, but are now a separate part that will
be affixed to the track "foot plate".
5. The "foot plate" itself is the only part to be laminated - doubled up - to create some necessary scale thickness.
Easy enough to cut out the parts as a group, laminate to a second layer of card, and then cut out the parts.
6. Track sections are "joined" with single layer card part, which a "foot plate" will glue over top. It will add a third layer
of card at this spot, but should be hardly noticeable once the entire track is assembled.
You will also notice I have coloured the back side of all the creases, so that they don't show between the plates when the track is flexed.
7. Affix all the laminated "foot plates" by lining up the edges and slots...easy peasy!
8. Then glue the assembled "cleats" on to the "foot plates - center and align.
(One thing I keep doing, is folding the crease at each link, just to make sure no glue sets on the creases and stiffens the part)
You can also see in the background, I have begun assembly of the inner Track parts - this boxy part holds the "track guide"
and creates the Road Wheel running surface for the Road Wheels.
The "track guides" are all together on a separate page of parts (which you will need to print twice).
9. Assembled track looks pretty much the same as the older design.
Although the Road Wheel running surface is a little neater, smoother.
(This particular section of track does not have enough space between the road wheel surface parts - this is the last tweak I need to make.)
10. Three more sections will complete one full Track.
My estimate is about six to seven hours in total (spread out over three days) to complete all the work depicted here.
I think thats at least half of what it took for the older design! Maybe, a third of the time!!
And although there is still a lot of repetitive work, its definitely a lot simpler, and less tedious.
I think that is worth giving up the real "pin" hinge assembly.
