Tracks

I wanted something at least half realistic looking and functional. I found a source of relatively inexpensive attachment chain and went from there.

	04-2009 I had some track throwing problems in the battles. I believe a major cause was that the two strands of roller chain would sometimes skew relative to each other during a turn. I tired the two rear idlers together to help prevent this. It seems to help.
	This is the general design idea. There are two strands of #50 attachment chain with attachments on every other link. A one inch wide aluminum tread plate connects them. The plate has slightly oversized mounting holes and is secured with screws and lock nuts to be a bit loose. I wanted there to be a tiny bit of play. Each plate has 3/8" thick recycled rubber pads glued to it. I tried a variety of adhesives and super glue worked the best by far. I roughed up the surface of the aluminum tread plate with a wire wheel to give a good surface for adhesion. I don't have lots of running hours on the tracks right now, but I have yet to lose a pad from a tread prepared like that. The rubber tears before the glue yields. Still, I expect that replacing the pads will be an ongoing maintenance task.
	A full track. It was a lot of fun playing in the mud and snow !
	Driven by two #50 sprockets.