First build ,cat D11

[Cooper]

Ugggg!!!! Going to take a couple day break, (well I have to wait till some more stock get delivered). But I have made my brain bleed trying to find a way to make production more efficient in the ops for the links connecting the track shoes!!! Looks like making these in four steps and then hand tapping the holes leads to no shortcuts so I will have lots of cranking!!!!! And when I take a pic with the iPad oriented left pics come upside down on some forums ??? Will try and remember as it's easier for me to change than for me to change setting in a computer

[doodlebug]

Have you considered building some jigs for drilling and tapping holes, so that they are consistent and repeatable?????
Cheer's, Neil.

[Cooper]

Yes. One of the best purchases I make for my mill was a dro. Don't know how I did without one!!! But yes, once I get 4 or six milled out to where I know they will fit, be compatible, and line up with rollers and everything else I will be making some jigs. Probably going to just use a pin and hand rotating for the track links. Would take too much to clamp, and rotate with table. I'm always trying to find a safe more productive way to do repetition ops.

[Cooper]

Got a bunch of the small bolts, went with 2-56 size as I'm building 1/14 scale.

[Cooper]

Have about 75% of the track links! just picked up this tumbler and wanted to see what it does. (Yea, just had to put something in it and play with it!!!!!) noisy little thing, then it added some loose grit and managed to get to a acceptable level for the animals not leaving

[Cooper]

A start for some simple jigs to make repetitive cuts simpler.

[Cooper]

The pic, forgot to add it.

[Cooper]

And every time I get up I have to fight for my chair!!! And the work place, I know it would be easier and more accurate if I were to get a simple cad program to make up some dimensions and drawings but by the time I would teach myself how to use it I would have already made all the drawings by hand. And having the wonderful trait of my moms side of the family of no short term memory (lol!!) I would just have to retrain myself again and again anyways.

[RCP57]

Your cat is keeping you from building your Cat

Nice job on it so far! I like the little jigs too. We all have to get it done with the tools we have at hand!

[Cooper]

Got some time to play in the shop/garage so cut some more links. This is enough for one side!! Lots of time spent on these tracks but I finally got them right. I wanted to locate the hinge pins to where the track pads would be able to have some negative play. So if it were to go over a tree limb in conjunction with the rollers it would look pretty scale. (After the second mock up it was finally satisfied with location of bolts and hinge pins. ).

[Cooper]

A closer pic of the tracks. I still have to machine in two slots where the bolts go into the links. Only thing I'm stumped on is if I will turn down link pins from 3/16 to 1/8 edges. 1/8" to go into track links and the 3/16 for the middle to where the drive sprocket will catch. The problem I am having is in the production of them. That is just a lot of turning on the lathe!!! I might go with the idea of 1/8 pin with a spacer of o.d. 3/16 that I could loctite onto the 1/8 pin. Would save a tremendous amount of lathe time for me. They will be stainless whatever I do. Or to use 3/16 with a set screw in one of the links to keep pin in place. ?? What have any of you done??

[tracksntreadslou]

Like what you have done so far ...I guess thats why the darn things are so expensive to buy ..sometimes I wonder if its worth the trouble ..lol.Well definatley a challange thats for sure ..I have seen some with C clips ..Really I dont think your going to find an easy way out ..Set a goal to do 2 every day and work on other stuff to break up the monotany ..BTw the faster express has the 2/56 x 1/4..Just bought a 1000 and planning some new tracks for the dozer one day ..keep up the great work

[Lil Giants]

Knurled the end of the pin & then press fit into the link, adding some red locktite too.

[Cooper]

Had some time, got enough pads, links, and bolts for a whole one side, lol!! Still have to decide on the pins. For me it is just a lot of work on the lathe. Working on setting up a coolant system for the lathe, something other than a spray bottle would help.

[Cooper]

And made front and rear wheels.

[Cooper]

Well got some links put together. I decided to use 3/16 brass with ends turned down to 1/8" for the track links. After some hair pulling I decided the steel was too much / too tuff for my set up and I hate worrying about steel splinters!! And I figured brass will polish as it wears.

[Cooper]

And I wanted to design these to have enough negative play to look realistic while rolling over a log or rock.

[Cooper]

Just another pic close up, I added two holes to mimic real tracks where the bolts extend. And this also made it much easier tapping the holes. Do you guys use blue loctite on final assembly of track links?

[Cooper]

A shot of the underside. The other side track will be a lot easier now that I have the jigs and tools set up. Plus all the oh $hi@ why did I not wright that down or how did I have the machine set up?!!? As this is fun for me but sometimes I wonder why I don't just make plans

[modelman]

Cooper-nice job. I have been watching this build. These tracks will test your patience and skills. Once you get these done the rest of the build will probably seem easy. Your grousers seem a little thick to me. Are these scale? Keep at it.