hobbimaster

Fellow tankers..I recently purchased a set of assembled metal tracks for my Tamiya King Tiger. They have been primed and painted while assembled, so I fugured the paint itself would be enough to keep the pins in, since they are exposed in some areas allowing paint to get on them. Well, every time I drive it the pins start backing out, so much that if not checked frequently the pins will contact he chassis and get bent over. Anyone else have experience with stella models tracks? I was thinking of taking them off and using CA glue or something thin that can be used without taking each and every pin out to glue, Any ideas?

ssocr

There are a few solutions to this problem to include glueing and/or bending the pins.

I opted to make and install a "pin slapper" to push the pins back in should they start to come out. The one pictured is made of styrene. I don't know how well this will wear. If it wears too quickly, I'll make them out of aluminum.

Richard L.

My Feedback: (24)

There is a high chance that the pins have not been primed as paint itself is thin and does not stick very well to those smooth pins.

hobbimaster

Ya, took one track off. Some pins look too shiny, others look painted, guess whatever overspray came off. Exactly how do you bend the pins, then make them stay in place? I thought I read somewhere, someone used thread lock or something to hold the pins in.

johnmar78

yes I use stellas metal tracks all the time. I use loct tide retaining fluid on every single pin that comes out, just a drop on every pin pulled out by 10mm. and leave the track over night. Next day, ready to run. It never fails..

heavyaslead

No need to remove the pins to CA glue. Just apply CA to the non-headed end and the (medium) viscocity will capillary into the pin hole.

Bond each pin except ONE so track disassebly/repair can be done.

Jeff489

My Feedback: (12)

I had the same problem with pins coming out of my metal tracks. I put a drop of CA gel glue on both ends of the track pin. It was tedious, but rewarding. No more problems with pins coming out, and you can still remove them for service.

hobbimaster

Great! Thanks, I'll work on using either CA, or threadlock tonight. I love my KT, but its been a pain lately with having to stop every few minutes to look at the pins.

rdssdr

Sorry but none of the suggestions I've read PERMANTLY stops the pin problem.
What I did was to simply dent the small end of the pin dead center while the pin is installed.
With the track vertical( flat head side of pin down) , use a hard tipped scribe/punch with small hammer and "ping" a dent as close to center as possible. What this does is mushroom the end of the pin just enough that it woun't pull out easily. The pin can still be removed if needed but you have to pull the other end hard.

dyeager535

My Feedback: (1)

Any reason you couldn't lead/silver solder one end of the pin in place? Either is soft enough to easily break loose (for pin removal later), and I doubt it would flow far enough into the track to cause flexibility issues.

I'd think it worth a try anyways, if the problem is this bad.

johnmar78

pin slapper is a good idea too. i had mine pins glued with loctite, but sometimes the pin still pops out. well, I will give it "slapper" a go. Good idea pal, and thanks for posting.

cheap tank

My kt is the only one i have had alot of problems with the pins coming out. Super glue more super glue and then some more.

johnmar78

nice paint job on crews.

lthump

Does anyone have a link to stellas metal tracks ??

Ern

ssocr... what a great idea! I've been fortunate enough to not have a problem with loose pins but will definately use the slapper idea if/when I do. [sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif]

hdbeast

http://www.stellamodels.net/catalog/default.php