Re: Requesting information on a great hobby!

[Joe Sommer <anvilus9-at-adelphia.net>]

Willem-Jan,

Welcome to one of the most exciting hobbies
that I have ever known.

At 11:46 AM 4/8/2004 -0400, you wrote:
>>One of the tanks featured on your site is a Hetzer (#T010) built by Joe
>>Sommer.  It's tracks are built from Intralox series 900 conveyor belt.  I
>>was wondering why the builder used this series instead of the 4000 series
>>(Which looks more like real tracks.)  I would love to hear his feedback so
>>I can decide which to choose. (I am also wondering about the pricing)

I agree that Intralox 4009 flush grid looks much
more like actual track.  However, I did not try it
for two reasons.

1) Series 4000 is side-flexing conveyor chain
that can turn corners.  Series 900 is straight
running belt.  I thought that straight chain would
have less possibility of throwing track during skid
turns.

2)  Hetzers had one row of road wheels that ran
between two guide horns on each track link similar
to Series 900.  Series 4000 has a center tab
that would work better for tanks with paired road
wheels (e.g. PzKw IV, Panther V, Tiger VI, T-34,
M1 Abrams).  I have photos of actual links for
PzKw II, III, IV, V, and VI as well as Hetzer and
Abrams if you would like to see them.

I just called Intralox for pricing.

Series 900 3.25 inch MTW flush grid grey polypropylene WITH TABS
$71.06 / box (10 feet)
weight 0.31 lb/ft
0.313 inch tall tracking tabs

Series 900 3.25 inch MTW flush grid grey acetal WITH TABS
$102.42 / box (10 feet)
weight 0.42 lb/ft
0.313 inch tall tracking tabs

Series 900 4.1 inch 12T acetal sprocket with 1.5 inch square bore
$18.04 each

Series 4009 85 mm sideflexing flush grid grey acetal
$112.45 / box (10 feet)
weight 1.11 lb/ft
0.500 inch tall center tabs

Series 4000 3.9 inch 12T acetal sprocket with 1.5 inch square bore
$12.88 each

Hetzer #T010, PzKw IV #T012 and PzKw IV #T015
all use Series 900 3.25 inch MTW flush grid grey
polypropylene with tabs.  I think that Tiger #T021
uses Series 900 4.5 inch MTW flat top with tabs.

Unfortunately, you must buy conveyor from Intralox
by the box (10 feet) and most of our tanks require 12 to
14 feet of track.

Series 4000 is only available in acetal material.
Because Series 4000 uses stainless steel pins
it weighs about 3 times as much as Series 900
(6.66 lb per 6 ft track versus 1.86 lb per 6 ft track).

The center tab for Series 4000 is much taller than
Series 900 (0.500 inches versus 0.313 inches) which
could help prevent throwing track.  Also you will
only need one sprocket per track for Series 4000
whereas I use two sprockets per track for Series
900.

Bottom line - I think that Series 4000 could work
well.  Give it a try.

I would be pleased to answer more questions
by private Email <anvilus9-at-adelphia.net> or
through the general forum at
<tanks-at-rctankcombat.com> .

Best wishes,
Joe


**********************************************
Joe Sommer
2378 Nantucket Circle, State College, PA 16803
814.234.4773     anvilus9-at-adelphia.net
http://www.anvilus.com