correct terminology ?

["Tim McCarty" <sunk99-at-msn.com>]

Joe,
   Answers to your questions follow.

1)  What is the official term for tabs on the inside of track that bear 
against sides of road wheels to prevent throwing track ?
Center guides is correct.  Some very old style tracks had outer guides.  The 
guides stop lateral movement of the track.

2)  What is the official term for when track comes off?
Throwing a track is correct.
(...my Hetzer and I are quite accomplished at this feat.)  Believe me - I 
know the feeling.  In full scale it's easy to do in sand on a side incline - 
bomb craters especially.  If you throw a track at speed it's not a very fun 
experience and you can easily bust your teeth out or worse.  It's a radial 
unexpected stop.  I spent one whole summer at Eglin AFB in Florida  on the 
range doing nothing more than shooting a track segment then driving it to 
failure.  Fix the broke segment, shoot it again  and drive again to failure. 
  A lot of hard heavy work.  The hull often buries on that side until it's 
resting flat and the roadwheels are underground.  Ya have to dig a ramp to 
replace the track and drag the hull onto the new track.  Replacing 1/6th 
scale has got to be a tish easier.

3)  What is the official term for skid steering when one track is in reverse 
and the other track is in forward ?
Neutral turn or neutral steer or neutral pivot would all be correct.

4)  What is the official term for skid steering when one track is locked and 
the other track is moving ?
The terminolgy used would be the same as above. Only old, old armor locks a 
track and powers the opposite side.  Doing so creates mega-friction wearing 
out the track, tearing up the roadway / ground, and wastes power.  Last I 
recall driving with such was a M-26 that had two laterals for steering.  You 
pulled back hard to lock one side and gave her the gas.  You could drive 
those from either the left or right side.  They also has escape hatches 
under your feet.  Ford V-8.  :)  Funny thinking back on them.  Replaced by 
the M-43 as I recall.  Cool steering on those - single pistol grip.  Move it 
forward or back to shift gears.  Push it left or right to steer.  Had a V-12 
dual carb, 4 magneto gas engine, predessor to the 1790.  I used to work at 
Eglin where we kept a fleet of antics (as well as newer stuff) used for 
destructive testing.  Most fun job I ever had in my life.  Fix them, remote 
them, then let the planes attack them.  We had US armor from WW1 up to the 
M1 as well as equipment from many foreign countries.  Roughly a 1000 total.  
Russian tanks suck.  But, if they have 5 of theirs attacking one of ours I 
guess they might stand a chance.  Did a lot of testing on the XM1.  Serial 
numbers 001 & 002 were junky, but man would they haul - 70mph.  One of them 
sits out on  our front entrance now as a display.  Somebody asked about 
photos.  Cameras are not really allowed on the arsenal, but I should be able 
to get approval and post a few photos of stuff.  At open house people use 
cameras.  We no longer build tanks on the property.  The factory area is now 
closed and sold off to some contractor.  I wish they'd give the old test 
track to NASCAR .  It's just sitting there unused.

5)  What is the term for "pain-in-the-..." hobbyists who ask silly questions 
like those above?
"Educated pains in the ..."  :)  Actually I enjoy writng and talking about 
such.  Beats solving problems.  It's not much, but check out our public 
website at:  www.tacom.army.mil
The links there will give you a brief glimpse of where armor,weapons, 
clothing, ships, etc are going in so much as design.  Don't tell them I told 
you, shhhh, but you can email the contact on the website (PAO - public 
affairs office) and ask them to postal mail you equipment photos, 
knick-nacks and the like.  Just tell them you're a modeler and love tanks.  
Although we're not really updating it anymore (moved to a secured government 
only access website) check out my offices old Bradley public access website 
at:  www.pmbradley.org   There are a few cool photos there.

TimMc

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