Best Of Detailing the Micro-Trains DODX M1 Abrams Tank Sets

[soo]

I wonder what the psi is on a road wheel? And how do you change one when it goes flat?
Y-it

[Snark45]

Like this...

[Snark45]

So - I tried to post this with no message - just the attachment. Wouldn't let me. Now, when I attempt to correct that goof, the image gets re-inserted whenever I try to do that. Also, the image can't be expanded when clicked on.


I'll bite  --  how do I delete unwanted multiple images??

Harry

[flight2000]

I wonder what the psi is on a road wheel? And how do you change one when it goes flat?
Y-it

0 psi.  The road wheels are solid rubber mounted on aluminum wheels.  Good view of the wheels around the 1:30 mark.

Anyone want to give changing track a try?    

Cheers,
Brian

[soo]

Brian,
0psi. Just like the maximum effective range of an excuse...0 meters.
I know road wheels are hard rubber,,just trying to be funny.
I helped change two road wheels and repair a track on an M901a3. ( tracked TOW missle launcher,,on a M113a3 chassis).
That was in Korea during Team Spirit '88. I was voluntold to help.
Cya
Y-it

[flight2000]

Brian,
0psi. Just like the maximum effective range of an excuse...0 meters.
I know road wheels are hard rubber,,just trying to be funny.
I helped change two road wheels and repair a track on an M901a3. ( tracked TOW missle launcher,,on a M113a3 chassis).
That was in Korea during Team Spirit '88. I was voluntold to help.
Cya
Y-it

Oops, sorry about that - my sarcasm meter wasn't working this morning...

Cheers,
Brian

[John]

So - I tried to post this with no message - just the attachment. Wouldn't let me. Now, when I attempt to correct that goof, the image gets re-inserted whenever I try to do that. Also, the image can't be expanded when clicked on.


I'll bite  --  how do I delete unwanted multiple images??

Harry

Modify message, expand the attachments and uncheck the pix you dont want

[Snark45]

Much appreciated, John.

I feel like less of a idiot...

Regards,
Harry

[John]

Much appreciated, John.

I feel like less of a idiot...

Regards,
Harry

No worries .. I've been running this place since 2004 something and I still learn something new

[Mark W]

Ok, here's a first comparison between blind and daylighted wheels.  No question the blind wheels just don't convey any sense of depth. 


https://i.imgur.com/nJCCDOc.jpg


Even off angle, where you don't see daylight through the gaps, you still see the depth. 


https://i.imgur.com/aEmRwIq.jpg



https://i.imgur.com/PFEcCcd.jpg




Sure, this is subjective.  But for me it's one of those things where once you see the improvement, you can't un-see the difference.

For those of you who would agree but can't get over the tediousness of the task, well you're in luck too!  I paid our dues with kit-bashing and scratch-building, so now we can just 3D printed the upgrades!  More details on this later.


https://i.imgur.com/AuTbhoX.jpg

[John]

I'm for some of these from shapeways

[Mark W]

I just finalized the parts.  All that's left is to spruce them together and get them onto Shapeways tomorrow.

I'll offer them in two options, a 3 pack and a 6 pack.  Each will include a couple spare wheels and one spare drive sprocket per tank, and one spare track assembly per 3 tanks.  I also designed and will include 3 half hubs and 6 2-link tracks per tank, to decorate the hull as spare parts.   Although now as I type that, I wonder would these even be shipped with spare parts included? 

Guess we'll have time to look up reference while the beta prints happen. 

[flight2000]

I just finalized the parts.  All that's left is to spruce them together and get them onto Shapeways tomorrow.

I'll offer them in two options, a 3 pack and a 6 pack.  Each will include a couple spare wheels and one spare drive sprocket per tank, and one spare track assembly per 3 tanks.  I also designed and will include 3 half hubs and 6 2-link tracks per tank, to decorate the hull as spare parts.   Although now as I type that, I wonder would these even be shipped with spare parts included? 

Guess we'll have time to look up reference while the beta prints happen.

Normally things like spare track pads, road wheels, and BII that are normally carried on a tank would be crated and shipped in a separate 20' container.  We tried to keep anything that was pilferable off the tanks during shipment.

But I'm sure you could find photos of tanks with the stuff still left on... 

Cheers,
Brian

[Lemosteam]

https://i.imgur.com/AuTbhoX.jpg

Awesome but I assume you will be adding the drive sprocket to the read drive wheel?

Link?

[Mark W]

Yes, I made the drive sprocket, including optional anti-slip disk.


I found two great reference videos and think they put tank trains into two categories: Factory Deliveries and Squad/Platoon/Company? Movement. (Forgive and feel free to correct any incorrect terminology)

This first video is a Factory Delivery.  Everything is clean, complete, and bare of markings, and this shipment is part of a larger mixed-freight.  Another interesting thing to note on this video specifically for us, there are 3 red dodx single tank flat cars, 3 green dodx double tank flatcars, and 3 mixed green dodx double tank flatcars (and two other extras).  Methinks one or two guys at MTL may have this video memorized by now...

The other type of train is more of a large movement of active equipment (in this case, maybe some scrapped units too).  The train is only military equipment, nothing is shiny, and there is custom equipment, spare parts, missing parts, and other cargo sprinkled in.  This video particularly has a lot of missing skirts and wheels, but other movement trains have the same used equipment (in a little better shape) along with other vehicles and perhaps a few 89' flats loaded with containers, but no other general freight.