Thread: Slow build of a half track

I prefer imperial as that is what I was brought up on most of the time when I dimension my own wood it is in imperial but if a plan is in metric I then work by that but am surprised that it don't turn out to be 10 times as big as sometimes get lost especially when the use meters then cm and also mm all in the same plane why can't they just use one of them or is it me just being old and stuck in my ways

Originally Posted by htl

I know you got a use for it but that there saw blade is scary!!!

May need to make some sort of guard for it. Watch this space

Well after Saturday's outing I think it knocked me out as Sunday I just played with the new bits I brought and today was a little slower than I expected but anyway still managed a very little on the half track.

Got the 8 wheels turned which should now be all of the bits for the track assembly all it needs now is the tracks themselves, I may leave them as I would like to turn the front two wheels so that the model sits level.

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Must get the shafts for these wheels cut next before the front wheels

Top Stuff again as usual Derek.

I will bet that you enjoy the wood turning the most

I enjoy the metal turning on my builds

Regards

Keith

No parts made today but I now have an empty bag of bits all the parts for the track assembly are now made and glued together. It is the fine adjustments that takes the time. Next will be the front wheels as I can't make the tracks yet as I am missing some dowelling rod spent a good part of this afternoon looking for a supplier here in the UK the problem being is that it is such a small diameter. Well once the wheels are done I will move onto the top of the half track this is where some of the build will appear to go a bit quicker.

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Love the track assembly!!!
When I built my 6x6 Power Wagon I was tempted to put this track assembly on it would have been way cool and heavy duty but went in another direction. LOL.

Is that all I have done today, well no I was expecting someone to come today so had to sit in the house waiting and after all that they never turned up at least the time was not wasted as I sat and marked out some of the pieces for the top of the half track and also this inner for the two wheels.

The other one has all the holes drilled out and need to be thinned to the same thickness as this and a chamfered edge put on. This one is now complete for the other parts of the wheel even these took a little time to set out.

Now that is VERY nice Derek

Regards

Keith

Very little done on the half track one because I had visitors yesterday my sisters and they dropped in for a cuppa and a chat they came down for my Aunties funeral which is today . Well to cut a long story short this is what they brought down as a little gift for me, they are both a member of a bowls club in Cirencester.

The bowls are old ones made from Lignum vitae

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Plus it is also just too hot to work in the afternoon once the sun hits the shed.

Anyway I have managed to get all of the parts for one complete wheel and have all the parts for the second and except the tyres which are ready to turn. Once both wheels are glued together I will give the outer rim a skim to make sure everything is matched as well as make a jig to cut the treads.

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Thanks for this post Derek.

Sorry about your aunty.

You aren't going to cut the lignum vitae up for turning are you ? Take up bowls mate - a top game

Do they play Crown Green bowls or normal bowls on a flat green in your area.

The wheel looks TOPS

Regards

Keith

Sorry Keith these will be turned. They have to be checked and other stuff before they could even be used again for some reason so now part of my wood stock.

Very little done today on the half track but prepared some wood for a jig to add the tyre detail on the front wheels thanks to Nine fingers post I will be making one very similar to his so that it can be used for different diameter wheels.
Also made a replacement B carriage for a name train as it got chewed by their dog so with the aid of one of the other letters so that I got it the correct size I produced one which did not take very long


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I had to look up that timber Derek, very durable hardwood with tight grain...nice score.. Cheers, Peter

PS - sorry Keith but timber looks better in toys, models, and such!!

Have you turned lignum vitae before Derek. I would imagine it very tough to turn.

Are you going to cut cross sections in the bandsaw ?

I am really, really interested in how you do it.

I could then show guys at the bowling club what you can do with bowls. (particularly after they abuse me as Chairman of Selectors)

Regards

Keith

It does turn very well and is an oily wood as I believe in some cases has been used for bearings. With sharp tools it is a dream to cut and get a great finish straight off the tool it will clog sandpaper very quick. I made the head of a mallet out of one a number of years ago and still going strong. With that I just turned between centres. A few bumps and bruises now but is great for my small carvings that I occasionally do.

Just sitting here having my morning cuppa before shed work