±Recent Visitors

Recent Visitors to Com-Central!

±User Info-big


Welcome Anonymous

Nickname
Password

Membership:
Latest: HighestAce
New Today: 0
New Yesterday: 0
Overall: 6648

People Online:
Members: 0
Visitors: 967
Total: 967
Who Is Where:
 Visitors:
01: Community Forums
02: Photo Gallery
03: Community Forums
04: Community Forums
05: Community Forums
06: Downloads
07: Community Forums
08: Community Forums
09: Community Forums
10: Photo Gallery
11: Community Forums
12: Home
13: Photo Gallery
14: Home
15: Community Forums
16: Community Forums
17: Community Forums
18: Community Forums
19: Member Screenshots
20: Member Screenshots
21: Community Forums
22: Community Forums
23: Member Screenshots
24: Community Forums
25: Photo Gallery
26: Home
27: Downloads
28: Community Forums
29: Community Forums
30: Community Forums
31: Home
32: Community Forums
33: Community Forums
34: Home
35: Statistics
36: Your Account
37: Community Forums
38: Community Forums
39: Community Forums
40: Community Forums
41: Community Forums
42: Community Forums
43: Photo Gallery
44: News
45: Community Forums
46: Community Forums
47: Community Forums
48: Community Forums
49: Home
50: Home
51: Photo Gallery
52: Community Forums
53: Community Forums
54: Community Forums
55: Community Forums
56: Community Forums
57: Community Forums
58: Community Forums
59: Community Forums
60: Community Forums
61: Community Forums
62: Photo Gallery
63: Community Forums
64: Member Screenshots
65: Home
66: Community Forums
67: Community Forums
68: Community Forums
69: News
70: Photo Gallery
71: Community Forums
72: Community Forums
73: Community Forums
74: Community Forums
75: Community Forums
76: Community Forums
77: Photo Gallery
78: Community Forums
79: Supporters
80: Photo Gallery
81: Community Forums
82: Community Forums
83: Community Forums
84: Community Forums
85: Community Forums
86: Home
87: Photo Gallery
88: Photo Gallery
89: Community Forums
90: Community Forums
91: Community Forums
92: Member Screenshots
93: Community Forums
94: Community Forums
95: Member Screenshots
96: Home
97: Community Forums
98: Community Forums
99: Community Forums
100: Community Forums
101: Community Forums
102: Community Forums
103: Community Forums
104: Photo Gallery
105: Member Screenshots
106: Community Forums
107: Community Forums
108: Member Screenshots
109: Member Screenshots
110: Community Forums
111: Community Forums
112: Home
113: Community Forums
114: Community Forums
115: Community Forums
116: Home
117: Downloads
118: Community Forums
119: Community Forums
120: Community Forums
121: Community Forums
122: Statistics
123: Community Forums
124: Member Screenshots
125: Community Forums
126: Downloads
127: Community Forums
128: Community Forums
129: Community Forums
130: News Archive
131: Downloads
132: Community Forums
133: Community Forums
134: Community Forums
135: Community Forums
136: Community Forums
137: Community Forums
138: Photo Gallery
139: Community Forums
140: Community Forums
141: Community Forums
142: Community Forums
143: Downloads
144: Community Forums
145: Community Forums
146: Community Forums
147: Home
148: Home
149: Community Forums
150: Community Forums
151: Member Screenshots
152: Photo Gallery
153: Community Forums
154: News
155: Photo Gallery
156: Member Screenshots
157: Community Forums
158: Community Forums
159: Community Forums
160: Home
161: Community Forums
162: Photo Gallery
163: Photo Gallery
164: Community Forums
165: Community Forums
166: Member Screenshots
167: Community Forums
168: Community Forums
169: Home
170: Downloads
171: Community Forums
172: Downloads
173: Member Screenshots
174: Community Forums
175: Photo Gallery
176: News Archive
177: Photo Gallery
178: Member Screenshots
179: Community Forums
180: Home
181: Community Forums
182: Community Forums
183: Home
184: Member Screenshots
185: Photo Gallery
186: Community Forums
187: Community Forums
188: Community Forums
189: Community Forums
190: Member Screenshots
191: Community Forums
192: Community Forums
193: Community Forums
194: Community Forums
195: Community Forums
196: Community Forums
197: Community Forums
198: Member Screenshots
199: Community Forums
200: Community Forums
201: Community Forums
202: Community Forums
203: Community Forums
204: Community Forums
205: Community Forums
206: Community Forums
207: Community Forums
208: Home
209: Home
210: Community Forums
211: Community Forums
212: Statistics
213: News Archive
214: Community Forums
215: Member Screenshots
216: Member Screenshots
217: Photo Gallery
218: Community Forums
219: Community Forums
220: Community Forums
221: Member Screenshots
222: Home
223: Community Forums
224: Photo Gallery
225: Community Forums
226: Photo Gallery
227: Community Forums
228: News Archive
229: Photo Gallery
230: News Archive
231: Community Forums
232: Community Forums
233: Community Forums
234: Photo Gallery
235: Home
236: News Archive
237: News Archive
238: Community Forums
239: Photo Gallery
240: Community Forums
241: Downloads
242: Community Forums
243: Community Forums
244: Member Screenshots
245: Your Account
246: Community Forums
247: Community Forums
248: Community Forums
249: Statistics
250: Photo Gallery
251: Photo Gallery
252: Home
253: Home
254: Member Screenshots
255: Member Screenshots
256: Home
257: Member Screenshots
258: Community Forums
259: Home
260: Photo Gallery
261: Community Forums
262: News Archive
263: News Archive
264: News Archive
265: Community Forums
266: Member Screenshots
267: Community Forums
268: Community Forums
269: Community Forums
270: Community Forums
271: Community Forums
272: Downloads
273: Home
274: Community Forums
275: Community Forums
276: Community Forums
277: Downloads
278: News Archive
279: Community Forums
280: News Archive
281: News Archive
282: Member Screenshots
283: Community Forums
284: Your Account
285: Community Forums
286: Photo Gallery
287: Home
288: Community Forums
289: Community Forums
290: Home
291: Photo Gallery
292: Community Forums
293: Downloads
294: Community Forums
295: Community Forums
296: Photo Gallery
297: Community Forums
298: Statistics
299: News Archive
300: Member Screenshots
301: Community Forums
302: Home
303: Community Forums
304: Home
305: Community Forums
306: Photo Gallery
307: Home
308: Community Forums
309: Community Forums
310: Community Forums
311: Community Forums
312: Home
313: Community Forums
314: Community Forums
315: Photo Gallery
316: News Archive
317: Downloads
318: Home
319: Community Forums
320: Home
321: Member Screenshots
322: Home
323: Community Forums
324: Member Screenshots
325: Downloads
326: Member Screenshots
327: Home
328: Home
329: Community Forums
330: Community Forums
331: Member Screenshots
332: Downloads
333: Community Forums
334: Photo Gallery
335: Photo Gallery
336: Member Screenshots
337: Community Forums
338: Statistics
339: Community Forums
340: Community Forums
341: Home
342: Community Forums
343: Community Forums
344: News Archive
345: Community Forums
346: Community Forums
347: Community Forums
348: Member Screenshots
349: Home
350: Community Forums
351: Community Forums
352: Home
353: Community Forums
354: Community Forums
355: Home
356: Statistics
357: Community Forums
358: Community Forums
359: Community Forums
360: Community Forums
361: Community Forums
362: Community Forums
363: Community Forums
364: Community Forums
365: Downloads
366: Community Forums
367: Community Forums
368: Community Forums
369: Member Screenshots
370: Community Forums
371: Community Forums
372: Community Forums
373: Community Forums
374: Home
375: Community Forums
376: Home
377: Community Forums
378: Community Forums
379: Community Forums
380: Community Forums
381: Community Forums
382: Community Forums
383: Photo Gallery
384: Community Forums
385: Home
386: Home
387: Photo Gallery
388: Home
389: Home
390: Community Forums
391: Your Account
392: Community Forums
393: Photo Gallery
394: Community Forums
395: Community Forums
396: Community Forums
397: Member Screenshots
398: Downloads
399: Home
400: News Archive
401: Community Forums
402: Member Screenshots
403: Community Forums
404: Photo Gallery
405: Community Forums
406: Community Forums
407: Community Forums
408: Community Forums
409: Member Screenshots
410: Home
411: Community Forums
412: Community Forums
413: Community Forums
414: Community Forums
415: Photo Gallery
416: Community Forums
417: Your Account
418: Community Forums
419: Community Forums
420: Community Forums
421: Photo Gallery
422: Community Forums
423: Member Screenshots
424: Community Forums
425: Photo Gallery
426: Community Forums
427: News
428: Home
429: Community Forums
430: Community Forums
431: Community Forums
432: News Archive
433: Community Forums
434: Community Forums
435: Community Forums
436: Community Forums
437: Community Forums
438: Downloads
439: Photo Gallery
440: Community Forums
441: Community Forums
442: Community Forums
443: News
444: Community Forums
445: Photo Gallery
446: Contact
447: Community Forums
448: Community Forums
449: Community Forums
450: Community Forums
451: Home
452: News Archive
453: Community Forums
454: Community Forums
455: Community Forums
456: Community Forums
457: Community Forums
458: Community Forums
459: Member Screenshots
460: News Archive
461: Community Forums
462: Community Forums
463: Downloads
464: Member Screenshots
465: Community Forums
466: Member Screenshots
467: Member Screenshots
468: Community Forums
469: Community Forums
470: Community Forums
471: News Archive
472: Community Forums
473: Community Forums
474: Statistics
475: Community Forums
476: Community Forums
477: Community Forums
478: News Archive
479: Home
480: Community Forums
481: Member Screenshots
482: Member Screenshots
483: Community Forums
484: Community Forums
485: Community Forums
486: Community Forums
487: Home
488: Community Forums
489: Community Forums
490: Community Forums
491: Photo Gallery
492: Community Forums
493: Community Forums
494: Community Forums
495: Home
496: Home
497: Community Forums
498: Home
499: Member Screenshots
500: Member Screenshots
501: Member Screenshots
502: Community Forums
503: Community Forums
504: Member Screenshots
505: Member Screenshots
506: Community Forums
507: Downloads
508: Community Forums
509: Statistics
510: Community Forums
511: Member Screenshots
512: Community Forums
513: News
514: Community Forums
515: Community Forums
516: Community Forums
517: Community Forums
518: Your Account
519: Community Forums
520: Community Forums
521: Community Forums
522: Community Forums
523: Photo Gallery
524: Community Forums
525: Member Screenshots
526: Downloads
527: Community Forums
528: Community Forums
529: Statistics
530: Downloads
531: Photo Gallery
532: Community Forums
533: Contact
534: Community Forums
535: Statistics
536: Community Forums
537: Community Forums
538: Member Screenshots
539: Community Forums
540: Community Forums
541: Community Forums
542: Community Forums
543: Community Forums
544: Photo Gallery
545: Community Forums
546: News Archive
547: Community Forums
548: Community Forums
549: Community Forums
550: Community Forums
551: Community Forums
552: Downloads
553: Community Forums
554: Community Forums
555: Community Forums
556: Community Forums
557: Community Forums
558: Downloads
559: Community Forums
560: Community Forums
561: Community Forums
562: Community Forums
563: Community Forums
564: Members List
565: Member Screenshots
566: Community Forums
567: Community Forums
568: Community Forums
569: Community Forums
570: Downloads
571: Member Screenshots
572: Community Forums
573: Community Forums
574: Community Forums
575: Photo Gallery
576: Home
577: Home
578: Member Screenshots
579: Community Forums
580: Community Forums
581: Community Forums
582: Community Forums
583: Home
584: Downloads
585: Community Forums
586: Community Forums
587: Photo Gallery
588: Community Forums
589: Community Forums
590: Community Forums
591: Your Account
592: Home
593: Community Forums
594: Community Forums
595: Community Forums
596: Community Forums
597: Photo Gallery
598: Community Forums
599: Home
600: Community Forums
601: Community Forums
602: News Archive
603: Member Screenshots
604: Community Forums
605: Community Forums
606: Community Forums
607: Community Forums
608: Home
609: Community Forums
610: Statistics
611: Community Forums
612: Home
613: Home
614: Community Forums
615: Home
616: Community Forums
617: Photo Gallery
618: Community Forums
619: Community Forums
620: Community Forums
621: Member Screenshots
622: Community Forums
623: Home
624: Statistics
625: Community Forums
626: Your Account
627: Community Forums
628: Community Forums
629: Community Forums
630: Home
631: Community Forums
632: Community Forums
633: Community Forums
634: Community Forums
635: Community Forums
636: Home
637: Home
638: Photo Gallery
639: Community Forums
640: Your Account
641: Photo Gallery
642: Photo Gallery
643: Community Forums
644: Statistics
645: Statistics
646: Community Forums
647: Home
648: Community Forums
649: Community Forums
650: Community Forums
651: Community Forums
652: Your Account
653: Photo Gallery
654: Member Screenshots
655: Downloads
656: Photo Gallery
657: Community Forums
658: Community Forums
659: Community Forums
660: Community Forums
661: Community Forums
662: Home
663: Community Forums
664: Community Forums
665: Home
666: Statistics
667: News
668: Downloads
669: Community Forums
670: Downloads
671: Community Forums
672: News Archive
673: Community Forums
674: Community Forums
675: Community Forums
676: Community Forums
677: News Archive
678: Downloads
679: Community Forums
680: Photo Gallery
681: Community Forums
682: Community Forums
683: Community Forums
684: Community Forums
685: Community Forums
686: Community Forums
687: Member Screenshots
688: Photo Gallery
689: Community Forums
690: Your Account
691: Community Forums
692: Community Forums
693: Community Forums
694: Community Forums
695: Community Forums
696: Statistics
697: Community Forums
698: Statistics
699: Community Forums
700: Photo Gallery
701: Community Forums
702: Home
703: Community Forums
704: Community Forums
705: Community Forums
706: Community Forums
707: Community Forums
708: Photo Gallery
709: Community Forums
710: Home
711: Downloads
712: Community Forums
713: Community Forums
714: Statistics
715: Photo Gallery
716: Community Forums
717: Community Forums
718: Your Account
719: Community Forums
720: Member Screenshots
721: Member Screenshots
722: Community Forums
723: Community Forums
724: Community Forums
725: Home
726: Community Forums
727: Community Forums
728: Photo Gallery
729: Member Screenshots
730: Statistics
731: Home
732: Community Forums
733: Community Forums
734: Community Forums
735: Community Forums
736: Community Forums
737: Home
738: Community Forums
739: Home
740: Community Forums
741: Community Forums
742: Community Forums
743: Photo Gallery
744: Community Forums
745: Photo Gallery
746: Community Forums
747: Community Forums
748: Community Forums
749: Community Forums
750: Community Forums
751: Community Forums
752: Member Screenshots
753: Community Forums
754: Statistics
755: Community Forums
756: Member Screenshots
757: Statistics
758: Community Forums
759: Home
760: Home
761: Community Forums
762: News Archive
763: Community Forums
764: Community Forums
765: Member Screenshots
766: Community Forums
767: Home
768: Home
769: Community Forums
770: Home
771: Community Forums
772: Community Forums
773: News Archive
774: Community Forums
775: Community Forums
776: Community Forums
777: Home
778: Photo Gallery
779: News Archive
780: Community Forums
781: Community Forums
782: Community Forums
783: Community Forums
784: Your Account
785: Community Forums
786: Community Forums
787: Community Forums
788: Community Forums
789: Home
790: Community Forums
791: Community Forums
792: Member Screenshots
793: Community Forums
794: Community Forums
795: Community Forums
796: Community Forums
797: Downloads
798: Community Forums
799: Community Forums
800: Community Forums
801: Community Forums
802: Community Forums
803: Member Screenshots
804: Community Forums
805: Community Forums
806: Community Forums
807: Community Forums
808: Community Forums
809: Community Forums
810: Photo Gallery
811: Community Forums
812: Community Forums
813: Community Forums
814: Community Forums
815: Community Forums
816: Photo Gallery
817: Community Forums
818: Downloads
819: Member Screenshots
820: Member Screenshots
821: Community Forums
822: Community Forums
823: Community Forums
824: Member Screenshots
825: Photo Gallery
826: Home
827: Member Screenshots
828: Community Forums
829: Community Forums
830: Community Forums
831: Community Forums
832: Community Forums
833: Statistics
834: Community Forums
835: Community Forums
836: Community Forums
837: Community Forums
838: Community Forums
839: Community Forums
840: Community Forums
841: Community Forums
842: Community Forums
843: Photo Gallery
844: Member Screenshots
845: Community Forums
846: Community Forums
847: Home
848: Community Forums
849: Your Account
850: Community Forums
851: Community Forums
852: Home
853: Community Forums
854: Community Forums
855: Community Forums
856: Community Forums
857: Photo Gallery
858: Community Forums
859: Member Screenshots
860: Home
861: Photo Gallery
862: Home
863: Community Forums
864: Community Forums
865: Community Forums
866: Photo Gallery
867: Home
868: News Archive
869: Downloads
870: Community Forums
871: Community Forums
872: Community Forums
873: Downloads
874: Community Forums
875: Community Forums
876: Downloads
877: Community Forums
878: Downloads
879: Home
880: Member Screenshots
881: Community Forums
882: Downloads
883: Home
884: Community Forums
885: Home
886: Community Forums
887: Community Forums
888: Community Forums
889: Community Forums
890: Member Screenshots
891: Community Forums
892: Photo Gallery
893: Member Screenshots
894: Community Forums
895: Community Forums
896: Member Screenshots
897: Member Screenshots
898: Community Forums
899: Community Forums
900: Member Screenshots
901: News Archive
902: Community Forums
903: Community Forums
904: Member Screenshots
905: Community Forums
906: Member Screenshots
907: Community Forums
908: Community Forums
909: Community Forums
910: Member Screenshots
911: Community Forums
912: Community Forums
913: Community Forums
914: Community Forums
915: Community Forums
916: Community Forums
917: Member Screenshots
918: Community Forums
919: Community Forums
920: Community Forums
921: Community Forums
922: Community Forums
923: Community Forums
924: News Archive
925: Community Forums
926: Community Forums
927: Community Forums
928: Community Forums
929: Community Forums
930: Community Forums
931: Community Forums
932: Home
933: Community Forums
934: Community Forums
935: Community Forums
936: Home
937: Member Screenshots
938: Member Screenshots
939: Member Screenshots
940: Community Forums
941: Photo Gallery
942: Community Forums
943: Community Forums
944: Member Screenshots
945: News Archive
946: Member Screenshots
947: Community Forums
948: Community Forums
949: Community Forums
950: Home
951: Community Forums
952: Community Forums
953: Downloads
954: Photo Gallery
955: Community Forums
956: Downloads
957: Member Screenshots
958: Community Forums
959: Community Forums
960: Community Forums
961: Community Forums
962: News Archive
963: Member Screenshots
964: Community Forums
965: Member Screenshots
966: Home
967: Community Forums

Staff Online:

No staff members are online!
Sources for track colour information?
The AFV ASSOCIATION was formed in 1964 to support the thoughts and research of all those interested in Armored Fighting Vehicles and related topics, such as AFV drawings. The emphasis has always been on sharing information and communicating with other members of similar interests; e.g. German armor, Japanese AFVs, or whatever.
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page     Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board

View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Jim_Coles
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 56

PostPosted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 3:56 am
Post subject: Sources for track colour information?

I'm looking for information to use in getting the correct colour on model AFV tracks - something other than the generic rust/brown. I know that track links were cast from a variety of metal alloys, and that the colour of the metal varied depending on the alloy used.

Does anyone know of any sources which would identify A) the composition of track links for specific WW2 and modern AFVs and/or B) the colour of the various alloys (preferably under normal field conditions, not after sitting on a slab for 20 years)?
Back to top
View user's profile
Michel_Krauss
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Oct 30, 2009
Posts: 953
Location: Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
PostPosted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:53 am
Post subject: Re: Sources for track colour information?

Hi Jim,

maybe this will be helpfull for modern AFV track's
On the ArmyTechnology site are some track manufactures listed

www.army-technology.co...llery.html

Very good is Diehl Remscheid from Germany (site is English) they have an list of metal alloy's used for tracks, including some picture's of new tracks
www.diehl-remscheid.com/

Also an good reference is checking on tracked construction machinery
Metals used for the track will be similair to one's used on AFV, also the wear will be similair

The material used for tracks today is almost the same as during WW2

Concerning the colour of alloy's, there is little colour difference, especially when tracks are new
Polished steel or cast iron looks the same as stainless steel alloy's
There only will be an difference between 2 very different materials like metals based on steel or aluminium

There will be an difference after an curtain amount of time, because of corrosion
Aluminium alloy's most of the time will get white spots
Steel alloy's will become rust/brown

Michel

_________________
I'm Not Crazy, I'm Just Not You
Back to top
View user's profile
JimWeb
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 1439
Location: The back of beyond
PostPosted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 1:35 pm
Post subject: Re: Sources for track colour information?

- Jim_Coles
Does anyone know of any sources which would identify A) the composition of track links for specific WW2 and modern AFVs and/or B) the colour of the various alloys (preferably under normal field conditions, not after sitting on a slab for 20 years)?


IIRC new british tracks have always arrived covered in a gloss black paint so you cannot actually see the alloy colour. Looking through some images here its looks like this practice may date back to before WW2.

_________________
TTFN
Jim

If your not a member of JED then your
not serious about anything military..

***********************
www.jedsite.info
JED Military Equipment
***********************
Back to top
View user's profile Visit poster's website ICQ Number
MarkHolloway
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Apr 08, 2006
Posts: 2054
Location: Beatty, Nevada
PostPosted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:56 pm
Post subject: Re: Sources for track colour information?

I agrre with Jim. When they are new they are black. Possibly coated with cozmoline (sp?).

_________________
"TUMBLEWEED"
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail Photo Gallery
L.Delsing
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Feb 10, 2006
Posts: 960

PostPosted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:02 pm
Post subject: Re: Sources for track colour information?

Don't know if it is visible on this picture, but after driving through sand the tracks are have a greyish (sp?) metal colour. When new they have almost the same colour. Hope this helps.
Regards,
Lesley

Back to top
View user's profile
Michel_Krauss
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Oct 30, 2009
Posts: 953
Location: Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
PostPosted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:27 pm
Post subject: Re: Sources for track colour information?

Hi folks,

found some additional reference photo material

www.dreamstime.com/sea...s&s_sm=any

picture from everything : new, used, rusty, worn out, painted, Russian, American, etc Mr. Green

maybe some-one can use it

Michel

_________________
I'm Not Crazy, I'm Just Not You
Back to top
View user's profile
Jim_Coles
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 56

PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:32 pm
Post subject: Re: Sources for track colour information?

Thanks for the info.

I have come across several comments that WW2 German tracks were cast from manganese steel, which gave them a "brown" colour. Can anyone provide any further info on this? Was the brown due to oxidation, replacing the red/orange of normal iron/steel rust, or was it an actual change to the basic metal colour?
Back to top
View user's profile
Michel_Krauss
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Oct 30, 2009
Posts: 953
Location: Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
PostPosted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:26 pm
Post subject: Re: Sources for track colour information?

Hi Jim,

I have been searching the internet and cast manganese steel appears a little brownish in colour
Most likely this is just an little corrosion, because Magnase steel is an alloy of steel and magnese



An good example of magnese steel that is easy to find is railway track
The rail is made out of magnese steel, it is not an cast material but very similair

The part that is worn of because of the contact of the train wheel is shiny and in appearance similair to (polished) steel
The side are rust brown / orange

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...stoss.jpeg

Michel

_________________
I'm Not Crazy, I'm Just Not You
Back to top
View user's profile
C_Sherman
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 590

PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:08 pm
Post subject: Re: Sources for track colour information?

Hi,

Modern (which is to say, since the early 60's at least) US tracks are painted with a very durable black preservative paint when they leave the factory. I've seen them at every stage from brand new to nearly falling off the vehicle, and I've rarely seen bright steel color on any of them.

(Modern high-strength and armor steels generally don't get shiny silver-colored unless they are somehow polished. Bare metal is usually some shade of metallic grey, ranging from quite dark to rarely quite light.)

M48 & M60-series tracks were cast rubber blocks encasing the metal components. The only visible metal parts were the end-connectors and the center-guides. These usually started black and weathered to a dull metallic gray. The sides of the center-guides could get a little bit polished as they rubbed against the inner surfaces of the roadwheels, but usually appeared to be just a brighter shade of metallic grey. In certain light it could sometimes look more silvery, but even that faded quickly as the bare metal quickly oxidizes to dull the sheen.

Late in the M60-series and continuing into the M1-series, the track was changed to a cast (forged?) steel track block with replaceable rubber wear pads on the outside surface. They retained a rubber insert on the inside surface for the roadwheels to run on, which probably also helps to keep it quieter. That steel track block comes painted black also, and usually wears down to a dull metallic medium gray color. The end-connectors and center-guides wear the same as for earlier track. The track for M113s and M2/M3 Bradley-series vehicles is similar.

One special situation is when the track is run in soft sand, which tends to clean and somewhat polish the steel. The steel never seems to really get bright, but will get much lighter colored.

All this bare metal rusts very quickly when no longer subject to being rubbed against other parts. It doesn't usually get that weird orange rust except for in a few spots. The color of the rust is generally somewhere between a reddish-brown and brownish-red. The longer it sits, the darker it gets.

My observations, your definition of "silver" may vary!

C

_________________
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it
will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
-Herm Albright

Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc!
Back to top
View user's profile Photo Gallery
jtrowbridge5
Power User

Offline Offline
Joined: Jan 24, 2006
Posts: 234

PostPosted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:59 pm
Post subject: Re: Sources for track colour information?

tracks on German tanks
Dennis

jtrowbridge5.smugmug.c...and-Wheels
Back to top
View user's profile Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic    Reply to topic    Printer Friendly Page    Forum Index ›  AFV News Discussion Board
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 6 Hours



Jump to:  


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum