| Col Durnford | 28 Sep 2016 1:42 p.m. PST |
Yesterday I open a Matchbox Panzerjager IV in 1/76 scale (the type with the rubber like treads). The treads were still black, however, they were so brittle the even touching caused them to crumble. It was purchased in 1999. |
 optional field  | 28 Sep 2016 2:03 p.m. PST |
I wonder if you could somehow treat those to keep them stable… Might be worth a quick Google search (or a YouTube search, they seem to have tutorial videos on everything these days) |
| jowady | 28 Sep 2016 2:46 p.m. PST |
The rubber dries out over time, just like rubber bands. Armorall is a product that can keep that from happening. |
| HMS Exeter | 28 Sep 2016 3:16 p.m. PST |
There are after market vendors who produce replacement treads for some of the Matchboxes. I don't know if yours is one, but an eBay search should yield an answer pretty readily. |
| goragrad | 28 Sep 2016 6:04 p.m. PST |
Armorall might do the trick. Years ago I read an article on restoring an ME-262. The tires were a mess – all dried out and cracked so the restorer soaked them in a tub of Armorall. According to the article it did the trick. Not sure I's want to do that with the tires on the car though… |
| Bob in Edmonton | 29 Sep 2016 6:06 a.m. PST |
I had this problem and eventually made a substitute by cutting and gluing a very thin zip-tie (has a tread-like pattern on one side). The thinnest zip ties you can find in the electrical department of a DIY store are the key. I used a thicker zip tie to start and it was a night mare. |
| Col Durnford | 29 Sep 2016 9:31 a.m. PST |
I don't believe any recovery was possible. The tracks fell apart in my hands. |
| Hafen von Schlockenberg | 29 Sep 2016 9:59 a.m. PST |
I've hated those things since I was a kid. |
| jowady | 29 Sep 2016 11:44 a.m. PST |
Armorall won't "restore" tracks but if you apply a coat a couple of times a year it will keep it from happening, it's preventive maintenance. |
| zoneofcontrol | 01 Oct 2016 6:05 a.m. PST |
Last Sunday, I attended the Matchbox Show at the Antique Auto Museum in Hershey, PA. Several of the sellers had replacement treads in multiple sizes for the various tracked vehicles. I assume that they are readily available. |
| colkitto | 05 Oct 2016 6:05 a.m. PST |
I have a couple of 1/76 Comets which have been in an attic for possibly decades. I was very disappointed that the tracks disintegrated when I picked them up. I tried contacting Revell, who were very quick to respond – but I was even more disappointed to hear that they don't make them any more! |
takes another stab at building a more perfect flight stand.
