workable tracks

• ready to assembly,
• ready to paint,
• no glue required, 

• 210 track links
• 420 half-pins

• Early Tiger I tracks were very wide (about 725 mm / 28.5 inches).
• This helped spread the tank’s ~57-ton weight, reducing ground pressure.
• Result: better mobility on mud, snow, and soft ground than many expected for such a heavy tank.

• The tracks ran over a Schachtellaufwerk (interleaved/overlapping road wheel system).
• This design gave:
  • Smoother ride
  • Better weight distribution
• But it also made maintenance difficult—damaged inner wheels required removing outer ones.

• Tracks were made of large, heavy steel links connected by pins.
• Each link had deep guide teeth to keep the track aligned with the wheels.
• They were extremely durable but very heavy to handle manually.

• Early Tigers used two types of tracks:
  • Wide combat tracks (725 mm) for battlefield use
  • Narrow transport tracks (~520 mm) for rail transport
• Crews had to swap tracks before and after rail travel, which was time-consuming.

• The interleaved wheels combined with wide tracks could trap mud, snow, and ice.
• In freezing conditions, this could:
  • Jam the suspension
  • Make movement difficult or even immobilize the tank

• Early Tiger tracks required constant upkeep:
  • Pins could wear out or loosen
  • Track tension had to be carefully maintained
• Field repairs were labor-intensive, especially under combat conditions.

• Despite the drawbacks, the track system gave the Tiger:
  • Excellent cross-country mobility for its size
  • Stable firing platform due to reduced rocking

FAQ coming soon.