Reproduction UC Track availability?

ron · #1 08-06-10, 03:42

Hi Alex, just grabbed the first piece that I could, the pics show both ends and sides,along with the number4 on this piece and the makers name Malco,I forgot to mention that on the inside of both of the horns there is a small area that is rased with the letter A and 43,( Aust and the date I would think) these plates must have been attached to the original patterns and are approx one and a half inches long by about one quarter of an inch wide, you can even see the slotted heads of the screws used to attach them,says a lot for the quality of the workmanship in the foundry,hope the pics are of interest, I will dig out some better track if needed in a couple of days,
Regards Ron

Ian Patrick · #2 08-06-10, 05:40

The National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au has a large number of "Test Instructions" for carrier tracks (amongst other things).
Under "record search" on their website type in "carrier tracks".

A few examples of the instruction titles that they have are;
Test Instruction No 73 - Test No M144-145 - 1 set carrier tracks and sprockets from Eastern Command (partly used)
Test Instruction No 273 - Test No M381 - 1 No set of new carrier tracks (same make), 1 No set of new carrier sprockets [includes one bound copy of report]
Test Instruction No 218 - Test Nos M316-325 - Carrier tracks of five different makes [includes 1 bound copy of report]
Test Instruction No 158 - Test No M274 - Carrier tracks ex Keach Castings
Test Instruction No 2 - Test No 3 - [MG] carrier tracks ex McKay Massey Harris

I would hazard a guess that the track specs would be in one of these reports somewhere.
All these records are kept in Melbourne so if anyone there can spare some time to duck into the archives and trawl through what will probably be pages and pages of useless information they may eventually stumble upon the track recipe...

Ian

RichardT10829 · #3 08-06-10, 23:21

Fantastic work Ian well done.... thanks for doing that ! i only hope in amongst that lot there is the recipe for canadian/British pattern links.

Wayne Henderson · #4 09-06-10, 06:39

I dug out one of the original SE (State Engineering Works) pattens, no 37 and 38 in a long sequence.
This is the "main guts" of the patten, there is also a plate guide and pin blocks, but it will give you an idea of the work that went into producing track links.
As I don't post pictures (don't ask) I'll send the images on to crankytank.

cantankrs · #5 09-06-10, 06:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron

...the pics show both ends and sides...hope the pics are of interest...

Hi Ron,

Were you attaching some pics or have I just got my wires crossed?

Regards

Alex

ron · #6 09-06-10, 12:59

Hi Alex, Sorry mate the computer would not let me send them yesterday so will try now

ron · #7 09-06-10, 13:05

Alex just one more, this track sat in a shed for 53 years befor I got it

ron · #8 09-06-10, 13:09

Hi Ian and thanks for posting that information regarding the track tests,they should make for very interesting reading, thanks mate Ron

RichardT10829 · #9 09-06-10, 15:44

Ron, are those shots of Australian pattern track or Can/Brit ? i have had a look at a couple of links in my pile and i cant see any maker marks or proof stamps, i will give them a clean up and see if i can find some.

cantankrs · #10 09-06-10, 16:39

Wayne has kindly sent thru some pics.

The tapered block things beside the guide horns are core prints to receive sand cores to form the recess on the outsides of the horns.

Quote:

Hi Alex,
Main track link section is alloy, centre section is bronze and the pins are steel.
Wayne

Alex

cantankrs · #11 10-06-10, 15:15

Had a think about Wayne's pics. I've never cast metal apart from lead in my life but I'm intending giving it a go so I've gathered and read a fair bit about it. I mentioned the horn core prints earlier and I've circled in yellow all the visible core prints in this pic. Core prints are corresponding depressions in the sand in which a baked sand core is placed. The core is longer than the void it needs to bridge or fit so that it gets held in place by its extremities. All the horizontal bits of steel rod in this case will be replaced with sand cores the same length and diameter after the pattern is removed and before the drag and cope are fitted back together. Thus sand against sand becomes the mold, but any cavity receives metal from the pour.

The pink oval is the area of the feed runners (the horizontal bars). The vertical rounded top parts may be risers or feeders - I'm not sure which - perhaps they're both. Comparison of these pattern vs Ron's actual track link pics shows where the runners were cut off the track during finishing.

But the interesting part is the two vertical pins. This track link shape is known as an odd side pattern. The pattern is one piece so I'm thinking it must have been placed pins downward into a complimentary shape (can't think of the name) that defined the parting surface. The top half was rammed up in a flask and screed off and then the whole carefully turned over on the moulding board and this other mystery shape removed and parting powder sprinkled over the parting surface and then the other half of the flask fitted onto the first and then this second side of the pattern was rammed up.

Regards

Alex