Interested to see what tips and/or techniques folks have for working with these, whether interlock or the melted rivet kind, and how about repairing them?

I follow the manufacturers recommendation when first assembling the tracks, but if I have any doubts about the strength of the joint then I reinforce it with an office stapler. The stapler is used for repairs as well, just hide the staple under a roadwheel or behind a track guard or sand shield if fitted.

Tamiya instructions also say to use a stapler.

Well doh, the stapler makes a ton of sense there, Thanks!

The newer Tamiya and the Dragon DS tracks glue together.

Superglue across top of road wheels , press track down fingers making the sag tween wheels, when dried you got convincing track sag

Some great ideas here, how about "reviving" tracks in an old (20,30 yr+) model, when they seem to be bent out of shape? Heating them to re-supple the rubber/vinyl/plastic...hair dryers, boiling???

The old vinyl tracks didn't/don't handle heat well. I had them melt and distort if I left a kit in a hot car too long. They also tend to shrink when heated. If they are too distorted that they can't be used, then it's probably too late. I've taken damaged tracks on models where the top of the track was hidden by skirts, cut out the damaged section than secured them to the return rollers and hid the missing section by the skirts. Got more realistic track droop doing that.

Yep, I see there comes a time where no amount of creativity can revive 30-40 year old tracks, time to seek "alternative methods", LOL...thanks for the replies!

Clayton,

If the track is too gone for saving contact the manufacturer and see if they do replacement parts. I have done this with some old Tamiya kits and a model sitting in the attic for 30 years with brand new track looks great! Prices are fair and shipping is pretty easy.

Tim