­ Fortunately on www.highend3d.com there’s MEL script called AS_TreadsCreation. Now making tank treads takes just a few clicks.

When you download the script copy it into your scripts folder (my documents/Maya/x.x/scripts). Also copy icons folder to scripts folder.

Start Maya, and in command line type RS_TreadsCreation;

Drag text using MMB to shelf.

Here, I created simple tread geometry and path curve from nurbs circle.

Run the script. A dialog box shall appear. Load curve as path curve, and tread geo as tread object. Also select axis you want tread to be oriented to. Choose instances. Now just hit Create Treads button.

And WOW, you have tank treads. Cool

You can notice that treads are bit separated. To solve that select all vertices in tread geometry and scale them. Also move the tread in Z axis to get nice overlapping on curved parts.

There’s locator in the scene. It has a control for speed. Nice eh?

The tank was created from series of cubes and cylinders. Notice that almost all edges are beveled. It helps getting realistic look. Turret is not parented onto the base of the tank. I’ll explain about that later.