How would this thing steer?

[Alpo]

This is from How to Marry a Millionaire. Betty Grable, and her hunk of the moment, are going up the mountain to look at some timber.

 

 

In the close up it's obvious it has a steering wheel, but it doesn't look like there's any way to turn the skis.

 

 

Thoughts?

[Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103]

The steering actually brakes one track or the other for steering ...

... wait a minute, if you can do that, eliminate the skis and go with longer tracks, so that's not it ...

The skis must steer.

No, no, it's evident they don't, just look at it ... besides, with two tracks driving, skis wouldn't be able to turn that thing ...

(scratches a rapidly thinning scalp)

Be damned if I know!

[Pat Riot]

Rear drive steering?

Wheel regulates power to each track?

 

[Ozark Huckleberry]

Probably with a rear differential, just like a regular truck (or most half-tracks).

[Subdeacon Joe]

From this article it seems that the skis did articulate.  "It’s a Model 443, with two tracks and skis for turning."  It does look like a few degrees of movement is possible.  Maybe a central pivot.  

As an aside, while looking for information about it I found https://dzen.ru/a/Y9etSd94h1dZsA1m  you'll need to use your translation program on it.

[Chantry]

Turning the skis to the right probably puts more power to the left track and vice versa.

[Texas Joker]

Rack and pinion puts angle in direction and lifts opposite ski while changing bite angle on edge of ski still on the ground.

 

Effectively provide direction and camber change to the steering skis.

[sassnetguy50]

The whole assembly rotates at the mount in front of the grille.  There were also accessory flip down wheels for hard ground.

[Texas Lizard]

What ever it uses, as long as it get somewhere to watch the moon come up....With a bench seat, you can keep warm....Just don't fog up the windows too much....

 

Texas Lizard

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

 

[Blackwater 53393]

I was told that it’s a combination of both. The tracks are controlled by braking and the skis turn in concert with the tracks.

[Alpo]

Then it seems it would have no need of a steering wheel.

 

Of course, just because they have a steering wheel in the close up does not mean there's an actual steering wheel in the machine. The close-up was taken in a prop.

[Subdeacon Joe]

9 minutes ago, Alpo said:

Then it seems it would have no need of a steering wheel.

 

Of course, just because they have a steering wheel in the close up does not mean there's an actual steering wheel in the machine. The close-up was taken in a prop.

 

Steering wheel turned the skis, just as the steering wheel on our halftracks turned the front wheels.

 

The idea is that anyone who can drive a car can get in and with minimal training drive it reasonably well. 

[Father Kit Cool Gun Garth]

23 hours ago, Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103 said:

The steering actually brakes one track or the other for steering ...

... wait a minute, if you can do that, eliminate the skis and go with longer tracks, so that's not it ...

The skis must steer.

No, no, it's evident they don't, just look at it ... besides, with two tracks driving, skis wouldn't be able to turn that thing ...

(scratches a rapidly thinning scalp)

Be damned if I know!

                        

[Sedalia Dave]

23 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

From this article it seems that the skis did articulate.  "It’s a Model 443 Model 423, with two tracks and skis for turning."  It does look like a few degrees of movement is possible.  Maybe a central pivot.  

As an aside, while looking for information about it I found https://dzen.ru/a/Y9etSd94h1dZsA1m  you'll need to use your translation program on it.

 

Fixed it for you. 

[Texas Joker]

Doesn't really need to steer. They're going straight there.

[Father Kit Cool Gun Garth]

17 minutes ago, Texas Joker said:

Doesn't really need to steer. They're going straight there.