First time here. I recently got back into modeling at the age of 24. Its been a few years but as I tell my parents its better than running the streets! Anyway I did a search and didn’t find what I was looking for so I am posting my question. I am 3/4 of the way done with a Dragon Sherman Firefly tank and I have found I do NOT have the patience to put all those tracks together. So I went out and bought a AFV Club track set thinking that because it says ‘rubber type’ on the side that it would be a set of rubber tracks like in the Tamiya model kits. I was wrong. They are even more complicated than the Dragon ones. Where can I go for a set of tracks. I need the Chevron style. I did find some at accurate-armour.com but they are out of the UK. Is that my only option? I don’t know if I will get flamed for not being ‘hard core’ but I thought I would ask.
Don’t believe anyone makes rubber tracks for any models. Most people who change tracks swap rubber for individual link plastic tracks. I believe the Accurate Armor ones are actually made of hard resin that is bent by heating them in hot water or the like. You can try Armorama.com’s Searching For, Buy, Sell, Trade Forum and see if anyone has some soft rubber track left over from a swap of plastic tracks. Here is the Armorama Forum: http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewforum&forum_id=3&page=1
You could also try Tamiya, they sell parts sprues and tracks out of their kits. You usually need a kit number and a part number, but may be able to just explain what you need. Their service is great and the track usually go for $5 a set and each sprue goes for about the same, plus shipping. Here is their contact info: http://www.tamiyausa.com/contact/index.php
I don’t know for sure but isn’t the firefly the stretch hull? Maybe someone knows. If this is the case, Squadon has “rubber band” type tracks that might work. They are T 49 tracks by AFV club. Part #AC35028. You might go to their site and check it out. If I recall I think I used these on a M4A4. They were a little tight though. Good luck.
Thanks guys, I appreciate the suggestions. I forgot to mention that I have already bought what I thought would be what I wanted. I have a set of tracks from AFV Club #35038http://www.legendshobbies.com/afv/af35038.jpg. M4 Sherman VVSS T48-Track. Workable Track Link Rubber Type. They need to be assembled but they don’t look as inflexable as the stock Dragon ones. Do they snap together and flex? Is that what is meant by ‘workable’?
thezfunk,
First, [#welcome].
I think the AFV set is called workable because they are assembled by placing the end connectors on the pads. It’s a friction fit and allows the tracks to remain flexible. Dragon’s needs to be glued together and once dried will not flex.
There are also some track extenders for the vinyl sets to allow you to use them on a M-4-A4 (stretched) hull. Sorry, but I don’t know who makes them. As far as I know they come in two types as I have some for (I think) rubber block and steel chevron with extenders.
Joe
Welcome[#welcome] Don’t feel bad about not wanting to do indies. When I first got back at this I was intimidated by them. Now that’s all I want to use. I have an old set of tracks from a Tamiya early M4. I’m not sure if they would fit because I believe the Firefly has a longer hull. They might though. If you want you can e-mail me and I will send them to you. They are off an old kit that got wrecked.
I did the Firefly last month and the tracks aren’t really that bad once you get started. Kinda like going swimming, sometimes ya just gotta jump in!!
You need the tracks and track extensions (part# h22) from the Academy M10 Achilles kit to be able to use rubber band tracks. Alternatively you could use RHPS indy links, they take a bit of work but look good in the end.
I think there is some confusion here. The Rubber part of the name of these tracks is to indicate that the tracks are the rubber shoe tracks used by Firefly’s. Its not that AFV or anyone else is making them out of rubber. What you really mean is you want one peice tracks I beleive. The link previoulsy posted to Squadron is the type of track you need.
I’ve got a set of AFV Club vinyl tracks (one piece). They are T-49 or what’s called the “three bar cleat” style. They’re made for the M4A4 hull, but are still a bit short. I had to stretch them quite a bit to get them on my firefly. They look great, but they aren’t rubber chevron. The AFV Club item number is “AF35028”. I think some one has already mentioned that.
