Do you guys think that link treads actually look realistic on a Sherman? My understanding is that Sherman treads were live, and so they’d have some spring to them. Is this a case in which the kit treads might actually be better?
I have a set of those plastic treads made by the guy in Ohio (or Indiana?) and they look like a lot of work, which I will happliy do as long as they look better when they are done.
Will they?
For Shermans, I like the belts better. You don’t really get any sag on Sherman tracks, so in my opinion links are a waste of time.
Go belts!!
I would use the rubber band type as long as the are good ones. I have an AFV Club set of indys that I bought before I realized how good Tamiya’s new tracks were and now they sit on a shelf waiting for a kit with bad tracks.
Larry,
The vinyl type tracks are definitely easier, but you can get a “live” looking track with individual links if they are adjusted properly. You are right to say that the indi’s will take a lot of work. The 198 links I just jut on my Pz IV took about two weeks, start to finish, but they look so much better than vinyl.
It’s really a question of time and effort.
Enjoy your modeling…
What kind of adjustment would be necessary?
When I say “adjusted properly”, I just mean that they have to be glued (non-workable links) so they appear stiff around all the running gear with little or no slack.
For workable links it can be a bit tricky. They have to be assembled with the fewest links necessary to get around everything and have a tight look. Sometimes manufacturers will have some “play” in the position of idler wheels on their kits. In these cases, I will dryfit the idler until the track is assembled. Then I’ll glue the ider on so that it tightens up the track.
Hope this helps,
I have used both,and think the belts of the newer kits look a little bit better than the indys on the lee/grant older shermans. But thats that is just my opion--------------------- Stephen. Have fun modeling thats what it’s for!!
I think that if you have the time and patience, you should definately do the individual track links. You will get a lot more satisfaction from the finished product. However, the indy track will still look great and are a million time easier to use (take my word for it).
I think you mean the belt-type treads. I actually have built my share of individual link treads. The time is ok by me. I’m asking what looks more realistic. I don’t want to spend the time building the individual link set of the belt treads actually look more like a sherman’s treads.
Larry, as opposed to Robert’s advice, I’ve got a set of Friul’s I’m working on right now for my Firefly. Even with all the cleanup and drilling I am having to do, they are still going together much faster than the kit (DML) indy’s were. As for the sag or lack thereof, I’m afraid they will want to sag more than they should because of the weight of the tracks. But once I’ve got the layout set, I think I’ll be able to super glue them together on the top run and that should take care of it. I’ll let you know as soon as I get a side done.
(DML’s Pz IB is finally in at Great Models!)
Have a great weekend.
Hi Larry,
I think from looking at pictures of real tanks that the individual links would look a bit better. The reason I say this, is with vinyl tracks you get a bit of sag or bow from the road wheels to the idler and drive sprocket.
Look at photographs and you will see that on the real tanks these runs of track are straight (tight).
However the vinyl tracks look pretty good, I think the individual links would give a slightly better or more realistic look.
It all depends on whether or not you feel the time is worth the effort.
Regards,
Joe
Hey Joe, wouldn’t the opposite be true? Won’t the individual links droop due to gravity whereas the vinyl lengths will be straighter?
Hi Larry,
I’ve seen some kits that were made using (apparently) individual links and they appear straighter than the M4A3 I’ve done using the vinyl.
The links would be glued together and allowed to dry before placing them on the kit, therefore they would be staight and not sag.
Regards,
Joe
The newer Tamiya rubber band tracks work great and look great too.
If all companies were as good as these, I’d never buy AM tracks for Shermans again.
I’m no stranger to tracked vehicles – I was around them for a number of years. However I’m not familiar with what’s meant by “treads were live”. [:I]
Hi David,
This is subject to correction, but I think it means there is no slack in them as would be found on WW2 German and WW2/modern Soviet armor.
Regards,
Joe