In my thread about the AMX-30 I answered a question regarding tracks and mentioned just having ordered a couple of sets from a new-to-me maker.
They showed up last week and first impression was good enough I wanted to build something to use one of the sets on that would be a relatively quick and easy build. I grabbed a really old Tamiya M1 out of the bottom of the stash and got started, first assembling a run of ten links or so to check on fit to the drive sprockets. I tried two different Tamiya sprockets and one from an older Dragon kit.
In order, Tamiya, Tamiya with the guide ring and finally Dragon.
IMG_5200 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_5201 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_5202 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I’m happy, especially with how fast they go together. I made up a basic jig, put ten links on it, inserted the pins leaving a couple of millimeters of pin exposed and put a dab of super glue on the end of the pins. A quick shove to seat the pins and presto, a run of ten links was done, that easy. I assembled two runs of 75 links in about an hour.
Links on the jig:
IMG_5189 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
And with with pins not seated:
IMG_5190 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Of course that meant I had to actually start the model, so I did, knocking the hull and running gear pretty quickly as well, filled the open sponson undersides and checked the tracks on the model. My 75 link runs were tight, 76 links was way too loose so I whipped up some different idler mounts and went with 75 links. The whole upper run will be covered but I still wanted them to fit reasonably well. Without stretching the tracks, I got this:
IMG_5197 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Yes, if I was building a tank with the skirts off or open for maintenance, that’s loose. Since I didn’t want to stress the tracks or suspension parts, this is okay.
I had a few links that required a single swipe of a file to remove a bit of flash on a few links…
IMG_5193 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
And I ended up with 70+ extra links, pins as well. I had no broken or mal-formed links either.
I will be ordering more from CRS. And again, I have absolutely no connection with CRS Tankwerks, other than really liking their product.
Now I need to build an Abrams.
Looks good Russ,I bookmarked their site
Progress on the mule… I went for am M1 IP, not trying to correct everything but adding or correcting things where it’s obvious and relatively easy. I had the turret basket left over from a Trumpeter patrs kit. It was actually a close fit.
You and I have very different definitions of “mule” 
That’s an impressive amount of additional detail, but will ultimately do your new tracks and your stash kit the justice the deserve. Glad that they’re working out for you, and I look forward to following along at home!
Thanks!
I may have gone a little further into this than I initially intended but I really enjoy these old Tamiya kits.
I had some play time last night, got a bit more done on the turret. I’m using some parts from Academy here, the parts are at least as good and the plastic is a lot less brittle.
I belatedly realized I needed to update the turret blow-off panels, something that would have been smart to do before I did all the detail work on turret. Oh well. About 15 minutes with the Dremel and I had a smooth surface, and a bit later I had the correctly shaped panels. Some thinned MrSurfacer and I was done.
Just diddling around, I made up a stowed camo net, replaced the stowage box handles I knocked off when I did the blow-off panels and got some detailing started on the skirts.
Slowly but surely, stowage is going on. I also made up the last piece of the M1 skirts. The Esci part was too thick to fit over the sprocket. 
IMG_5254 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_5253 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_5252 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_5251 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
The M1 (green) will get some covered stowage on the top rear of the turret, per pics, but the IPM1 is about done as far as stowage goes. Both still need turret MGs, antennae and a couple of fiddly bits before I can prime.
And a time-waster, slapped together over a few hours here and there, because I was getting bored:
IMG_5247 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I call it “Mini Me”. This is what happens when I have lots of parts kits and too much imagination.