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Armor/AFV: Allied - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Allied forces during World War II.
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Best AM Tracks for Academy M4A3 (76)W?
tcpyro6
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Hawaii, United States
Joined: August 02, 2007
KitMaker: 19 posts
Armorama: 16 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 - 01:19 PM UTC
First post ever...and it's about Shermans. What is the recommended After Market tracks that will fit the drive sprocket on the Academy M4A3(76)W Battle of the Bulge kit? I bought the Bronco set (forgot which "T-")but after building a few links it is way too narrow. Don't want to have to modify the kit part if I don't have to.

Many thanks

Tom
russamotto
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Utah, United States
Joined: December 14, 2007
KitMaker: 3,389 posts
Armorama: 2,054 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 - 01:41 PM UTC
AFV Club tracks should fit it. There was a new company advertised recently but I don't remember the name. They did show the fit of the tracks to various sprockets including Academy and it was good. Master Club maybe?
tcpyro6
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Hawaii, United States
Joined: August 02, 2007
KitMaker: 19 posts
Armorama: 16 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 - 01:43 PM UTC
Many thanks

Tom
barkingdigger
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
ARMORAMA
#013
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: June 20, 2008
KitMaker: 3,981 posts
Armorama: 3,403 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2018 - 06:07 AM UTC
I built this kit, and like every other Academy Sherman/M10/M36/M3 it has drive sprockets that are about 1mm too narrow. Academy uses the same suspension parts in all these kits, so the problem is passed on. They make their tracks narrow to fit.

To make other brands of tracks fit, you need to widen the sprockets by adding a shim of 0.04" plastic between the two halves. I glue some sheet to the inner half across the hole where it mates to the outer half. When dry, open the hole and trim down the excess so you are left with a ring of plastic that effectively extends the drum of the inner half. Takes longer to describe than to do...

[Edited because I can't spell!]
tcpyro6
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Hawaii, United States
Joined: August 02, 2007
KitMaker: 19 posts
Armorama: 16 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 11, 2018 - 10:49 AM UTC
Tom

Many thanks on the technique...I'll give it a shot

V/r

Tom
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