Started sand performance testing today. The sand used was typical child play sand one can purchase at any home improvement store. This sand is just course enough to find any weaknesses or issues in the suspension, road wheels, sprockets and tracks. As you can see in the the photos I did not spare the Hooben "Easy Eight" and packed the tracks and suspension components with sand as I repeated sharp turn after sharp turn both forward and reverse. I did this for about 20 minutes. During that time I experienced no track lose and the Hooben "Easy Eight" did not skip a beat in clearing the sand as I drove it out of each turn.

Also did some off camber driving to find the "roll over" point. I had an few issues earlier in the day on a obstacle that has never been a problem for my other tanks including the "Easy Eights" contemporary the M26 Pershing. The photo shown below is a simple mound with 40 degree side slops. Though the Hooben can handle driving along these off camber slops its clear it is nearing the limits of safe performance. It is a Sherman after all and well know for having a high CG coupled with a narrow hull/track width.

Photos below are screen shots from sand and off camber drive testing (YES the tracks are on backwards).


Hooben M4A3E8 Sherman, about to turn onto side slope.


On side slope test mound.


Sand testing.


Sand testing.


Sand testing.


Sand testing.


Sand testing.