So if you have followed my M4A1 build, you might have seen my latest post on the tracks and sprokets. How HL tracks and sprokets are narrower than the aftermarket upgrades offered by Mato. HL does offer their own metal tracks and sprokets on upgraded tanks, available in ebay where I got mine, and they are not compatible with Mato brand, which are much better.

So, now on to an Idea. Is anybody intested in T48 rubber chevron or T51 rubber block tracks?
I have not been able to find any aftermarket available (aside from the stock metal or plastic HL T48)
I have been kicking around the idea of having blocks injection molded of these two type of pads. They'd be black plastic so they would wear like rubber. The big catch is you would have to get a set of Mato tracks and punch out all the pins and swap the pads over. An evening worth of work.

these two pads are probably the most common that were seen in ETO until 45.

So how many people would be interested in them to make a more accurate track for your tank. Also, I think the plastic will wear better than than the metal on hard surfaces.

Hi
I would be interested in T-48 rubber chevron. I already have a set of Mato tracks with duckbill extended ends and they are to wide for my Taigen Sherman. Just to be clear you may make these so Mato tracks will fit on HL (Taigen i believe based their Sherman on HL) Sherman. Would plastic handle stress put on tracks?
cheers
dave

Plastic will be fine, the real stress is on the end connectors - and I'd assume Rich was planning on using the Mato ones?
You won't be able to make common tracks for the HL and Mato, as the sprockets are different widths and the end connectors different sizes (so they won't engage the teeth properly)

I thought the plastic Mato ones were the rubber chevron? I'd like a set of flat rubber pads for an early sherman, I didn't fancy grinding off the chevrons from ~160 track blocks... (Also a set of steel chevron cleat types as well for my DD)

I was not aware that taigen used the HL size of tracks. These are not compatible with Mato and the Mato after market sprokets.

Dave, if you bought the tracks and didnt get the Mato sprokets, they sell them seperately. You should go to matomart.com and order them, i assume they will fit a taigen since they all have the same D drive shaft. The Mato sprokets are nicer, and the rear idler has ball bearings.
That should get you fixed right up. If you would prefer to have plastic T48 chevrons, look for a take off HL set on ebay or advertise here.

The tracks I am thinking about having made would be to fit Mato sprokets and connectors because they are widely available, trusty, and really good quality. You would basically have to buy a whole set of mato aftermarket tracks and sprokets and dissassemble them and reassemble with new plastic track blocks. Unless I could somehow get just the parts needed from Mato to make up my own sets.

Keep in mind, I am just looking into this and it usually takes a large order to get parts injected. Luckily its only two and they are small.
cost will dictate priceing with the understanding of the added cost of mato track sets and labor involved.

I think the T51 pads will be popular as they are so prevelant on pre DDay tanks.

Also, the sprockets for the metal Mato tracks and sprockets are not compatible with the plastic Mato equivalents - don't ask me why, they just aren't
(Fortunately there's not really much need to replace the plastic sprockets, they are a good quality material)

I didn't know mato had plastic tracks and sprockets.
Are those on the M4a1 76mm that is no longer available?

I didn't know mato had plastic tracks and sprockets.
Are those on the M4a1 76mm that is no longer available?

You can buy Mato Plastic track and sprokets. Their plastic track is bullet proof. I just used their sprokets and plastic tracks on my HL Sherman,.Here are a couple of examples.

the track blocks are a good quality plastic that has a rubber feel to it, and the connectors are metal. It is great track.

You can still get them - Forgebear on UK ebay is still able to get the tanks in bits, just not complete. A set of plastic tracks is about 20 UK pounds.

Ok that is good to know i guess.

So it seems if you want T48 chevrons you could just get HL or Mato stock plastic tracks and stock sprockets.

maybe I will focus on the T51 pads. I could even cast them at home with my ultra strong black urethane I use for other model casting. Its just, drilling all those holes. Eesgh, shiver up my spine.

Dan where did you get the A1 small hatch hull on the desert sherman? That is badass, I want one.

That is a real mixed bag

That is a Profiline Resin hull. Best cast hull I have ever seen, Unfortunately I don't think they are available anymore. Although I think Taigen or Torro might have bought the molds.

The Tub is Mato with metal suspension

The 3 piece tranny cover was something I imported from the Netherlands

Mato Brass gear box

My own turret casting, and a lot of other Scratchbuilt features. All the headlight guards etc were fabricated out of flattened brass wire.

I have a pile of Sherman's Just putting the finish touches on Fury which can then be added to the stable..

funny you mention this as I have the Mato sherman and I upgraded the idler and drive sprockets with metal versions. The tank did'nt run well on the sprockets at all and kept jumping off. I think their is a slight mis-match between the metal and plastic drive sprocket teeth that causes the track to jump. Another thing I noticed is that the idler wheel in metal is much thinner than the plastic one, causing the track to run irregularly. Basically the metal drive and idler wheel upgrade was a waste of time and money, since the tank ran fine on the plastic versions - I've switched back to them. This is not the first time I have had trouble like this on metal upgrades and would advise caution when doing it.
Having said all this, I do have a tiger 1 and panzer 3 that run just fine on metal tracks and sprockets etc.- weird.

CaptB

Asiatam bought the Profiline molds and started to release some of that line up, but not the Sherman yet.
I know somebody else was considering having a go at a small hatch A1, but he swore me to secrecy...