Should I leave the tracks the color of the metal, paint them the olive green to match the tank, or paint the tracks black? Any opinions are welcome.

I know that the paint will wear off, but I'm not sure how they should look to start with. []

Thanks!
Jason

i would leave them metal

That's a nice sherman! What color paint did you use?

that paint is testors model master FS34087 olive drab spray can.hears a picture with the stuff on rear deck will add tow cable .waiting for cable attachments to come in .to complete the set up

Looks great! [sm=thumbup.gif]

Was wondering this myself just the other day...

Sounds like you just got opinions for answers. What color were the tracks on the original tanks when delivered from the factory? I would venture to guess that they were the same color as the tank (OD or whatever was the tank's main color)--corrosion was to be avoided so I think they were painted regardless.

I've seen Olive Drab tracks on restored M5 Stuarts, for instance. Most restorers are very anal about authenticity.
Anyone know for certain?

-Harq

not sure about color but i've seen some of the real one's (newer of course) on stattic display with rubber pads and most where a light rust color with some satin shine metal wear colorbut i think to leave them a metal color


dan

If you drive them thru the mud enough.....they will be the correct color naturally(dirty)

Tracks on modern US armor when new are black. They are covered with an asphalt type protective coating. They will lose the protective coating as they are used. The pads should be black but with use can be more of a gray color. The steel should be a metal color. German WWII tracks should be a steel color.

Black it is. At least for the base coat.

Jacques Littlefield has an M26 Pershing and M41 Walker Bulldog painted with black tracks so I will leave my M26's black and add rust, dust and worn steel detail to them. As for the Sherman, it's still up in the air--seen too many OD green tracks...

-Harq