Mato Tracks
 

Got my new Mato metal traCKS FOR MY sHERMAN jUMBO. They certainly are a very nice track set. they are a bugger to get together though as there are 3 seperate pieces that the pins go through besides the track section itself. But I have been waiting for these tracks for 2 years and am greatfull to Mato for having the sense to make them considering just about EVERY Sherman that fought in the ETO would have used the Duck bills in the winters at some point in time.
The narrow stock Sherman tracks had much the same problems the earlier German tanks had.
With the Duck bills it gave the Shermans much better traction on the icy and muddy roads and fields.
A great big thumbs up to Mato.
Now if they would make me a Cromwell or Comet I would be really happy. Thanks Mato.

RE: Mato Tracks
 

are you saying that you have to assemble the new metal tracks for the sherman? How long did it take you?

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Let's see some pics already!

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Gregg, Sounds like it was worth the wait,as you said the tank has much better traction.Good luck on your Jumbo Sherman.

Charlie

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Do the duck bills come off for summer driving?

RE: Mato Tracks
 

foto's???

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The Jumbo's allways kept the Duck Bills on because of the added weight of the extra armor. But yes all the other Shermans would usually take them off if not needed.<div> No you do not have to assemble them , the pins are just tight when connecting the two ends  together on the tank.</div><div>I got mine from Phil at RCTankwar. Made it to my house in about 3 days. Thats hauling the mail boy. LOL</div><div> I can now start to get some pictures of the old Jumbo as with now having tracks it really is starting to look like something.</div>

RE: Mato Tracks
 

I have a Firefly and these would make it look great

RE: Mato Tracks
 

I guess what I meant was to ask if the duck bills on this track set can be removed or if it's a solid extension of each track link.

RE: Mato Tracks
 

Yes the can be taken off. The pins will extend out but that really should not be that big of a problem.
CAUTION You can not use the Duck bills on the original plastic tracks.
The New PINS are a larger diameter and will not fit the original tracks.

RE: Mato Tracks
 

http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...toJumbo007.jpg
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...toJumbo006.jpg
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...toJumbo005.jpg
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...toJumbo004.jpg
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...toJumbo003.jpg
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...toJumbo002.jpg
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...toJumbo001.jpg
http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/v...toJumbo008.jpg
As you can see the new pins are much larger than the original pins.

RE: Mato Tracks
 

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait to see this finished!!!!</p>

RE: Mato Tracks
 

I want to chime in on Panther G's thread regarding these new tracks. Like him, I got my set from Phil, and wanted to use them on a M4A3E2 Jumbo build as well. I couldn't find any pictures of a wartime Jumbo that used tracks that looked like this, but I thought, "Why not switch out the center pieces of the earlier Mato tracks with the extended grouser parts from these?" (And, I am writing this because I'll bet there are others of you out there thinking the same thing).

The short story is, it will NOT work. Comparing the parts, the new track has pins that are 0.070" diameter, while the old track has pins that are 0.050" diameter. I figured that maybe I could "sleeve" the new center pieces to fit the old pins, and end up with a cleat track without end connecdtors that I could use on a Marine Corps M4A2. Well, that didn't work because I couldn't find a diameter of brass tube that would fit over the pins and still fit into the cleat center pieces, without drilling the center pieces out more - you'd need something with a wall thickness of .010" to fit. But, without a sleeve of some sort, there is too much free play and the track flops around and looks dorky when assembled.

As for fitting the new, extended pins to the old plastic chevron center pieces; that didn't work either. I tried using a 2mm drill bit to enlarge the holes in the track centers for the new pins, but when assembled, the center pieces are forced so closely together that the track run stays flat and will not curve at all. So, I took it apart, and ground an angle on each side of the plastic pieces where they contacted each other. Well, that allowed it to curve so much, that it wouldn't want to lay flat at all, AND, it changed the distance between end connectors so much that it would no longer fit around the drive sprocket.

I guess we will have to wait for either track type to make their next version, and then only try and swap out parts from the same type. -Mike

RE: Mato Tracks
 

That is nice, i like it! Great work!!

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Question- when would these tracks have been used. I noticed the treads are different than the stock ones? (not including the duck bills)

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nice set of tracks jeffjust what we want too

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sassgrunt:  so are you saying that you couldn't use these tracks without the extenders?  Are the extenders part of the pins?  The idea of an early Marine Corps M4A2 comes to mind, but they didn't use any of the extenders, just the basic track.

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http://matomart.com/uploadfile/smallPic/MT076-U-1.jpg Here is a picture from matos site

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Opps posted this with out going completely to the end,the other day there were no pictures, Gregg are you going to install the metal suspension ?or keep what you have.I seen a site selling them for $83.29 that includes shipping.

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here is a goodplacefor jumbo pics.........

http://www.usarmymodels.com/AFV%20PH...20Sherman.html

RE: Mato Tracks
 

would these tracks have been used during wwII

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Well, that's good to know and quite a bummer too. Glad I didn't make any plans to do so. [:o]


~ Jeff

RE: Mato Tracks
 

Philipat, the pins are knurled at one end - the end on the inside. Then you slide the center pieces and the outside end connector (the one with the 'tooth') onto the pins. You have to hammer/press the extended end (the 'duckbill') onto the pins to secure everything. You would have to disassemble the run (it took me about two hours to do this, using a spring-loaded center punch); cut the pins shorter; and find a way to knurl the end to provide a force fit into the end connector. -Mike

RE: Mato Tracks
 

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">Yes absolutely. They where used alot on British version Shermans as well as many others.</span><div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">There is some confusion with this track because the type 49 which these are are actually only used as spare tracks. the other version type 47 are actually the ones used for full service. They look very similar so it's an easy mistake to make. but for all purposes this should not be a problem for anyone.
As far as the Marines using Duck bills, if they where in service in any area in winter or the rainy seasons they would have most likely at some point in time used them , that was the purpose of them, to add extra track width to help with load spreading of the tank.
As far as the new metal suspension, for the time being I will be staying with the stock units to see how well the Mato trans missions hold up with the added weight of the tracks, they are quite heavy. I dont have plans at the moment for a transmission swap. But at some time that may be needed.</div></span>

RE: Mato Tracks
 

That is a good site for the Jumbo but as you can see there are no Duck bills on those tracks, so they must have been removed for transportaion purposes.
Jumbo's ALLWAYS used duckbills. Their extra weight required the extra width of the track to support them or they would sink to unacceptable levels for proper mobility, which the Jumbo was a fair bit slower already due too the added armor, Th gun mantlet was 7 to 8 inches thick and the turret walls where up to 6 inches thick.