A complex analysis of Panzer III/IV tracks using original examples. THen a quick comparison of some 1/35 depictions.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Very interesting - thank you for posting this very informative video. I was under the apparently mistaken impression that the first type of widened track (winterkette) had add-on extensions which increased the width of the standard track link but your video shows that both winterketten and ostketten links came from the factory as the wider link.

I didn't understand those type of tracks either until I started researching these.

No, Winterketten ARE Ostketten, and they didn't have bolt-ons like Sherman duckbills, they were one-piece castings that were only issued in the Fall and were supposed to be exchanged come Spring. Not sure if that really happened, though, as they sure would be useful in the mud!

I rarely watch Armorama videos (sorry, Jim Starkwether!) since, you know, time. Very glad I made an exception in this case! Well worth my time, and I'll have to watch again. BTW, did the Wehrmacht use the words Ost- & Winterketten as we use them now? As labels for the two track types, Winter- being the longer.

Frank-

If you watched the video a distinction was made between winterketten and ostketten (13:34 on the video) - "very, very different types of tracks." I have also seen these being described as different in printed references as well.

Adam,
That was very informative — definitely worth watching. Both the 1/1 and 1/35 comparisons addressed much of my confusion. Now, to go verify what I have in my stash!

Thanks for sharing!
—mike

Might have been wrong and for which I am suitable chastised, Still, I thought that they were synonymous and that the Ost term was more a slang than a descriptive as they were introduced to combat snow and, coincidentally, mud. Though those are kind of universal on all fronts at that stage of the war.

Thank you Adam, I watched the entire video this time and gained considerable insight. I had no idea that there could be that many variants of the Pz 3 and 4 track links! I still find it weird that the over-taxed German weapons manufacturers would take the time and effort to produce a track link like the 5A that was supposedly used only as supplemental armour when any kind of track link would suffice. As to welding or tacking them on, it was frowned upon as the armour was surface hardened and tack welding weakened that hardening process. Doesn't mean it didn't happen, just that it was against regulations to do so. Wiring them against the hull, or held on with racks were more acceptable means. If it spun away after being hit by a shell, so be it. Anyways, thanks for the video and I look forward to learning more in the future!

Jesus thats first model related video i didnt fast forward....now i got to buy more track!

Thank you for posting, I really enjoyed that!!

TOTALLY cool and informative video and much thanks to Adam for taking the time to make it. You can see his passion for the subject.

I did learn something... never knew about the hammerstollen and never seen (although knew Panther links had them) the mittelstollen actually installed on a link or they were even used on PIII tracks. The rest I pretty much knew from history books.

I guess old dawgs can learn something new after-all. We need more of these videos! Thanks.






Jeff

I did do some more reading on tracks and I guess those are called Gabelstolen end cleats for the links.



Sorry for the misspelling.





Jeff

Thanks very much to all of you for saying such nice things about the video. It's always fun to share something you're passionate about with other people.

I believe those things in the post above mine are for Panzer II tracks.

Very informative video, and thanks for taking the time and effort to do such Adam. Looking forward to the next installment. Cheers, Tat

Excellent! Thanks a lot

Wow, had no idea of the differences and never really gave it any thought. Figured if it look close to the picture of the real thing it was good. Now I will be taking a closer look at my next WWII German builds when it comes to the tracks. Thanks for the video really informative!

I have the mentioned book and really you make an excellent resume in that video. Many thanks for your understanding contribution to a not so common topic. I know that it will very very appreciated.