Greetings,

I've had this kit for many years and would like to build it with some aftermarket parts but I have no idea where to start looking so I'm here asking for help.

Does anyone know of sources for PE, Resin and individual track links for this thing and any reference books on this specific vehicle? I know about the Zaloga book and have a source for the turned barrel... and I don't need decals.

Also, are there any "issues" with the kit or aftermarket parts that I should know about? I'm not a rivet counter looking to take best-of-show, just would like a nice finished model.

Any guidance/advice/suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Eduard makes a P.E. set for it and Legend production makes a resin driver compartment and engine for the M12. There’s plenty options for replacement track.

Check out this link
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/academy/acd1394.htm

The kit is a great kit and goes together well as-is. For AM for it, check AFV Club or Fruil for tracks, Eduard for PE, etc.

Here is a list of a few AM items for it.

Not too sure about PE etc, but Panda Plastics makes nice indy-link tracks. Or, you could get Dragon's DS gluable tracks or Tasca's tracks. Originally the M12 ran on T51 plain rubber block tracks, but they could be re-equipped with T49 three-bar cleat tracks (as in the kit), while many of the action shots I've seen have T48 rubber-chevron tracks in period photos. In many shots there's nothing to see except mud...

By the way, there was a guy a week or so ago looking to trade away a set of Dragon's indy-link tracks that included a full set of rubber-chevron links. Look in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum.

There are reviews here:

ML review
PMMS review

Cybermodeller review

Hope this helps,

Tom

Ahhh and with everything mentioned, let us not forget that Barrel Depot makes and aluminum barrel!!

Mine awaits with some Verlindin add ons and the Eduard PE....along with the barrel

Rounds Complete!!

It's one of Academy's best kits, even at 11 years old. Lots of aftermarket available although you can get away with little, but you need to change the tracks to T-51s. You might want an engine compartment, but the driver's section is nice and doesn't require much work. It's a very accurate kit and I purchased another one just for spare parts.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

I haven't heard of Panda Plastics before this and was wondering if anyone has any experience with their products. I have used the RHPS tracks in the past and found the amount of sinkhole clean up to be a real deterrent. I have the RHPS T-49 set and it doesn't look too bad so I was considering using them but always on the lookout for Sherman individual track links that are better than the RHPS links but not as complicated as the Model Kasten ones.

If you can wait for them there was a News story here a week ago that Bronco will be coming out with workable Sherman tracks that assemble kinda like their Leopard tracks. I'm really looking forward to them!

Tom

Panda and RHPS are one and the same.

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/panda/panda_t49.html

[quote]Panda and RHPS are one and the same.

Ouch