Hi Guys, I am about to start Dragon`s M-50 Super Sherman but rather than use those dire DS Tracks I have purchased AFV Club`s T-84 track set.
What I need to know is how many links do I need to make up in order to get a full track run ?.

Not an answer.
I think that you might actually be asking the wrong question
The correct number of links may not always fit exactly, on a real tank the track tension is adjusted by moving the idler wheel. This can be done on some plastic models but not all.
One way to get around this is to make separate sections of track to fit between specific points.
For instance:
1. From below the axle of the first roadwheel to the axle of the last roadwheel. This one is straight or follows the contour of the ground.
2. From one or two teeth onto the sprocket wheel to the top of the idler wheel or one or two links further around the idler. On a tank with live tracks this is very nearly straight, except the bit "hooking" around the idler.
German WW II Panzers and Russian stuff have track sag.
3 Curved sections, one or two, to go around the teeth on the sprocket.
4. Curved and slightly sagging section from the idler wheel down to meet the track under the last road wheel.
5. From one or two teeth onto the sprocket down to meet the track under the first road wheel.

On a model of a tank with live tracks the length of the track is adjusted by moving the idler (if possible) and by adjusting the sag of sections 4 and 5. Check images of real tanks.
Prepare sections 1 to 3 and let them dry to get stiff setions. Prepare sections 4 and 5 and adjust the sag to get everything to fit. Section 1 can be moved slightly back and forth to make it easier to adjust sections 4 and 5.
The number of links in sections 4 and 5 is adjusted to fit the required distance, sag is used to tweak the last half link.
The length of real tracks can vary a little depending on how worn they are. On a model it depends on how they are glued together and how well the pins fit and the holes are positioned.

/ Robin

Good luck.

Those were the most frustrating things I've ever built and ended up tossing them in the trash.

Post some pictures of your progress, please,

Ive used DS and one piece on shermans,firefly,M48,and the like.

But you can measure your links with the DS tracks,maybe leave one short,you can always add one or even subtract

Hi Danny, unfortunately the T84 tracks are not appropriate for an M50, you need T80 steel tracks. Number of the links can always be adjusted on the model by leaving the track a little short and then adding couple of links as needed.

Cheers,
Greg

Really? I've seen a couple of M50s with the T84 pattern tracks fitted.

Some museum and privately owned M50's had the T-84's installed. These would be very, very rare in IDF service. I cannot recall seeing any installed on an IDF 'E8 fitted Sherman, or Sherman based vehicle, while still in IDF service. But it is possible. The Kaizen T-80's are a nice alternative.

You aid a mouth full brother , I hated these from start to finish

Not sure why, but I find your post mildly insulting...
Just because something can be done does not mean it was, historically.
This is a museum/private piece and as such proves nothing. The restorers either had such tracks easily available or fitted them for practical reasons to spare whatever pavement it could be used on.

The IDF preferred steel padded chevron tracks as they were more robust in desert conditions and the got much better mileage out of a set of tracks.

Until you can show me period photo of IDF Sherman fitted with T84 tracks, my point stands: only T80 tracks used for IDF HVSS equipped vehicles.

Greg

Hi Gang, Thanks for all the replies - I just hope I haven't started a war here !. If these are not the right tracks for this tank then are AFV Club promoting falsehoods on the box by stating that these can be used for this particular tank ?.

I'm not sure where it says that on the box as I don't have one, but the box tops for the AFV T84 tracks I've seen online says only M4 and M40/43. M50 is mentioned on the box top for T80s, it's even drawn as the box art.

At any rate the steel chevrons are the way to go with IDF Shermie.

Greg