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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
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M8 AGS tracks from M113 A3?
HermannB
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Bayern, Germany
Joined: October 14, 2008
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 02:34 AM UTC
Hi Gang,
I wonder if the tracks of Panda Model M8 AGS could be used for M113 A3 build. The tracks look similar to the modern M113 live tracks.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 03:06 AM UTC
They look similar to T150 tracks. I don't have one to compare them. It would make sense if they are T150 track since it is a new/up to date prototype. You would need the wider sprockets from the M8 kit as well.

M8 track from Panda kit.


T150 track

Vodnik
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Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 03:14 AM UTC
M8 tracks have wider end connectors, but with a bit of work they can be made to look like T150 tracks.
HermannB
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Bayern, Germany
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 03:18 AM UTC
They are from vinyl. Maybe I should better stick with Perfect Scale Diehl tracks?
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 03:20 AM UTC

Quoted Text

M8 tracks have wider end connectors, but with a bit of work they can be made to look like T150 tracks.


I see them now. So you would just need to cut all the little "tabs" off of the end connectors. That sounds doable.


Quoted Text

They are from vinyl. Maybe I should better stick with Perfect Scale Diehl tracks?


The Panda M8 tracks are indi-links molded in styrene. They are around the perimeter of sprue C (x4) with the road wheels and other suspension parts on them.


Frenchy
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Rhone, France
Joined: December 02, 2002
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 03:31 AM UTC
The track width for the M8 is 381 mm ( http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product926.html ). The T-150 track link width is
325 mm ( https://www.combatreform.org/T150trackssystem.jpg )

H.P.
18Bravo
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Colorado, United States
Joined: January 20, 2005
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 03:40 AM UTC
I used K9 Korean Howitzer track to replicate the new track on several Bradley kits. The company for whom they were made never noticed the difference. (Hint - they refit Bradleys)
Vodnik
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Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 03:41 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The track width for the M8 is 381 mm ( http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product926.html ). The T-150 track link width is
325 mm ( https://www.combatreform.org/T150trackssystem.jpg )

H.P.

I believe that only those extensions on end connectors made the difference. The track blocks/links seem to be the same.
Frenchy
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 03:50 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I believe that only those extensions on end connectors made the difference. The track blocks/links seem to be the same.


I guess you're right ( Army magazine article )

H.P.
Vodnik
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Warszawa, Poland
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 03:56 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I used K9 Korean Howitzer track to replicate the new track on several Bradley kits. The company for whom they were made never noticed the difference. (Hint - they refit Bradleys)

Yeah, but we are discussing T150 tracks for M113 The tracks in K9 were a so-so replacement for T161 tracks for Bradley, but now we have much better T161 tracks available in Panda M109A7 kit (and acceptable ones in Kinetic M3A3).
18Bravo
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Colorado, United States
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Posted: Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 04:07 AM UTC
Oh I fully understand that. The point being you could use these M8 tracks and almost no one would know the difference. If people who work on vehicles every day of their lives don't notice those "so-so" things, as you say, the average Joe won't either.
I used to chief M109A5's. I never gave the incorrect wheels in Italeri kits a thought until AFV Club came out with their M109 series.
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