Not exactly 'modern', but post-war certainly.

I have been studying photos of the M26 Pershing in the Korean War, and the M48 Patton in Vietnam (along with scale models of these two subjects). I note that spare lengths of track were often attached to the turret sides (presumably as additional armour protection). What is not clear is whether they were welded to the turret, or bolted on. Closer inspection of some of the models suggest that the modellers have simply glued the tracks to the turret, without showing any means of attachment.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Paul

While old tracks can be welded just about anywhere, most of the photos of M48s show 2-4 links bolted to the “infantry rails” of M48s by using the center guide reversed. Can’t speak for the M26/M46. Those lengths of track are not necessarily just for increased armor protection, but also as replacement tracks for sections of “dead” track. The “live action” track of US tanks since WWII demand that at least two links are used to replace a “dead” track block link, as two links share the same track pin and bushings.
VR, Russ

Russ,

Many thanks.

Paul

A length of spare track was carried bolted to the turret sides of both M26 and M46s.

The track was hung on a rack on the turret side of the M46 and individual links were carried on the sides of M26 turrets. They were usually hung by the center of the link and the ends where the pins were for the center guide and end connectors.

The actual hooks are awfully tiny in 1/35 and you really have to walk up to a real tank and look at them to notice what it was. On an M26 they had brackets for individual links. The M46 had a large rack for four- five links. It is effectively invisible on a molded plastic part and would require a bunch of photoetch hooks and clasps to replicate.

The track jacks were also carried on the turret sides. That is a worm screw adjusted jack to join the ends of a broken track together.

I know all my words make this as clear as mud do hopefully someone did some close up shots of the spare track stowage.

I never got around to digitizing my pictures of the M46 dozer at Fort Dix.

Full size: https://i.redd.it/vi9mhuojfd431.jpg

SVSM:









http://svsm.org/gallery/M26

SVSM http://svsm.org/gallery/m48
IDF:






From Vietnam: Same principle as for the IDF M48 above





https://i.pinimg.com/originals/98/11/7f/98117f39ea8b9a0e97df01411053aec7.jpg



These guys did it differently but the rail is probably still under the track links somewhere:




Looks like hard work .... yikes

More hard work ahead ....


https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog3570835/Charlie_Don_t_Surf_M48_Patton_fording_a_shallow_river.jpg
/ Robin