Hi guys, I'm a Sherman illiterate so bare with me here...

I didn't want to build the indy tracks that came with my DML Firefly so I asked for some advice concerning aftermarket tracks from AFV Club...we decided I should get the "extended body" tracks and I should be fine....

Well, them came today, all the way across the pond but when I tested them I was a bit disheartened...

I can always make up the difference by making a short connecter run with the indy links but why won't this particular set work ootb? Did I get the wrong set? Which is the correct set?

Any help appreciated...
Cheers,
E

The tracks are OK but the lower hull is to long. See the fix here, [url]http://mmcalc.tripod.com/Shermans/Model_FAQ/Modeling_the_M4A4-Firefly.html

My guess is that they must have packaged the wrong track set, Eddie. Can you compare it with a "normal" length vinyl set is about 13.75 inches long. Ideally the lengthened set should be about 15". What's the length of yours?

Regardless, I'd return the set to the vendor for a refund or exchange.

Tom: You're correct to point out the incorrect DML lower hull on some of their earlier M4A4 kits. Regardless of the incorrect stretched hull, I'm pretty certain that DML got the stretched suspension correctly spaced. In reality, the M4A4 and M3A4 had a longer hull with VVS units spaced further than the other mediums. The M4A4 and M3A4 therefore required more links -- a situation that Eddie's vinyl set was SUPPOSED to satisfy.

Hopefully you just got a bad sample Eddie.
Roy

Just measured them, they are 13.5 inches long

I must have the worst luck...honestly!

I don't even know if I want to go through the headache of getting a refund...might try to correct it with strand of indy links but if that fails I surely be sending them back.


Thanks for the info guys, especially Roy, for those measurements.

Cheers,
E

If it's the lastest VC ('Carole' box art) I believe the lower hull length issue was fixed. Don't some of the Academy M-10 kits come with an extension? Wonder if it would fit the AFVC track.

Jim

I remember reading years ago (2002?) that the AFV Club extended M4A4 tracks were to short for the DML M4A4 chassis kits (Firefly Vc, Chinese M4A4 and M4A4 with rockets).

The set of AFV Club tracks package # 35028 (the T49/83 tracks) that I have are also 13.5" long. The T49/79 tracks (set # 35027) are about 13" long. I know that the short ones do fit my DML M4A1 Early kit. I have not gotten around to the DML Firefly. Which kit are you building? DML Kit # 6121 or 6182?

AFV also has a set of T62 rubber band tracks for the M4 extended body (set # 35104) - does anyone know if this set of rubber band tracks fits either of the DML Fireflies?

I just finished building my BOB Sherman M4A3 76mm VVSS - I gave up on the kit tracks, I gave up on the AFV indy link kit and ended up pulling the rubber band tracks from my Tamiya M4A3 105mm kit in my stash. Now I gotta find a replacement track for that one.

Indy track piece are just too much for my fat little fingers.

later

cn