are the academy single tracks realistic or are there more realistic tracks, and from what company are they???

Usually all the single link tracks are quite accurate and realistic. What you have to decide is for which material you want to go: plastic or metal. If you go for plastic and you don't need the moveability of the tracks I think they are ok. If you wand them workable be careful because they are usually very delicate to handle and put together (AFV/Academy/Modelkasten/Skybow). If you stick to the workable and you want an esaier life chose the metal one (Friulmodel)

FYI, AFV Club makes two different sets of M113 tracks. AF3501 is the normal US type like the ones included in their M548 kit, the other type is the NATO type.

I've seen the AFV Club M113 NATO type tracks. I think they also include a replacement sprocket. Why does the NATO-type track have alternating track pads compared to the normal ones?

I have the tracks from the academy M-113 and the one from the AFV chaparral kit detail on the back of the academy ones is much better.

another question does the IDF uses the Nato ones or the US ones??

Jeep, It's just the German style of tracks. They are called Deihl ( the company that makes them) It sucks just as much making them for as it does in 1/35 scale.

Thanks Mike! Good thing I didn't grab those tracks.

I echo 80a2's question: does the IDF Zelda use US or NATO tracks?

Hiya, jeepney,

This is from http://www.accurate-armour.com/aaproducts.cfm?CFID=8377&CFTOKEN=71513165&navlevel=1
Which is a British shop, you can order off the net. They are excellent. I've never used these tracks but the reviews i/ve seen have been good.
Go into the site and look for TRAKPAX

In my 22 plus years of duty for this country's military, I have done so much and been exposed to just about everything the military has to offer. Heck, my troops joke that I'm so old, that my first ammo pouch was a leather strap and a buffalo "sac"... LOL I'm not THAT old, but I have done everything from leg infantry, mech infantry in M-113's, heavy mech in M-2A1 and A2 Bradleys, Commo, Supply, Military Police... I have driven just about everything from the M-151 jeep up through the M-60 series of tanks, and have been attached to M-1 tank units in support. The one job that I truly hated in all that time, was changing tracks and track pads... the plus side of the M2A2 was that they did include an electrical impact wrench... it plugged in to the slave receptical in the drivers' hatch, and made the job of changing track or the pads on them much easier than the prior method of socket and breaker bar. As a result, I looked at individual link track with some trepidition... not that it was heavy or anything, just all those links!!! After my first set, some T-48 tracks for a sherman, I swear by them. They do tend to be easier to make look realistic.

I have just finished building an M-113, and i can recommend the fruilmodel white metal tracks.Easy to assemble,if a little tedious, and give a nice "weighted" feel to the finished model.

Later
Hawkeye

I've always been pleased with AFV Club's tracks. I have the NATO Track pack and they are nice...even come with snow grousers, and of course the replacement drive sprocket.