After market track sets

I notice that this is your first post, so Welcome to the Forums! for a while i thought that you wanted to make the individual track links thingie (the kind with 4 parts per link X god-knows how many links X 2 tracks = Crosseyed modeler).

I did some online research and there are metal track links that you can buy that really work like the real thing. there's one company that sells them: FRIULMODEL (just do a search on google). However, they seem to specialize in Russian and WWII tanks. Sorry, i couldn't turn anything else up.

maybe one of the real treadheads can dig something up.

Check out Discount models, he carries the full line of Frui tracks and I do belive they have a set for the Bradley. Its www.discountmodels.com

First of all ... welcome to FSM Jody.

The only problem with Fruil tracks is the "workable" part. They are still quite fragile. Look great, but not good for much else IMO.

If you repost this question in the Armour Forum, you may attract the attention of a few more modern armour builders.

Enjoy the forums !!!

(moved to the Armor Forum)

Welcome aboard!

Jody,
I believe Academy is due to release a set of m2a2 tracks. they will be plastic though...and a brief advertisment can be found on page 7 (cat # MB083) of Jan's Fine Scale Modeler. I've read plenty of reviews that gave individual plastic tracks high marks so if there is no metal ones these might be a suitable alternative.
BW

Thank you all for your quick replies, it's nice to know that the modeling info I need is only a "click" away.

Regards, Jody

Welcome, Jody!

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak The only problem with Fruil tracks is the "workable" part. They are still quite fragile. Look great, but not good for much else IMO.

Robert, are you thinking of ModelKasten plastic trax, perhaps? They can be rather fragile. The metal Friul trax are incredibly strong and amazingly workable, as they are metal and linked with metal pins (well, they come with wire, but that's still very strong).
I've seen may 1/35 RC conversions using the Friul trax, and in addition to looking great, they work great, too.

The only caution I can offer is they take a bit of work to clean up before linking them together. That is, a link-by-link session with a drill, X-Acto, and file to clean flash and fully open the holes.

But once you get it all together, you'll have an amazingly realistic, virtually unbreakable set of trax.

Actually Brian I am thinking of Fruil tracks.
My experience is of course with their Sherman offerings which are not very stable at all.

Welcome aboard Jody. Fruilmodel tracks are good.
mark956

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Actually Brian I am thinking of Fruil tracks. My experience is of course with their Sherman offerings which are not very stable at all.

Robert, I certainly trust your experiience!
I've never dealt with Friul's Sherman offerings. Are they molded one-piece, with the end connectors molded on, or are the end connectors separate? I can imagine how that could be a rather shaky arrangement.

I've only built the Friul sets for the Chaffee, Tiger II, Crusader, and Matilda, and they were all solid as a rock. BUT, they were also all single-link, single-pin trax, unlike the Sherman.

Anyway, I don't think Friul offers a set for the Bradley.

Brian - the end connectors are joined by 2 rods. The track shoe itself is open on the two ends. And what you do is insert the rod on one end and compress the shoe to grasp the rod. Because they are white metal, they are very soft and pliable and tend to open back up again. After too much opening and closing, they finally break (maybe that's why they gave so many spares !!!). They are still a very nice looking track and quite easy to work with but like I said, wouldn't recommend them as working at all.

I should have thought about the pin variety being stronger .... something i hadn't built.

Robert, I had completely forgotten about Friul's "clamp style" tracks. I've heard of them, but have never seen them.
That clears that up! I reckon it wouldn't take much of a tug at all to get those babies flying every which way.

Jody. You have entered the Dark Side of modelling. Good luck with your Bradley.