vinyl tracks that are too short

Well, do you mean that the treads are too short to where when you put them on they are so tight that it's hard to create a sag? If thats the case use super glue like you said. Put a small paint jar or end of a paintbrush in the area between the under side of the hull and the treads. Let them sit for a while with some super glue. Take out the stuff from the gap after an hour and the treads will be glued on tight, despite the previous tension. Hope I understood what you were asking and hope it helps!

Beav,
the tracks in both my IV-D & my T-34/85 were short.
the ones on the T-34 i superglued the ends together and strtched them on the kit.
they are drum tight and not very realistic looking.
the ones on the IV-D, i stretched by hand before gluing the ends.

unfortunately for me, the IV-D was already mostly assembled
(but i had not done the tracks yet)
when i ran into the problem on the T-34.
knowing what i know now, i will test fit the tracks against the drive sproket & idler BEFORE assembling the hull.
if they are way too tight, i can look at shifting the ends in slightly when i put it together.
(that is, move the drive sprocket & the idler closer together w/ modifications)
the extra fraction of an inch would make a big difference.

if you are going to stretch the tracks, do it w/ caustion, and take a slow approach
using minimal force.
otherwise, you will break them somewhere.

ed.

I put my vinyl tracks in near-boiling water and then put them on quickly and use a little weight to acheive a sag, and then it usually stays down when it dries.

I've had that problem only once. I did pretty much as M1 did. I used to compete in martial arts tourneys a lot, so I went through a lot of mouth guards. I used to boil the mouthguards to soften them to conform to my teeth, and from there I got the idea to warm up the tracks. If you do this though, be very careful, as its only too easy to put them into water that's too hot, and believe me, shrinking them is not nearly as easy as stretching them :)

Chris,
i know i will sound like an idiot, BUT:
do you paint your tracks after they are on the kit,
or do you but them in really hot water AFTER you paint them?

ed.

after I pained them. I have no trouble with the paint i use. humbrol 53 gun metal grey. it sticks awesome and drys quick.

well, the boiling thing sounds the best, i have a king tiger, and a halftrack, plus a panzer II...

thanks Chris!
looks like i will be 'making soup' w/ my IV-D tracks soon.
:-)
ed.