Tamiya 1:35 M3 Lee Rubber Band Tracks Replacement

Do I hear a vote for the Gremlin?

Bill

The point I was making is that it seems like a waste to put high priced tracks onto a kit that isn't worth what the tracks cost. You could get a better version of the same subject for about the same amount of money as the tracks cost and would not need new tracks to begin with. Some of the better kits even include two styles of tracks; a set of vinyl and a set of link & length.

richs26

Yes, there are Yugo fanatics out there.

And even fans of the Trabant, which is some ways is a more successful import than the Yugo was

Yes, there are Yugo fanatics out there.

https://www.facebook.com/TheYugoClub/

Rob Gronovius

I didn't want to discourage you, but putting good qualtiy aftermarket tracks on the old Tamiya kit is like putting DUBS on a Yugo.

 

LMAO! But I’ll bet out there somewhere, there is a car club for Yugo enthusiasts, and amongst them, some tricked out Yugos... if the Pinto and Vega can have their fans...

richs26

Actually Rob, I think you miswrote your answer as it should be T-41 tracks as the original tracks for M-3's as the website states that T-41's were manufactured until March 1943, when T-51's were replacements. 

 

Actually Rob, I think you miswrote your answer as it should be T-41 tracks as the original tracks for M-3's as the website states that T-41's were manufactured until March 1943, when T-51's were replacements. 

I didn't want to discourage you, but putting good qualtiy aftermarket tracks on the old Tamiya kit is like putting DUBS on a Yugo.

You may want to look at some replacement sprockets. Many Sherman kits come with optional sprocket types, and those are the same as used by the M3 Medium family as well. If you have more than one Sherman your stash, or a spares bin/box with some from previous builds, have a look, your solution could be in there.

I wanted to follow up. 

First, the Sherman Minutia sight was fantastic.  Thank you Rob Gronovius!

Second, a lesson learned for others. 

I purchased and built AFV's T51 workable track lengths.  However, these tracks will NOT work for the Tamiya M3 Lee tank.  (I knew from research that there might be a problem so I went into this with my eyes wide open.) 

There are two problems.  The drive sprocket has a shoulder that prevents the track teeth from completely seating in the sprocket.  I tried to overcome this by grinding the track teeth (only those that contact the sprocket) to reduce their height.  Then I discovered the real problem... the distance between the drive sprocket teeth is not the same as the distance between the track teeth... so even after grinding down the track teeth height in the vicinity of the drive sprocket, the tracks will never seat properly around the sprockets. 

I've saved the AFV tracks for use on a future model and used the OEM rubber band tracks that came with the model.  

Sherman Minutia is a good source of information, but just look at what comes with more current M3 Lee kits, like the Academy, Meng or Takom kits to see what the "proper" type tracks would be.

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/tracks/vvss_tracks.html

Thank you.  I've ordered a set.  Of course the tracks cost almost as much as the model!

I hope you'll pardon one last question... how did you know this information? 

T51 tracks would be the proper ones, but I seem to recall that there might be an issue with the track pitch due to the odd sprocket, but it's been a while since I've dealt with that kit so I don't remember all the ins and outs.