Model Cellar tracks done! Apparently these are the exact same tracks that are installed on the Mk.IVs, just not as many links, 67 instead of 92. panzerwaffe used the MC tracks on his 1:35 Emhar Mk.IV Male (pgs 37 & 41). Like him, I found them to be quite nice! Molding is crisp, practically no flash and mold seams, pin marks are only on the inside surfaces that are not seen and the sprue connections are small and well placed. About the only nitpick is that the treadplates are thicker than scale. I've seen some modelers thin down the edges of the treadplates, but I chose not to do that as it would have taken longer than I wanted to invest. In the end I am extremely happy with the way they look. For those interested here are the steps:
1. MC instructs you to add a shim around the inside edges of the inner and outer sponson plates before they are attached to the hull. Otherwise the treadplates will ride on the edge of the sponsons when in actuality they ride on al the litle bogies within the sponsons. Photos (included with the MC instructions!) show that the treadplates are a signifcant distance from the sponson edges.
2. The sprockets and idlers are no longer needed except to properly space the inner/outer sponsons from each other, but modification is necessary otherwise they get in the way of proper track fit. You are instructed to remove most of the outer parts.
3. After the treadshoes and treadplates are cleaned up, you are instructed to dryfit just the treadshoes in small sections. These fit together with a friction fit much like Dragon's Magic Tracks, but they lose their tight fit quite quickly.
Exaclty 67 links were required, but it did require a bit of manipulation with the spacing of the links. Also I found that the links didn't want to wrap around the sprocket and idler areas very well. Turns out that some ridges on the treadshoes were the problem. Where the links meet the corners of these ridges contact each other preventing the links from making a tight pivot. By simply cutting off the corners on both sides the links can make a nice tight bend!
Of course I didn't figure this out until I had the left side tracks already done, but at at least it isn't too noticable. You can see a bits of gaps between the treadplates on the left side in the last set of photos.
Treadshoes assembled and fitted.
4. Add the treadplates....easiest part of the track assembly! So much nicer than the kit tracks and the proper treadplate spacing is evident now.
I assembled each track assembly in two sections, much like I do with regular tank tracks. I put a bit of slack around the sponson to allow for shrinkage, which always seems to happen with my indy link tracks and cause me grief when refitting on the painted tracks! NOT THIS TIME!! I hope.......
Now all I have to do is add some of the last fiddly bits (grab handles, angle iron track cleaners, port covers and she'll be off to the paint booth!