Converting the AFV Club M-40 to a M-43

You mean there's a simple SPG out there to build Mike?????

It's been a pleasure JT

Thanks Guys

Tony lee

Great looking build - and a very nice blog to take us along on the ride.

Thank you for sharing this Tony!

Very Best Regards

Johan

Tony - Very nice work...the T-80 track is a massive PITA. Now you need to take a deep breath, and work on a simple build!!

Rounds Complete!!

Won't be much longer Brian and Thanks

Tony lee

She looks about ready for a fire mission Tony!  Rounds inbound!

Brian

Thanks Karl and yes they were worth the trouble but not the pain I sure hope to never need T-80s again.

Thanks again buddy

Tony lee

What a COOL beast, Tony---you've really done a heck of a job on this.

Those tracks look like they were worth the battle--they look great on her.

Base paint is on and the tracks adjusted ready to be weathered.

We've got snow falling big time here in the Ozarks

The kit has those adjustable idler axles you know Gino and I left the slack in them to  make it easier to get them on and off for painting. I'll tighten them up after the last installation.

You guys don't know how many times I almost gave up on them for something easier. The problem lies with how small the parts are and how hard it was to hold on to them so as not to feed the carpet monster not the quality of the tracks.

Thanks for the comments but the next T-80s I build will be another brand.

Tony lee

Looking good.  The tracks look nice, good job on plowing through them.  Can you tighten them a little though?  They should have no sag as they were live track and pretty tight.

Hello Tony!

Well the machine is looking sharp already! Congratulations on your willpower and completing the tracks! Good luck with your project and have a nice day

Paweł

Howdy

You just don't know how happy I am to get these built, man what a job it's been.

Paint tomorrow

If the beer didn't kill me my doctor would otherwise I would take you up on that buddy.

Thanks a bunch

Tony lee

If you were here right now, i'd buy you a beer … per side

Tony - Happy Bird to you and your lovely bride.

Yes the tracks for the M40/43 are a royal PITA. Hang in there...you are in the home stretch.

Rounds Complete!!

Well that's one side assembled.

After the final install i'll adjust the idler wheel to tighten them up.

That's alright Garz I understand fully Buddy, make the big bucks while you can.

How do you figure that Subman? Maybe I just love pain and suffering.

Thanks fellows

Tony lee

Tony, you are a better man than me.

Looking grrrreatttt!.

Im not being that active in the forum...not to mention working on something....just dont have any time.

Currently undergoing a major IT softtware implementation, end year meetings, family events...

But I just like seeing whats going on...see ya!

Four and a half hours is about all my finger tips and back can take putting these tracks together but two or three more days should do it for this side.

Get-R-Done

With the interest rate at zero don't bet too much Karl but it's a sure bet they will be built sooner or later.

Buff I was forewarned by the friend that GAVE them to me. He put together about four links and said no way and bought a set of Friuls.

2014? I hope so

Tony lee

I nearly fainted when I read how much time you're putting into those tracks Tony!  I think I'd rather watch my grass grow....and I don't have a lawn!!

Well let us know the total amount of time it takes to assemble the entire set....we'll check back with you in 2014!!

Pvt Mutt

Starting to build them you've got 14 parts to glue or pin together just in the first two links. The pads are two parts each and the guide horns are two parts each. None of the parts are large enough to get a good hold on especially the end caps.

But if anyone can make them look good and endure the task at hand, I"d put my money on you, Tony!

IB these are the most labor intensive set of tracks i've ever attempted and not much fun.

Hangin in

Tony lee

Looking good Tony.

Tracks are the most tetiuos for me but if I take my time the end result is satifaction. MY MK Nashorn tracks when I recieve them will take me a few weeks to assemble.

wow, that is dedicated progress.

I use the tweezers very little Sprue,don't trust them.

I was on a roll today. In four and half hours with two bathroom breaks I completed 18 links.

That's a two day total of 4 3/4 inches of tracks.

Cheers

Tony lee

Pvt Mutt

I would have use a set of DS T80s if I could have found some Gino.

Starting to build them you've got 14 parts to glue or pin together just in the first two links. The pads are two parts each and the guide horns are two parts each. None of the parts are large enough to get a good hold on especially the end caps.

It's going to take some time to assemble them so be patient with me.

Thanks guys

Tony lee

You may need to assemble these in something like this to contain any tiny tini bits that fly off the end of your tweezer 

Pvt Mutt

Starting to build them you've got 14 parts to glue or pin together just in the first two links. The pads are two parts each and the guide horns are two parts each. None of the parts are large enough to get a good hold on especially the end caps.

Ouch!! They sound even worse than the AFV Club set.  AFVs only has 4  pieces per link.  AFVs are just very fragile and always ended up breaking into multiple pices before I could get them built.

 Go luck with this set.  They do look good.