1:72 Sherman T54E1 with Duckbill Grousers Tracks Set

The real subject

The Sherman was the most widely produced American medium tank of the Second World War and went through a whole sequence of changes that answered what the crews reported from the front. One of them concerned the tracks. The basic steel track was too narrow on soft ground and the vehicle sank into mud or snow. The answer was extended end connectors fitted to the edge of the links, called duckbills after their shape. They widened the bearing surface of the track, lowered the ground pressure and the tank held up better in muddy terrain. The T54E1 designation belongs to one of the types of steel track the Sherman carried.

What the set contains

The set brings replacement T54E1 tracks with duckbill connectors in 1:72 scale, that is the part with which you replace the tracks from the kit on your model. The instructions enclosed with the set give the number of links, the way they are joined and the kit the tracks are made for.

Building and painting tips

First fit the track dry and check how it beds down on the drive sprocket, the idler wheel and the road wheels; on the Sherman the track sag is only slight, so it pays not to overdo it. Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the remainder so that no ridge is left. Choose the glue according to the material of the parts given in the instructions. Wash and degrease the track before painting. It pays to paint it before fitting it to the model, because neither a brush nor a nozzle will reach between the wheels afterwards.

Who it is for

The set suits modelers building a Sherman in a winter or muddy setting who want a track matching what the real vehicles carried in such terrain. Paints, glue and tools are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.