1:35 Track Skids Set (Early Version) for M4 Family

Track skids for the M4 family, early form, 1:35

A resin set of running gear parts for models of American vehicles of the M4 family in 1:35 scale. It replaces the skids along which the upper, return run of the track is guided and supported. The set is marked as the early form, which matters for the build, because these small parts changed during production and early and late forms are not mixed on one vehicle.

What the skids are for on the vehicle

On vehicles of the M4 family the return run of the track is not only guided over rollers but also supported by skids on the upper part of the suspension units. They are inconspicuous but strongly shaped parts that are clearly visible when the model is seen from the side, because they lie exactly where the track changes direction. Injection-molded plastic usually renders them in a simplified way and with thick edges, so a resin replacement does visible work here.

Fitting and painting tips

Wash the castings in warm water with detergent and remove the mold release agent that way. Cut the casting blocks off with a fine-toothed saw; with small parts it pays to leave them on the block as long as possible and cut them off only just before gluing. Sand resin wet and with respiratory protection. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Apply a primer before painting. The skids are rubbed by the metal of the track in service, so exposed shiny metal looks good on them, with dust and mud weathering in pigments around them.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building vehicles of the M4 family in 1:35 scale
• Those who want more accurate running gear than the plastic from the kit
• Builders who watch the difference between the early and the late form
• Modelers with experience of small resin parts

This is an accessory to a plastic kit, not a standalone model. Glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.