1944 M4A3 105mm

[PainlessWolf]

Good Morning again,
I'm ordering parts and came down the list to the MATO T-74 metal tracks and Sprockets\Idlers. Bearing in mind Phil's notation above that even with the correct MATO\HL direct swap over tracks, sprockets and idlers, he was experiencing binding when he used them. This binding disappeared when he returned to the HL components that came on the tank. Having both a MATO and HL Sherman now, I went to do a bit of research to see why this might be. Seeing that Phil used his HL bogies with the MATO swap over components, I think I figured out what was happening. The HL bogie wheels have a bit of space left over width-wise on the HL tracks. Not too much but it is definitely there. On the MATO tracks, the HL bogie wheels have a _lot_ of space left over width-wise because the MATO bogie wheels are much wider than the corresponding HL wheels. So even if you are using the MATO Sprockets, Idlers and tracks on the HL and they fit, unless you are using the MATO bogie sets as well ( as CH has done on his ), you stand a good chance of track play side to side and may ( note I said 'may' ) run into the binding issue that Phil has on his HL Sherman. This is just my two cents but until I figure out a way to securely mount the MATO bogies on my HL ( and find a spare plastic set for sale ), I am going to hold off on the metal MATO Sprockets, Idlers and T-74 tracks. Once colored, I can learn to live with these HL metal tracks for a while.
regards,
Painless

P.S. I have a cunning plan to upgrade the stock HL bogie wheel to make it more MATO-like. More on that later.

[ALPHA]

Darn!! foiled again... no tracks for me


ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Good Evening,
*Laughs* Look at it this way, Alpha, if and when you do get them, they'll already be colored, weathered and broken in for you.
warm regards,
Painless

[jeff1101]

Hi Painless,

Having done a lot of customizing on the metal tracks for my own panther to get them to look right, I can certainly empathize with your desire to go for the Mato metal tracks. I dont know a thing about Shermans and all their variants, but what are the inaccuracies on the HL tracks compared to the Mato ones that makes you want to switch? Thanks.

Jeff

[PainlessWolf]

Good Evening Jeff and Happy Early Thanksgiving.
The big issue with these Heng Long tracks is that the guide horns are in the wrong place. On real Shermans and on most all of the RC ones I have seen including the MATO Sherman with this kind of track, the guide horns are part of the link. On the HL version of the tracks, the guide horns sit off to the side on the body of the track segment. This enables HL to use fewer pins
( one instead of two to secure each side of the segment ). *chuckles* A picture is worth a 1000 words so:
warm regards,
Painless

P.S. The Mato track is not perfect being a bit oversized and chunky but it is a strong, good looking and accurate track. The HL track in metal is strong and good looking but a bit hollow and with the very visible guide horn issue.

[ALPHA]

Good Evening,
*Laughs* Look at it this way, Alpha, if and when you do get them, they'll already be colored, weathered and broken in for you.
warm regards,
Painless

You're such a tease Painless ....

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Hi Painless,

Having done a lot of customizing on the metal tracks for my own panther to get them to look right, I can certainly empathize with your desire to go for the Mato metal tracks. I dont know a thing about Shermans and all their variants, but what are the inaccuracies on the HL tracks compared to the Mato ones that makes you want to switch? Thanks.

Jeff

So true jeff... a good example are the T-34 tracks... the MATO aftermarkets have a way better footprint in comparison to the HENG LONG.. if it weren't for the flexablity of the suspension the HENG LONGs would be worthless... with that said though... the one thing I appreciate about the HENG LONGs ... is that they are thick...and really strong... made to last a long long time

ALPHA

[ALPHA]

Good Evening Jeff and Happy Early Thanksgiving.
The big issue with these Heng Long tracks is that the guide horns are in the wrong place. On real Shermans and on most all of the RC ones I have seen including the MATO Sherman with this kind of track, the guide horns are part of the link. On the HL version of the tracks, the guide horns sit off to the side on the body of the track segment. This enables HL to use fewer pins
( one instead of two to secure each side of the segment ). *chuckles* A picture is worth a 1000 words so:
warm regards,
Painless

P.S. The Mato track is not perfect being a bit oversized and chunky but it is a strong, good looking and accurate track. The HL track in metal is strong and good looking but a bit hollow and with the very visible guide horn issue.

Looks like two different versions to me... best you send both over the pacific and let me check them out close up

Canned wants the tank


ALPHA

[PainlessWolf]

Good Night!
*Chuckles* Everybody wants everything. I just want to have fun with my Shermans.
warm regards and happy holidays
Painless

[scalawag]

Hi,

I have 2 sets of Mato T74 metal tracks running on H/L shermans (one set with duckbills one set without).

I found the binding and poor running to be down to too much slack between the guide horns and the track pad. Snug up all the guide horns on the pins and they work like a charm. Mine were very lumpy before I did this, but are now much smoother. Just make sure that the movement of all the track sections is still free.

Much better detail on the Mato tracks too, as well as the guide horns being better the pads are also solid were the H/L ones are hollow. Plus if you include the Mato plastic tracks they now have 4 different Sherman track patterns available. Variety is never a bad thing