Proper tracks, Leo v Abrams v Challenger?

[Max-U52]

Hi Guys,

I recently bought a set of rather expensive metal tracks for my Abrams and they come pre-assembled and have rubber pads on both sides of the tracks. My first question was whether it should have rubber on both sides, but Imex-Erik's neighbor actually crewed on an M1 so Erik asked him for me and he says yes, the Abrams tracks have rubber on both sides. The reason I'm asking about this is because I was recently looking at photos of real Leopards online and it looks to me like the Leo only has rubber pads on one side. So can anyone educate me on this? And what about the Challenger? Rubber on both sides or just one? I recently saw a photo of some Kenny Kong Leo tracks and they appear to have pads on just one side, which would be correct if i'm seeing what I think I'm seeing in the online photos. I definitely want to get a Challenger one day (I already bought one once but the seller screwed up his listing and used a delivery method different from what he posted in his listing so it got sent back) and I want to get things right, and I may someday acquire a Leo and then I'd want to do that correctly as well, so what's the skinny on this stuff, Fellas? I know the RC Tank tracks I got fit on all three tanks, but is that really correct?

[spongehoobtank82]

Leo and challenger only have track pads on outside, Abrams both sides hope that helps! Now this next bit might get complicated! The Leo tracks will fit the abrams and the abrams tracks will fit the Leo, now the challenger tracks are slightly narrower so Leo or abrams tracks will only fit the challenger if you modify the drive sprocket ( basically you have to grind down the inner face of the sprocket to make it wider! If you need further explanation give us a shout dude, took me a while to work it all out and alot of work!

[Max-U52]

Thanks a lot, Spongehoobtank82 (anything shorter I can call you?) but another guy just told me the Chally has rubber on both sides. Hmmm. Don't ya just hate conflicting info? Have you seen any photos of the tracks? I can't find any with a good view. What would be really cool is if it turns out that you've crewed a Challenger! Nothing beats first hand experience, eh? I won't be surprised if you're right, and please don't take offense by me asking, but the other guy is a pretty reliable source. On the other hand, it sounds like you've done the research so I'm not sure how to proceed. Do you know of anyone selling accurate tracks made specifically for the Challenger? I still haven't bought a Challenger and what I learn here will greatly affect the purchase date. If there are no currently available tracks that fit the the Challenger and are also correct I'll probably wait a while before buying one. I wonder if you could modify some Leo or Abrams sprockets to work? That might be simpler, eh?

[spongehoobtank82]

I have a few modeling and research books to reference and there are loads of pictures on the net dude, have you checked out the challenger builds on this forum? I have seen a picture of a challenger with track pads on both sides but 99% of the reference material I have used shows them with pads on one side. In real life the tracks between abrams, leopard 2's and challenger 2's are all technically interchangeable due to NATO standardization (so am told!) but unfortunately there not in the modeling world. You can get metal tracks that will fit straight on the challenger by heng long but there not very detailed and only single pin with molded in track pads, most guys on here have used the Mato metal leopard 2 tracks.

british-tank-track-detail-of-a-challenger-tank-at-bovington-military-exy2n7.jpg (71.77 KiB) Viewed 1606 times

In this photo you can see the pads are just on the one side.
Don't worry about causing offence dude, its difficult to ask stuff and have to sieve through all the answers!

viewtopic.php?f=201&t=18510

Here's a link to my build, I would of recommended a build by a guy called Paul (user name was scalawag) who used to be on here but dude some stuff that went on all his photos have disappeared you may find home on other forums. There are a few other builds in the modern section you could check out. And you could fit different sprockets but then it would not be right as there all very different, but depends on how much of a rivet counter you are ha ha ha
And you can call me Leigh, don't hesitate to ask questions mate, its the best way to learn!

[Raminator]

Interesting about the M1 Abrams, Leopard and Challenger having interchangeable tracks. I'd assumed something like that might have been the case; it makes sense after all. I know there's a lot of standardisation across NATO equipment.

Had a dig through some folders, found a nice shot of an M1's inner track pads:

• 

A Leopard 2's tracks, showing steel on the inner face:

• 

And a Challenger's tracks, which don't appear to have an inner track pad:

• 

[spongehoobtank82]

Interesting about the M1 Abrams, Leopard and Challenger having interchangeable tracks. I'd assumed something like that might have been the case; it makes sense after all. I know there's a lot of standardisation across NATO equipment.

Had a dig through some folders, found a nice shot of an M1's inner track pads:

• 1220329116966[1].jpg

A Leopard 2's tracks, showing steel on the inner face:

• leopard_2a5_nl_21_of_87.jpg

And a Challenger's tracks, which don't appear to have an inner track pad:

• 20.jpg

Raminator top work! Could not find any photos that good, but they illustrate the point well!