AFV ClubFruilmodel Spade Ace Models
Trumpeter
M41/M42 T91E3 Track
1:35 Scale Track Sets Comparison
Review by Terry Ashley

The Set:
This brief comparison will look at four aftermarket T91E3 track sets available for the M41/M42 and any other variant that may come along, the four sets included in the comparison are:

For a full review of each track set click on the links above, this comparison will just discuss the final result to show how the sets compare.

Track dimensions:
The actual T91E3 track links are 21 inches wide with a pitch of 6 inches (the pitch is the distance between the track pin centre lines), this equates to 15.24mm and 4.35mm respectively in 1:35 scale. The four track sets measure out as below:

The AFV Club links are closest to the actual dimensions but all others have only small discrepancies under 1mm and other than with this comparison probably wouldn't raise an eyebrow.

And so to summarise:

Images gallery:
So with the above in mind I'll just present the comparison images of the four the track sets.

Overall view
AFV Club tracks (74 links) fitted to AFV Club M42A1 Duster kit suspension.

AFV Club
Friulmodel tracks (74 links) fitted to AFV Club M42A1 Duster kit suspension.
Fruilmodel
Spade Ace Models tracks (74 links) fitted to AFV Club M42A1 Duster kit suspension.
Spade Ace Models
Trumpeter tracks (73 links) fitted to AFV Club M42A1 Duster kit suspension.
Trumpeter
Close-up details
AFV Club tracks fitted to AFV Club M42A1 Duster kit suspension.
AFV ClubAFV Club
Friulmodel tracks fitted to AFV Club M42A1 Duster kit suspension.
Fruilmodel Fruilmodel
Spade Ace Models tracks fitted to AFV Club M42A1 Duster kit suspension.
The extra width of these tracks is noticeable when compared directly with the others available.

Spade Ace ModelsSpade Ace Models
Trumpeter tracks fitted to AFV Club M42A1 Duster kit suspension.
TrumpeterTrumpeter
Tracks fitted to Tamiya M41 drive sprocket showing the fit issues as per track set reviews.
AFV ClubFruilmodel
Spade Ace ModelsTrumpeter

Conclusion:
With the criteria of accuracy, least amount of clean-up, easiest assembly and best fit to the available kits I would rate them so:
  1. AFV ClubAF 35046
  2. Fruilmodel ATL-80
  3. Trumpeter02038 (TK-08)
  4. Spade Ace ModelsSAT-35096

But all look good when assembled although some need a bit of minor work to fit to all kit sprockets and at the end of the day I guess like we have seen before it may come down to availability and personal preference for plastic or metal tracks.

References:
M42 Duster
Walk Around #5705
Squadron Signal Publications
book
M41 Walker Bulldog
in action #2029
Squadron Signal Publications
book
SHERIDAN
A History of the
American Light Tank Volume 2
R.P.Hunnicutt. Presidio Books
book
US Army Manual
TM 9-2350-201-12

76-mm Gun Full Tracked Combat Tanks
M41 (T41E1) and M41A1 (T41E2)
book


Page created April 17, 2012



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