Happy to announce that my latest batch of downloadable tracks – a whole gaggle of sets designed for 1/16 scale Shermans and other VVSS vehicles – are now available over on Patreon and Cults3D.
5 track types
In total, 5 track types are available, all designed to fit Andy’s Hobby Headquarters M10s and Achilles (and…hopefully…future VVSS releases).
- T48 rubber chevron
- T51 rubber pad (non-reversible)
- T54E1 steel chevron
- T41 rubber pad (reversible)
- WE210 rubber “double-I”
All of the tracks come with C55592 end connectors and full-width track pins that are designed to be press-fit, leaving you with nice, beefy, workable track links that are highly detailed and easy to install on your 1/16 VVSS suspension.
2 flavors of duckbill
In addition to the 5 track types, I’ve also designed two different EEC options. I know there are many more than this, but honestly most EECs just look like very minor variations of these two main types and these two seem like a perfectly viable 80% solution.
Both duckbills also have some nice, gnarly welds to give them a bit more character.
Worn pads
The rubber pad options all come with both clean and worn options. So whether you’re doing an M10 fresh off the boat or a Sherman fighting its way into northern Italy, you’ll have options for how you want to represent those tracks.
All texturing was done in Blender.
No more stupid designs
When I first got into designing 3D tracks, it was out of sheer disgust with Meng’s woeful Merkava 4M track design. I generally dislike most trap-style tracks, and that extends to most Sherman tracks as well.
Aftermarket can be better. But often isn’t. When I set out to tackle these, maintaining workability without having to use a trap-style two part pad was the order of the day. And I got there with full-width pins that the end connectors click onto. These may take a few test prints to dial in at home – since printers, resins, exposure settings, and the orbit of the planets can all throw tolerances around slightly. But once they’re dialed in – it’s lovely.
Print them yourself
Over the past few years, I’ve become a big fan of 3D design and printing. As someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy scratchbuilding, 3D offers a whole new path for my creativity. And I love seeing what others are coming up with – every week my mind is blown by what someone in some corner of the world is pulling off.
That said, I want to touch on what’s become a point of principle for me – and honestly the main reason I embarked on this quest to design Sherman tracks in the first place.
3D designs should be made available not just as physical resin prints, but as files to be printed. Why?
First, it’s way more efficient. The producer doesn’t have to deal with physical production and fulfillment. The purchaser doesn’t have to pay for shipping. Decent print quality – a huge issue with many 3D parts – doesn’t matter with digital files. There’s no waiting, either.
Second, it makes slight modifications possible. Such as slightly scaling a part to fit a different kit than what it’s designed for. Or (more for smaller accessories than for tracks) being able to shrink or enlarge to different scales.
Third, it ensures future findability. No matter what corner of the hobby you’re in, you know of some kit or some aftermarket thing that is just absolute unobtainium. Nobody has seen one on the market for 5+ years. You can’t get it. It’s long out of production. With STLs, that’s not a problem.
Finally – I design things. I print things. I know full well how much it costs (or…doesn’t cost) to print something. And some of the prices I’ve seen for some 3D sets are an affront to my sense of fair play.