Um … how are you going to connect those lengths if the end connectors are trapped between the two halves of the blocks?
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Did I misunderstand your question? I just want to make sure I did not make a mistake that will bite me on the butt further down the road.
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Looking at the links, I thought the end connectors had pins on the back that you trap between the block halves, the way MiniArt and RFM Sherman tracks in 1:35 scale assemble. With those, you can’t leave off any end connectors because you’ll never get them in the blocks if you do (well, except by cutting off the wider ends of the pins). But I understand now that with these tracks, there are separate pins that go through the blocks, so they don’t have that problem.
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Ok, I was worried that I missed something……after cutting and cleaning up the parts of the tracks…like all tracks…it really goes together quickly and nicely.
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All my aftermarket for the Grizzly has arrived, however I am going on course now for 5 weeks so will get cracking when I am back from the field.
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Um … if this is to build a Grizzly, I’m wondering what you need half that stuff for. Grizzlies had the normal M4-style bogies, not the late Sexton type with reinforced ribs, for example (though maybe they were retrotitted after the war? If you’re putting CDP tracks on, you’re making a post-war tank, right?), and the kit likely already includes a three-piece transmission housing.
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I bought the 3 pieces transmission not realizing the kit came with it. The Grizzlies were fitted with both regular and reinforced Canadian VVSS bogies and CDP tracks. Below is camp Meaford 1944. Note the CDP tracks and reinforced bogies
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The Sherman Minutia Website sort of disagrees with that:
Many surviving Grizzlies can be seen with Canadian produced bogie brackets. These were cast by the Dominion Steel Foundry of Hamilton, Ontario, and carry Part Number C40571. They are more substantial than the standard US D47526 bogie, and are said to have been designed to better absorb the recoil of the Sexton’s 25 pounder gun. It is thought that they, along with the CDP track, entered the Sexton production pipeline in the first quarter of 1944, that is after Grizzly production had ended in December, 1943. We would guess that spares from the Sexton program were retrofitted to some Grizzlies and other Shermans in Canada shortly after they became available. Judging by the number of surviving Grizzlies that are equipped with CDP tracks and heavy duty Sexton bogies, this replacement process continued on into the postwar years.
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We can call it a later war, early post war variant. The reference images I have show a mix with no rhyme or reason why some do or don’t have the heavy duty bogie. Which I guess supports the Sherman minutia page if they were upgraded when available or perhaps when damaged. My preference for the build is to make it as Canadian as possible in features.
This GGHG one is from 1947 and has the US style bogies with CDP.
The RCEME data book from early 1945 depicts one with the heavy duty bogies but US drive wheel and non CDP tracks.
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Getting close to “done” on this Firefly… The clear flat frosted a bit in some places, but I pressed forward with the stowage, headlight lenses, periscope glass, and some airbrushed dust to tie things together. Some more pigments will finish off the weathering, and I also need to finish painting the commander 
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Was unexpectedly able to make a start. Nothing too exciting, just the lower hull assembly and associated fittings. Thanks for looking.
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Started my first Asuka kit. Having fun with it so far. A couple of pics of the early stages. Not sure where exactly I’m going with it yet.
Cheers!
J
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I’ve got the full interior version of this one and, as an aircraft modeler primarily, it has me rather intimidated.
Will be following yours with interest.
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Once you start building it, it should probably feel familiar to you, though.
With aircraft kits you spend a lot of time building and painting the cockpit before you can finally get to grips with the real plane, all of the rest of which takes about as long to build as the cockpit did.
An AFV with an interior is much like that.
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That’s a good point.
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A couple of first attempts for me. Added the weld seams between the glacis and hull, and a scratchbuilt “comb” and step.
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