1:48 TRACK SKIDS SET FOR VVSS M4 FAMILY (EARLY VERSION)

1:48 Track Skids Set for the VVSS M4 Family, early version, T-Rex Studio

An accessory set of replacement parts for models of M4 Sherman tanks with suspension of the VVSS type in 1:48 scale. Track skids are the small parts on the sides of the hull at the level of the upper run of the track, which the track rests against as the vehicle moves. The abbreviation VVSS designates a type of Sherman suspension, not a particular vehicle. The designation Early Version refers to the early form of these parts, and T-Rex Studio also makes a Late Version.

What the set is for

Track skids tend to be only suggested on the sides of the hull, or else they come out of the factory thicker than the scale calls for. The set is intended to replace them so that the side of the hull matches the chosen real subject. The procedure is straightforward: remove the original shape from the side of the hull carefully, level the surface and seat the new parts in their places. Before gluing, measure the position against the side panels so that the spacing between them is right too.

Fitting and painting tips

First wash the parts in lukewarm water with a drop of detergent and let them dry. Separate them with a sharp knife or a fine saw, not with pliers, which crush small shapes easily. Cyanoacrylate glue applied with a pin works well, so that not too much of it gets onto the joint. Once it has dried, a thin coat of base comes next, and only then the main shade. The sides of the hull above the suspension are brought out well by a dark wash in the recesses and by pigments that add the dust and deposits from the ground.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who build Shermans and derived types in 1:48 scale
• Anyone interested in sharpening up the hull sides at the level of the upper run of the track
• Collectors finishing a model for a display case or a competition
• Those who build the early form of the vehicle and are looking for matching parts