Colour of track links as appliqué armour?

[Robert Stuart]

Hello
I'm building a Sherman Firefly as part of the current M3/M4 GB, and have a question that might be answered here...

The vehicle I'm basing my build on was a Firefly with track links welded to the hull front and to the turret sides.

 

Given that these tracks were welded on, would they have been left in their natural colour, factory finish, or would they have been painted to match the vehicle?

I am aware of this thread

 

But that discusses track in its normal, around the wheels, configuration, and doesn't address the appliqué armour question.

[Crayons]

As they would have been field applied by the crew rather than at a factory level, go with a track colour. The tracks were probably scavenged from a wrecked/wrecking vehicle and as such, I would not paint them exactly the same as the tracks on the Firefly that you are modelling.

 

Tracks as appliqué armour and its value as armour is a question of much debate. Physiological value for the crew, definitely. Actual added armour protection, definitely not. My opinion entirely of course.

 

Hope this helps.