Hi people

I'm quite new on this board but I enjoy reading it for almost 6 months!

Since I went here I discovered something I had never heard about before. It's the after market products.

From the day I started modelling to now I have always builded my kit out of the box. But I founded here that many many of you buy that tank+ those tracks+ this resin hull+ that metal barrel+ these photo etched details... Quite a revolution in my mind I must say !

What I'm wondering about is how do to find the items that fits to your vehicule and where you buy it.

For example, I recently bought a Sdkf.251 Ausf D from Tamyia. But it come with rubber track, with detail only on one side ( I am really really disappointed !!!).
So if I want to replace them with linked track how I proceed?!

I'm counting on you to finish my halftrack so don't choke guys!

(Sorry for the english, I usually speak french)

Normally the package or the site that sells the item will list the model that particular aftermarket item is for. If no specific manufacturer's kit is listed, the item will most likely work with any model of that vehicle.

The kit you have should use the AFV Club track set AF 35043.

As Rob mentioned above, the AFV club tracks should be fine, for a better vinyl replacement.
Aftermarket items for this particular vehicle are probably more than most could afford.
If you are interested in individual links, Im sure plenty cheap ones will available as all new Dragon kits come with two sets .. the kit set and EZ links.
AM will do almost everything else you could want.
R&J do a resin engine,
AFV Club do several indy track sets, early and late sets.
AFV Club also do wheel and running gear upgrade with a resin adaptor to fit Tamiyas version as its not right.
Eduard, Aber, Part, Lion Roar,etc all do etched metal sets to have more true to scale parts.

Verlinden and several other companies do dress-up sets.
Plus to top it off, there was ausf A, B and C versions of this vehicles, not to mention the variants of each .. up to 23!

The best idea is to keep your eye out and if you see something you like, give it a go. Theres plenty of help available to steer you in the right direction. Also theres nothing wrong with building OOB either. A nicely built and weathered OOB kit is much nicer than a lame effort with loads of extra parts that are badly assembled or poorly painted.
Welcome to the site by the way!!

As far as researching After Market (AM) add on kits --- you can go to a site like modelmecca or great models and do a search. At first do a general search for something like german 251 and all things related will be brought up.

Then there is asking here, as you see - LOTS of help.

Here are several online stores you might be interested in:

militaryhobbies.com (located in Canada)
greatmodels.com
squadron.com
spruebrothers.com
discountmodels.com

Look under armor accessories. Some sites have good search engines and some don't so you got to play around with their web site a little. I know for greatmodels.com, if you just find your model under Tamiya brand, they have a link for after market accessories for your kit.
Your local hobby shop may have some aftermarket products- well, it depends on how big is the city you live in actually

Petition2God has hit it.Also 'Armor Details' works on a lot of sites.Not just stuff specific to your kit,but generic stuff too.Fuel cans,stowage,tools,packs,ammo,etc.Easy to go overboard on this gear.
cheers!

Before you check the on-line retailers, it is always a good iea to check the news and reviews sections here on Armorama. We have a lot of AM material reviewed and covered in the news section. The manufacturer's website is always lnked as well...Jim

Thanks a lot guys!

You've quite demistified AM to me, but as I see it I still have to do a huge research to find what match with the kit I want to upgrade.

Anyway I guess it worth it!

N.B. Thanks again for making me discovering the Dragon products. No hobby shop , at least in my region, display anything else than Tamyia things in their shelves. But Dragon just looks GREAT !!

ciao dudes