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MASTERCLUB
MC135047W, PT-76. 1/35th-scale resin individual-link tracks, with connecting pins and drive sprockets. Contains: 634 resin parts.
When I requested a set of PT-76 tracks for review from Historica, I was un-aware that there were actually two ways in which the manufacturer, MasterClub, approached the problem of how to create individual-link tracks. I thought I was only going to receive the clickable types (see companion review here at MLs ToT page). So, I was pleasantly surprised and a bit intrigued when I received two different sets of track for review. At first glance, this set would seem to be quite an improvement regarding ease of assembly, compared to the relatively fiddly clickable links seen in this manufacturers other PT-76 track set. Unfortunately, this is not entirely the case, because of several things.
To begin with, each link is joined to the next by two extremely small resin pins, each of which has a head on one end. The links themselves feature shallow depressions that must all be drilled-through for the pins to be inserted. Here is where the men get separated from the boys! Using one of the smallest drill bits in the modelers arsenal, the modeler must complete four holes on each link, using the slight depressions as a guide. There is not much meat surrounding the area where the holes are to be created and more than once, the drill bit went astray, causing the link to become useless. There were also a number of links that had been mal-formed, which again made them fairly useless. Normally, some attrition is to be expected, so extra links should be on offer. However, my set had no spares. Indeed, it was short a full 30 links from what is advertised on the products label; instead of 210 of them, there were only 180. These would not be enough to finish the model even if no links went astray.
Inserting the pins themselves was not particularly enjoyable, as they are quite miniscule. A magnification device and some pointed tweezers came in handy. But, sometimes a pin would suffer tweezers launch into the nether-world. After far too much time spent getting a few links together, they certainly looked the part! Indeed, their method of assembly makes them rather robust. However, the time needed to complete two sides of a model using this method completely daunted this reviewer!
As stated, the set was originally designed for the Eastern Express kit, so the drive sprockets will not fit the Trumpeter kits without modification. Use of properly-sized plastic tubing will save the day, and again I urge the modeler to check out Terry Ashleys PMMS review to see what needs to be done. Although the drive sprockets have some improvements in the shapes of the lighting holes around their rims, the hubs do not match photos. Some more work will be needed to fix this admittedly minor shortcoming; this reviewer suggests that mud be used!
There are quality control issues with this set as well as some very minor accuracy concerns. Assembly will not be a pleasant experience for all but the most masochistic of modelers. In addition, if used on the Trumpeter kits, the drive sprockets will need some easy modifications. But, if the modeler can get past all this, his PT-76 will look just fine.
Recommended with reservations
Frank V. De Sisto
MasterClub products are available in North America from Historica Books at: www.historicabooks.com.
