Churchill Mk.III
Track Link for Churchill (Workable)
AFV Club 1:35 Kit No. AF 35156
Kit review by Terry Ashley

---

AFV Club have released in conjunction with the Churchill Mk.III (kit #AF 35153) this set of individual link workable track to replace the kit vinyl track for those wanting to improve the detail definition.

The track in this set is the T-144 Double Pin Manganese Track which is very similar in appearance to the Light Cast Track which replaced the initial Heavy Cast Steel track used on early Churchills. The Manganese Track has a pitch of 7.96 inch and each track runs consisted of 72 links.

The set consists of 8 sprues with 20 links and 20 connecting plates per sprue for a total of 160 links with the standard of moulding being very good with just the sprue attachments and two small pin marks on the inside of each link to deal with. These pin marks are easy to remove but if left they are hard to see when the track is fitted to the kit.

Sprues

Each link is made up of the main link and the inner connecting plate which traps the next link as you go allowing the articulation but you have to be careful to align the connecting plate so it doesn't prevent the link movement.

Track link detail

Assembly sequences, note the pin marks have been removed from the links

You firstly lay one of the connecting plates over the first link (1) and then trap in place with the second connecting plate (2) which leaves the first connecting plate just hanging there for now. You then slip the next link under the attachment shaft (3) and secure with the next connecting plate (4). You must ensure that as you attach each connecting plate that it is as far to 'front' of the link shoe as possible (2) to ensure it doesn't impede the track articulation, also make sure the connecting plate sits flush to the track link before gluing.

When applying the glue use sparingly so as not to get any on the attachment shaft, I used Tamiya Extra Thin Cement sparingly without any problems and after a short time you get into a rhythm and the links go together fairly quickly.

Views of assemble length of track

The assembled track runs fit perfectly to the kit idler and drive sprockets as you would expect but linking the two ends of the track runs together on the kit is a little tricky as there is not a lot of slack and you have to fit this together using the same method as above with the track in place on the kit.

Individual workable track links

Vinyl kit tracks

The views above show the improved track link detail and definition over the kit vinyl track which makes for a worthwhile update.

A nicely detailed set of individual link Manganese track for the Churchill that is fairly easy to assembly and articulates well to offer a marked improvement in detail definition over the kit vinyl track. This track could also be used on applicable resin Churchill kits if desired.

Highly recommended.

On the net:

Armour in Focus Profiles - The Churchill Tank

	Mr. Churchill's Tank The British Infantry Tank Mk.IV David Fletcher Schiffer Military Publications ISBN 0-7643-0679-0 See review for details.
	Churchill vol.1 GUNpower 26 By Leszek Moczulski Published by AJ Press ISBN 978-83-7237-194-9
	Tamiya Photographic Album No.3 British Churchill Tank Tamiya Plastic Model Co. Has some excellent line drawings of the Mk.III/IV hull, turret and smaller details as well as full walkaround of the Mk.VII.
	Churchill Infantry Tank 1941-51 New Vanguard No.4 Osprey Publishing ISBN 1 85532 297 8 Good overall coverage of all variants of the Churchill.
	the Funnies A History with scale plans of the 79th Armoured Division Geoffrey W. Futter ISBN 0 85242 405 1 Is out of print and may be hard to find but has a detailed coverage with 1/76th scale plans of all the specialised vehicles used by the 79th AD from D-Day onwards.

Thanks to AFV Club for the review kit.
is distributed in Australia by J.B.Wholesalers