IS-2, IS-3, KV-1s, ISU-122, KV-85 track
Master Club 1:35 Scale Set # MC135028W
Review by Terry Ashley

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This set of tracks from MasterClub represent the narrower 650mm wide split link tracks applicable to the KV-1S and SU-152 and not just for the vehicles listed on the box top. The set consists of 180 resin track links, 90 with the guide horns and 90 without the guide horns plus separate small resin track pins with the flat head for the inside of the links and the large retaining bolt for the outside of the links.

Metal and Etched parts

The actual light weight split link track used on the KV-1S and SU-152 is about 650mm wide which is 18.5mm in 1:35 scale and the set tracks measure out at 19mm (give or take a fraction) making them fractionally over the optimal scale width. The links are quite cleanly cast with the pin holes fully opened up in links although the remnants of the casting burs need to be cleaned from each of the link segments and you need to take care not to cut of too much material and expose the pin holes. The link details are cleanly done along with nice deep holes on the opposite side of the guide horn as per the actual track and the 'split' links are cast in one piece with the split join depicted as an engraved line. The pins don't need any clean-up at all and are ready to go as they come.

Assembly is very straightforward, you just slip one link into the next and insert the end pins ensuring these are positioned correctly depending on the left and right side track runs, the large pin bolt is always to the outside of the track runs, the pins can be held in place with a dab of thick cyanoacrylate. You need also to be careful to alternate the links between those with and without the guide horns.

The assembled track runs are quite robust due to the sizable pin and articulate okay but not as freely as with metal track links but this shouldn't be a problem once the track is fitted to the kit running gear.

Track assembly.

Assembled track sections.

The assembled track runs fit perfectly to the Trumpeter KV-1S and SU-152 drive sprockets as well as to the Tamiya JS-2 kits used for testing but the fit to the DML JSU-152 kit sprockets is not as snug as with the other kits.

This is an excellent set of replacement tracks from MasterClub for any of the available JS kits and also to the Trumpeter KV/SU kits. There is a bit of cleanup needed but the assembly is quite straightforward with pins provided and fit nicely to the target kits.

The resulting track runs are very robust due to the large pins with excellent detail and will improve the detail over the kit tracks on whatever model they are used on.

Rating 8.5/10

See the comparison summation of the available track sets HERE.

KV Techical History and Variants by Neil Stokes Published by AirConnection, Canada ISBN 978–0–9781091–2–7

SU-152 Tank Power Vol.XCI Wydawnictwo Militaria No.332 ISBN: 9788372193322

Thanks to my credit card and for the review Set.