Master Club
FV 432 Tracks
Master Club 1:35 Scale Set # MTL35139
Review by Terry Ashley

TakomTakom
The Set:
This set of individual metal track links from MasterClub is designed for the recently released Takom kits #2066 FV 432 Mk.2/1 and #2067 FV 432 Mk.3 Bulldog. The set consists of 210 cast metal track links, 200 rubber track pads and 420+ resin track pins that are designed to pin the links together without the need for gluing.

Metal Track Links
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Individual soft vinyl material track pads
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Resin track pins.
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Each track link is cleanly cast with just a few small pour burs to be cleaned up with all the track pin holes are fully drilled out and a notable feature of the links is the pin holes go all the way through allowing you to assemble to links using lengths of wire if you wish. I found this feature very useful joining the track runs ends together when fitting to the model as it does allow you to slip out the wire pin to take the track runs off the suspension if required at any time such as for painting.
The detail on the links is excellent with the cast front details cleanly rendered and the pad retaining bolt and track guide tooth included on the inside of the link.

The 'rubber' track pads appear to be a hard rubber compound or harder vinyl material and are moulded on a runner with twelve pads to each runner. The pads are also cleanly moulded but you should ensure that when cutting the pads from the runner to use a sharp blade and cut as close as possible to the pad as it's not easy to trim these afterwards.

It appears MasterClub have heard the feedback from previous metal track/resin pin sets where it's difficult to get the pin into the holes due the small tolerances on the pin ends. The pins in this set are tapered towards the pin end so it's very easy to slip these into the link holes while fitting together. The pin bolt detail could be better defined as the bolt head does appear round when viewing at times.

Minimal track link clean-up is needed.
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Individual link parts ready for assembly.
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The track pad is is easier to glue into each link before track length assembly, note the direction of the notch in the pad to the kink in the track link.
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Links with the pads glued in place prior to final assembly.
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Assembly:
Assembly is fairly straightforward, it's easier to glue all the track pads to the links using cyanoacrylate before assembling the track runs, take note of the notch on the inside of the pad that corresponds to the contour of the track link pad recess.

With the pads added, fit two links together and ensuring the links are squarely aligned use a pair of stout needle point tweezers to slip the pin into hole as far as it will go till it becomes tight then use the tweezers to "push" the pins firmly into place until the head sits flush with the link. It's important to exert the pushing pressure perfectly square with the links so you don't bend the resin pin in the process. You then rotate the track and repeat this for the other side of the link to secure the two links and then repeat this process for the full track run.

The pins should hold in place with friction but the occasional one decided it wanted out so adding a small dab of cyanoacrylate to each pin will remove this temptation for the pins to go awol. The tracks runs assembled fairly quickly using this method and the tapered pins did make this a breeze and you can have the full track run assembled in no time.

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Assembled track lengths compared to the Takom kit track showing the improved detail and definition.
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Fitting the Tracks:
Test fitting the tracks to the Takom kit sprocket sees the fit not perfect with the track run not wanting to sit perfectly flush around the sprocket, a small section of track would lift off the sprocket and pressing this down would see it lift off elsewhere. The pitch (length) of the metal links is slightly larger than the kit tracks and trimming the sprocket teeth a little and gluing the track around the sprocket where it touches to get a flush fit may be an option?

Assembled tracks test fitted to the Takom FV 432 kit sprocket showing the details.
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Images showing the problematic fit around the Takom kit sprockets, pressing them to sit flush on one section of the
sprocket would see them come away at another unfortunately and some trimming of the teeth may be needed to get a good flush fit.
Note; the track in the image below extends further around the sprocket than when fitted to the final drive so the gaps are not quite as pronounced
on the track fitted to the kit.

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The sprocket teeth have been trimmed and the track set at the angle it would be on the kit
but there are still small gaps around the contact area and not perfectly flush all the way around.

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Conclusion:
This set of FV 432 tracks has excellent details on the cast metal track links with minimal clean-up needed and the separate rubber track pads a nice addition. The tapered resin track pins make for quick and easy assembly without the issues reported from previous similar sets.

The only minor issue is the fit around the Takom kit sprockets and some trimming of the sprocket teeth was needed to get a better fit, apart from that the assembled track runs have considerably more detail definition than the kit tracks and will improve the appearance of the finished kit.

Rating 8.5/10

References:
FV432 Carrier Personnel Full Tracked
Tankograd -British Special No.9014

Book
FV432 Variants
Tankograd -British Special No.9015

Book

Thanks to my credit card and Hobbyeasy for the review Set.

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Page created 17 January 2018



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