M113 "Diehl" 513B
Individual Track Set #35004
1:35 Scale
Preview by Terry Ashley

The set has 160 individual links if light grey resin with a set of drive sprockets and a couple of spare track groups with two tracks links.

The resin quality is very good with just some minor resin film on some links to be removed and then to carefully remove the links from the pouring ‘sprue’. Each link includes the end connector and has nice details on the pad and connector and are designed to simply be glued together to form the track runs. It seems that during the design these tracks were to have been workable as there are pin locating holes on the inside of the end connectors but no pins on the adjoining links, hence they are to be glued together.

The drive sprockets are also cleanly cast but take care when removing the casting block as this goes all the way around the sprocket meaning you have to lightly sand the tip of each tooth to a round profile with the inner and outer sprockets fitting together perfectly without any adjustments needed.

Assembly was straightforward but using a ruler of similar “jig” to keep the track run straight during assembly would be helpful and the links fitted snugly around the sprocket teeth. The only problem here was with the end connectors which as mentioned are cast with the links and when fitted around the sprockets the end connectors did not sit evenly but ‘jut’ out from one link to the next. This may not be that noticeable on the finished model and once the links are glued together you could always cut off the end connectors around the sprocket and reposition them evenly.

Conclusion:
Overall a cleanly cast set of Diehl tracks that easily fit together for use on any of the applicable M113s to make a current generation vehicle. The only minor issue being the fixed end connectors but this can easily be dealt with.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Perfect Scale Modellbau for the preview sample.

Page created October 5, 2005