PMMS
WW2 Productions
T-34 M1941-M Angled Waffle Pattern Track
WWII Productions Set No. 48005
1:48th Scale
Review by Terry Ashley

TamiyaHobby Boss

WWII Productions continue their 1:48 resin replacement tracks with this set designed for any of the Hobby Boss or Tamiya 1:48 T-34 based kits and represents the alternate Angled Waffle Pattern Track which while not as common as the smooth plate or Waffle pattern was seen on T-34s throughout the war.

The set has 170 track links (68 per side) in light grey resin with the typical T-34 alternate links, one with the guide tooth and the other without in two separate bags. Both have excellent detail on the face and on the inside as they should but there is a bit of excess resin film to be removed from the link recesses, this varies between links with some having more film than others.

Resin track links
WW2 Productions

The cleanup is easy with the resin film being very thin and a quick pass with a sharp X-Acto #11 blade is all that is needed and the links are ready to be assembled but take care not to damage the small pins during cleanup.

Links before and after cleanup also showing the pins and locating holes
WW2 ProductionsWW2 Productions

Assembly is very straightforward with each guide tooth link having four pins with two at one end slightly larger than the other and you simply slip the next plain link over the larger locating pin and gently squeeze the opposite end of the link over the smaller pin with your thumbnail.

Repeat this sequence for each alternate link and I found the links clipped over the smaller pins much easier and with less tendacy for damage than with the previous T-34 track set (#48003) with just gentle thumb pressure all that was needed. Also the assembled track runs were very robust and held together very well under normal handling conditions and I did not have any links come apart, this is due to the revised production design of these links that eliminated the filled in locating holes and loose fit of the earler Waffle Pattern tracks.

The assembled track runs fit perfectly around the Hobby Boss or Tamiya kit sprockets as you would expect and articulate freely for very natural sit over the top of the road wheels.

Assembly sequence quick and easy
WW2 ProductionsWW2 ProductionsWW2 Productions
WWII Productions track links fitted to the Hobby Boss and Tamiya T-34s
WW2 ProductionsWW2 Productions
WW2 ProductionsWW2 Productions

Conclusion:
Another excellent set of resin tracks from WWII Productions that are very easy to assembly and hold together well due to the revised production method and the details on the angled waffle and inner link face are very cleanly produced.

These links have detail you would only expect in the larger 1:35 scale and add considerably to the final look of any kit you may use them on and the robust track runs make for easy handling.

Highly recommended.

The tracks are available direct from:
WWII Productions
PO Box 100 Waratah
NSW 2298
Australia

Phone 61 2 4967 3205 (from inside Australia 02 4967 3205)
Fax 61 2 4967 3207 (from inside Australia 02 4967 3207)
Email: ww2prod@optusnet.com.au

In the US they are available from Mission Models

Thanks to Bill from WWII Productions for the review set.



Page created November 10, 2006

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