Description

• Workable resin tracks for Pz.Kpfw.VI Tiger - Initial production.
• Mirrored/handed tracks supplied separately.
• Set contains 220 individual track links and 440 track pins.
• No glue required for assembly.

Introduction

Dragon literally took the armor-modelling world by storm a while back, when they released their initial 3´n´1 Tiger. After teasing for some time with all the details to be included, expectations were high. When the kit finally arrived, few modellers were disappointed.
The bar for armor kits was raised … and then some!
About the only negative critic the kit earned, was for the supplied magic tracks. Not that they were poor or wrong, but basically because they did not live up to the finesse and detail-level of the rest of the kit. Shallow pin-marks and especially the lack of cutouts in the guide horns, were highlighted, considering their frequent use (and boasts) of slide molding technology elsewhere.

Enter MasterClub®

As always, where there´s an opportunity, the aftermarket companies will soon make it their business to take advantage of this. MasterClub are a relatively new company from Russia and only came to my attention with this set of tracks. Having read some reviews and seen some initial images of their products, I was intrigued enough to purchase this item.
I bought this item online and had to wait until it was shipped from Hong Kong, so it took a little more time than expected. The very light package came about two weeks later. It was packaged with zip-lock bags. Each track run was bagged individually. The tracks are handed/mirrored and thankfully Tiger tracks are easily identifiable because neither side is labeled. Both tracks runs are of a slightly different colour as well .. just in case they do happen to get mixed up. The outer bags also contain two smaller zip-lock bags holding the individual track pins.
A quick inspection showed little, or no, signs of flash, very clean and crisp details and also a very fine scar mark where the molding sprue was removed. My friend ”Ivor” from MiniArt is included in the first photographs, so a better idea of the scale is given.

Assembly

Assembly is very simple and straight forward, but may be considered tedious by many. Each track has to be drilled 4 times with a 0.6mm bit, to open up the pin holes. The hole location is already pre-molded and although it will take considerable time to assemble the full set, a complete beginner will be able to assemble the set perfectly. The resin is not too hard and allows holes to be opened quickly and without much effort.
The tracks pins are very small and the use of tweezers for insertion will make life easier. The label claims that ”no glue is required”, and the tolerances in my drill bits may be a bit off, but I would recommend adding a touch of glue carefully inside the pin-head to secure it. It is evident in the attached images that some have moved during handling.
Track fit is perfect, as is the fit to Dragon´s drive wheel. A slight scrape with a modelling knife or file will easily remove the feint scar from the casting process.

Conclusion

Placed side by side with the Dragon supplied alternatives, the finesse and quality of the MasterClub tracks is evident. As well as having the cut-outs in the guide horns, the side detail profile is so much sharper. Absent is the annoying flash that occurs after mold-tool separation around all the pin details on injected tracks, which is all too often highlighted even further, when painting/drybrushing. The fact that they are workable tracks, also allows them to be painted separately and easily positioned afterwards.

Considering the quality of the Dragon kit, most of the usual aftermarket items are pretty much redundant, but those that want to go the extra distance will want to improve on the kits most obvious weak point. If considering aftermarket tracks, MasterClub is certainly a product that will enhance the kit and befit it with the tracks it deserves.