Introduction

When Bronco Models released their second SU-152 with workable tracks they also released a set of workable tracks for the KV1 and KV2. This will provide an accurate set of tracks for all those KV1 and KV2 models out there from a number of manufacturers and I am hopeful that it signifies that Bronco Models are taking an interest in the KV tank beyond what has already been released, and possible Soviet armour in general.

Contents

In the standard Bronco Models end opening box you will find;

• 20 runs of 12 individual links
• 13 sprues each containing 34 end pins.
• Assembly tool.

This provides you with 240 track links and 442 track pins.

Review

Starting with the track links which are supplied as individual links in runs of 12 with sprue attachments in between each link, the attachment points have been used as the mould ejection points resulting in no deformation on any surface of the individual links. The links all look to me to be accurately detailed and are an accurate width which has been a problem in the past with a number of model kits of the KV1 and KV2. One area in particular that caught my eye was the way in which Bronco models has been able to replicate the hollow guide horns which while being a small detail it does make these, in my opinion, the most accurate version of these tracks available today.

The track pins are sided as I have read that on the KV tank it was common for the pins to work their way out and were shaped so that as the tracks travelled around the wheels they would be re seated on the internal face, I believe that the pins labelled (O) are the interior face pins. . The track pins are also spaced accurately on the sprue for application to the tracks before they are removed fully from the sprue which is a nice touch. It is worth mentioning here that according to various ref I have read on the tracks for the KV1 and KV2 each side should consist of 86 to 88 links, Bronco Models states that it should be 88 links per side and that means this set supplies you with plenty of spares of both links and pins.

Assembly

The track connection points are all on surfaces that are hidden once the track is put together, and if each of the links is removed carefully, in my case with wire cutters, the needed clean-up is minimal. I gave the connection points a light sanding to clean each link and this is necessary or getting the links together will be difficult, if not impossible.

It is up to you how you start the assembly of your track run but I recommend that you place the side with the single connection point away from the second link on the guide. The second link can then be added easily by introducing it at about 45 degrees and the laying it on the teeth of the guide, if you have cleaned the links correctly they will sit together easily. You then lay 8 track links on the guide which keeps all of the links correctly spaced for the addition of the pins.

The pins have been perfectly spaced on their sprue runners to allow them to be located into the tracks in rows before removal from the sprue fully, this really speeds up production of these track runs and increases the ease of assembly. All you need to do is add a small amount of glue near the outside edge of the pins and the press them home allowing the glue to cure before freeing them from the sprue.

Conclusion

This is a great set of tracks for your KV1 and KV2 models with no obvious issues that I can see. The workable ability of the tracks allows for ease of use on vehicles depicted on uneven ground and I am sure will also be an affordable set of tracks for those who like to depict their models as destroyed in action.