Following on from the Jagdpanther kit, we have my second favourite. Overall this was a very nice kit, similar to the quick build 15mm version. I will be getting some more, despite the issues I had with the tracks, due to the track covering plates you can conceal any aesthetic issues that may be had in construction.
Unlike in the Jagdpanther kit the decals were fairly standard, nice colouring but an exact tactical numbering. No room for maneuver, so multiple kit purchases will require after market decals to be acquired.
Zvezda seemed to be experimenting with various nifty ways of attaching the tracks to the vehicle. Generally supplying rubber *shudders* tracks, this one has a nice way of having half the road wheels moulded in a central block, like so, and then attaching them to the tracks first then the outer layer of wheels being glued on afterwards...
This works fairly nicely for speed of building, and solidity of the
road wheels, but as is usual with rubber tracks, they are a nightmare to
get on nicely. It is either a case of the tracks breaking from the
strain of being pulled tight enough round the road wheels, or even worse
I feel, the road wheels being bent out of alignment due to the tension
from the rubber tracks pulling at them. Either way it is down to
companys making the rubber tracks far too short, it is barely possible
to get tracks round the wheels and then to link up properly, never mind
expecting glue to hold them there. Some kits do have nicer rubber tracks
that have enough give that you don't feel like they are about to rip
from the strain of the tension, but in this case they were still too
tight.
(Also this is totally unrealistic for actual tank tracks,
especially Soviet tanks which would usually have fairly loose tracks
that would sag and sit on the wheels, not be perfectly rigid and flat,
suspended above the road wheels rims.)
My usual solution to this issue is to either secure the tracks on the bottom, or base of the wheels, wrap them around the front and back, and where the linkage point is, secure them to the wheels, but not with the tracks touching, under the shadow of the hull. This usually works best with tanks (Like the King tiger) where the upper tracks are concealed by armour plate or wheel guards, and if they are visible, some filler and some weathering creativity in painting can cover up the gap with "mud and debris". Alternatively, you can do it the reverse way and wrap around the top, then glue the tracks on the underside, generally ensuring they link up directly under a road wheel for some solid anchorage, this helps for ease of weighting the model down and pressing the tracks into place while the glue dries.
Either way...a pain in the arse. (See my next kit review for the worst case scenarios hah)
You can see in the picture below how the upper tracks are partially concealed, and it's almost impossible to tell that the tracks don't link properly under there, and looks fine, especially if the vehicle is to be used primarily for wargaming.
Overall though, the kit is very nice, with good detailings and an
appropriate amount of stowage. A few additions I would have liked would
have been the options for a pintle mounted MG on the commanders cupola,
and the decals could use some diversity. But I will be purchasing some
more of these!
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