This first product I have used from the Australian company WWII Productions consists of 180 individual resin T81 single-pin track links for the Tamiya M26 Pershing (kit 35254); plenty for the 83-84 links per side that Pershings had, with enough for plenty of spare links.  Although the instructions state that these tracks are not suitable for the DML Pershing, I did a quick test-fit of several links on the drive sprocket of the DML T26E3 kit (kit 6032); a thin spacer ring can be added between the sprocket halves to allow the tracks to fit perfectly.  Of course, these tracks cannot be used on any vehices with sprockets designed for the double-pinned T80/T84 series of tracks, such as the DML M26A1 Pershing (kit 6801); I assume that this is the source of WWII Productions' warning about DML kits.  In many ways, this is the simplest review I have ever written, since it can be summed up in three words:  BUY THESE TRACKS.

This is the first experience I have had with resin individual track links, since I never owned any of the late, lamented Anvil Miniatures sets (which I understand that the present company may derive its lineage from to some extent).  I have to say that I am immensely impressed on two counts.

First is the accuracy and superiority in detail of these tracks over their competitors.  While Pershings have no noticeable track sag, and hence are not as likely a candidate for individual links as, say, T-55s or Panthers, these links are still much better than those included in the Tamiya kit.  First, they have open guide horns; this would be virtually impossible to drill out on vinyl tracks, and makes a difference in the look of the vehicle.  Also, the countersunk recesses for the track pins in the end of each link are poorly represented in the Tamiya tracks; again, this is a distinctive feature of the prototype.  DML's individual links compare better to the WWII Productions links, in that they also have hollow guide teeth, DML's links also lack the recesses for the track pins.  WWII Productions' tracks excel in their reproduction of these details.

Secondly, these tracks are the simplest individual links I have ever come across to actually use.  Unlike the DML links, which are not easy to get off of their sprues, the WWII Productions tracks require only the most minimal of cleanup.  There are no runners on the links, and only small amounts of wafer-thin flash that can be removed, it seems, with a stern look.  A very thin attachment point on the back edge of each link can be removed with a single swipe of a sanding stick, and then the links are ready to be assembled.  Assembly is laughably simple; each link snaps into the next.  No glue, no jigs, just two hands.  When you are done, you have a set of workable tracks.  It took me perhaps 40 minutes to assemble two working runs, from opening the ziploc bag to merrily wrapping them around sprockets and wheels.  I cannot think of any other tracks that would allow me to have complete runs in so little time (I shudder to think of how much time I invested in AFV Club's otherwise excellent T48 Sherman set, although I know that VVSS Sherman tracks are a different, and finicky, breed).  

Both in terms of accuracy and quality, these links are in a class by themselves.  If you are working on a Tamiya Pershing, indulge yourself and get a set of these tracks; you won't be disappointed, and you won't be in for much more work than if you used the kit's vinyl tracks. 

My preproduction set of tracks were graciously provided by Luke Pitt; the tracks will be available direct from WWII Productions or from local dealers in February 2003.  WWII Productions tracks are available in North America from Hannah's Hobbies and  M&Models.