Introduction

Model Cellar is a US company producing a range of fine resin cast figures kits, historical miniatures, and accessories focusing on World War One subjects. Their latest offering is a set of resin cast wheel treads for the Roden 1/35th scale BL 8-Inch Howitzer MK. VI, kit number 813. The Roden kit appears to represent a post-war Finnish army example. The biggest challenge in converting to a World War One example is the wheel treads. Roden molded the treads in vinyl to represent the post-war rubber treads. During the Great War, the treads were made of steel. In addition, Roden molded the treads with the slats pointing in the same direction. During the war, the treads were opposed. This offering from Model Cellar provides the wheel treads as used during the Great War.

Contents

Eight resin wheel tread sections.

Review

The delicate wheel tread sections are taped between protective resin cast end caps before being cushioned in packing peanuts in a small cardboard box.

The treads come in four sections per wheel. They are extremely well molded – no flash, no pin holes, no voids, no gels, no pour blocks. I have a done several all resin kits and use resin details on other kits; but, have never seen parts cast this well. The Model Cellar parts are ready to use directly from the box. They are very thin to conform to the finished wheel outside diameter. They include the four-rivet pattern that was most commonly seen. Model Cellar adds the rivet detail on the inside lip of the treads that is missing on the Roden kit parts.

To install, simply glue them to the rim of the wheels with cyanoacrylate glue.

Conclusion

This is the fastest way to back date the Roden wheels to the WW1 design and will save you hours of scratch building. The casting quality is superb. Thank you to Model Cellar for providing the review copy.