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Armorscale 76.2mm M1A2
Gun Barrel for US Tanks M4 Sherman (B35-028) |
76.2mm M1A2 Gun Barrel for US Tanks M4 Sherman
by Cookie Sewell
Summary
Stock Number and Description |
Armorscale 1/35 Scale Conversion Set No.
B35-028; 76.2mm M1A2 Gun Barrel for US Tanks M4 Sherman |
Scale: |
1/35 |
Media and Contents: |
11 parts (4 turned brass, 3 etched brass, 3
grey resin, and 1 turned aluminum barrel) |
Price: |
retail price US $15.00 |
Review Type: |
First Look |
Advantages: |
Barrel does a good job of replicating the
original; built-up construction captures all of the details |
Disadvantages: |
Resin parts somewhat lackluster (see
comments below) |
Recommendation: |
Recommended for all Shermaholics with the
late-war T23 style turreted models |
Armorscale products will be available online from Mission Models
FirstLook
Sherman add-ons and accessories come and go, and while some are
absolutely dreadful (I can think of a "Easy Eight" suspension kit
from about 15 years ago that consisted of white metal castings of
the Revell Sherman suspension and sections of Tamiya T-62 tracks)
there are occasionally ones that make you stop and back up to check
them out again. This little gem is one such accessory, and one would
be hard pressed to find one that is more impressive.
Armorscale provides a complete drop-in kit to fit most of the T23
style turreted Shermans from either DML (Dragon) or Italeri. The kit
comes with a new mantelet and separate "horns" for attaching it to
the mantelet mounting on the turret, a new turned barrel, and a
seven-piece muzzle brake made from turned and etched brass parts.
The turned brass parts are the two baffles of the muzzle brake, the
separator, and the attachment collar. The etched brass parts form
the inner flanges of the muzzle brake and are built up to capture
some of the intricacies of the original, and also the fitting and
lock washer that attach it to the muzzle of the gun. The gun barrel
comes with threads (!) and also is rifled inside for a depth of
about 7-8 mm. Note that the finished muzzle brake is designed to be
SCREWED onto the barrel and not cemented!
The resin mantelet is not anything special, but there is one thing
that it does provide and that is the correct distance of insertion
for the barrel. Too often critics carp about the barrels being "too
long" or "too short" without noting how much or how little of the
butt end of the barrel has been used to attach it to a kit mantelet;
most barrels are just barrels and have no instructions or markings
on them to show how much is to be inserted into the mantelet or
recoil housing. By providing their own, Armorscale has solved that
problem for the modeler.
This barrel is a bit more expensive than others but most of the cost
here is involved in the machined components of the muzzle brake. If
it looks too smooth for you, once it is assembled a coat of "Mr.
Surfacer 500" should serve to "rough it up" if you want a cast
appearance.
Overall, this is a very nice addition and if you are going "whole
hog" on a late war or Korean Sherman it should fit the bill. The
American distributor is Chesapeake Model Designs, PO Box 393,
Monkton, MD 21111 or check out their listing at
http://www.chesapeakemodels.com
Highly Recommended.
Thanks to
Bill Miley for the review sample.
Text and Images by
Cookie Sewell
Page Created 05 June, 2006
Page Last Updated
02 August, 2006
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