Barrel for Panzer 38(t)
LionMarc Model Designs Set No. LM10007
Passion Models Set P35-006
1:35th Scale
Review by Terry Ashley
The barrel is cleanly machined with the muzzle hollowed out but no rifling included but determining the correct lengths of aftermarket barrels can sometimes be a challenge if you don’t have an original to run a tape measure over and this is no different with three sets of 1:35 plans in the MBI “Praga” book, the Panzer Tracts No.21-1 Staende mit Pz.Kpfw.Tuermen, the Tank Power Vol.XXI PzKpfw 38 (t) book and Ground Power Magazine #064 with all showing the barrel at different lengths?
Elsewhere in the MBI book is a scape illustration (page 77, not to scale) but showing that the exposed length of the barrel along the top is a fraction less than 1 meter which in 1:35 scale is 28.5mm.
So where does this leave the three plans? Those in the MBI book
show a barrel length of 27.0mm (short by 1.5mm) which also means the plans
don’t match information elsewhere in the book and the barrel is not
the only discrepancy here with the hull length in the plans being 2mm shorter
than the stated length of 4560mm, but that’s another story.
The Panzer Tracts plan barrel length is 30.0mm, the Tank
Power plan barrel length is 29.25mm being the closest of the three
at just 0.75mm longer and those in the Ground Power show
31mm for 2.5mm too long.
Back to the Lionmarc/Passion Models barrel, this measures at 32.0mm which given the information on page 77 of the MBI book is correct has the barrel 3.4mm too long but this can be rectified when fitting the barrel to the kit gun.
To fit the barrel to the Tristar kits firstly cut the plastic barrel from part B-16, then drill a 2.5mm (7/64inch) hole just over 3mm into the breech, this is almost the same diameter as the plastic part so take care to drill perfectly evenly, note the drill will force out the plastic but this isn't a problem. Then drill a small 1.5mm hole for the barrel pin and slip the barrel into place test fitting the mantlet to leave the required 28.5mm barrel length exposed. The mantlet (part B-17) then slips neatly into place over the barrel with a very snug fit and the remainder of the kit is assembled as per instructions.
The barrel can also be used with the recent Mig Productions PzKpfw 38(t) Ausf.G Conversion (set #MP 35-261) with again very simple fitting. Firstly glue the resin barrel into the mantlet and then cut it off level with the front of the mantlet. Drill a 7/64inch hole and insert the metal barrel leaving the require 28.5mm length exposed. This method is best as the resin barrel hole is slightly larger than the diameter of the metal barrel and gluing the resin barrel in place fills any gap around the metal barrel.
Conclusion:
A simple yet nicely detailed barrel to improve the look of the Tristar 38(t)
kits as well as the Mig set and any other 38(t) kit for that
matter with minimal work needed to corect the barrel length and to fit with
no cleanup needed.
Recommended.
This barrel set is also distributed under licence in Japan by Passion Models as set #P35-006
See the 38(t) Subject Page for reviews of additional update sets for available 38(t) kits.
Reference:| PRAGA LT vz.38 P zKpfw 38(t) MBI Publishing ISBN: 80-86524-01-9  |
PzKpfw 38(t) |
TANKS & ARMOUR: |
| Pz.Kpfw 38(t)Ausf.A-D in detail Special Museum Line No.38 Wings & Wheels Publications ISBN 80-86416-58-5  |
PzKpfw 38(t) in action |
Ground Power Magazine #064 - 9/1999 Published by Delta Publishing Co.Ltd. Japan German Light Tank 38(t)  |
| Panzer Tracts No.21-1 Staende mit Pz.Kpfw.Tuermen Panzer Turrets on Concreteand Wood Stands Thomas L Jentz and Hilary Louis Doyle ISBN 0-9744862-6-4  |
|
Thanks to LionMarc Model Designs for the review set.
Page created August 11, 2006
