LionMarc Model Designs continue to release their metal replacement barrels and this latest set has the Hetzer mid production barrel designed for the recent Tamiya kit Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer Mittiere Produktion (kit #35285).

The set has just a single cleanly machined barrel in aluminium with the muzzle drilled out to a depth of 7mm and includes fine rifling added inside the muzzle as well as having the thread protector ring included.

The barrel measures out at the correct length when compared to the various plans in the books below but these also show there is a difference in barrel length between the various plans to complicate matters. This barrel as mentioned equals the consensus length shown in the references.

One piece aluminium barrel

The barrel is designed to simply replace the kit barrel without the need for any kit alterations but you will need the file the base of the metal barrel to fit properly into the kit mantlet.

This is due to the kit barrel having a slight taper on the base to slip into the hole in the kit mantlet but the metal barrel base does not have this taper and will not fit all the way into the mantlet hole as it comes.

Taper on base of kit barrel not on the metal barrel requiring some filing

You can either drill out the hole in the kit mantlet for an even width hole or the simplest method is to file the metal barrel base to form the taper allowing the barrel to then slip into the kit mantlet hole easily as intended and the minor alterations shouldn't pose any problems.

Barrel fitted to Tamiya kit after minor filing and a close-up of the barrel rifling

A quick comparison with the Finemolds Hetzer barrel (set #MG-61T) also just released for the Tamiya Hetzer sees the Finemolds barrel a straight metal replica of the plastic kit barrel meaning it is also 2-3mm too long and does not have any rifling in the drilled out muzzle.

Barrel comparison showing the LionMarc barrel the correct length

Conclusion:
This is another simple barrel update from LionMarc/Passion Models for the Tamiya Hetzer kit with the correct dimension barrel that has a drilled out muzzle with rifling and just the smallest of alterations to fit to the kit.

Highly recommended 8/10

The set is also marketed in Japan under the Passion Models label by M.S.Models as set #P35-015 and is the same barrel as included in the LionMarc set reviewed here.

See the 38(t)/Hetzer Subject Page for additional reviews.

References:

Hetzer MBI Publications Out of Print but with excellent details and 1:35 plans	Modelling the Jagdpanzer 38(t) 'Hetzer' Osprey Modelling 10 ISBN 1-84176-705-0
Ground Power Magazine No.89 10/2001 GALILEO Publishing Co.,Ltd	Ground Power Magazine No.90 11/2001 GALILEO Publishing Co.,Ltd
Jagdpanzer 38(t) 'Hetzer' Wydawnictwo Militaria 45 ISBN 83-86209-82-8	Jagdpanzer 38 'Hetzer' 1944-45 Osprey New Vanguard 38 ISBN 1-84176-135-4

Thanks to LionMarc Model Designs for the review set.