LionMarc Model Designs and Passion Models continue to release their metal replacement barrels and this latest barrel is for the German sFH 18 15cm Field Howitzer, specifically designed for the Dragon sFH 18 15cm kit #6392 but with minor modifications can also be fitted to the Trumpeter sFH 18 15cm kit #02304.

The set has two cleanly machined parts, the barrel in aluminium with the muzzle drilled out to a depth of 20mm with fine rifling added inside to a depth of 10mmand the rear breech securing ring. The most notable feature is that the rifling is quite finely machined and actually spiraled unlike the straight grooves seen for many metal barrel rifling these days.

Two part aluminium barrel

Barrel parts fitted together
The barrel length and contours match those of the various plans in the books below but due to the breech securing ring included a little work is needed to fit to the Dragon kit breech. As mentioned the barrel can also be fitted to the Trumpeter kit in much the same manner but a little extra work is needed as well as some other minor issues and I'll look here at fitting the barrel to both kits.

As both the kits come with metal barrels the obvious question is; why would you want a replacement barrel in any case? The appearance of the fine spiraled rifling in this larger calibre does provide a marked improvement in appearance over the non-rifled Dragon barrel and rather thick grooves in the Trumpeter barrel.

Comparison of the available metal barrel rifling.

The barrel is designed to simply replace the kit barrels but firstly you have to cut off the plastic breech securing ring from the two kit breeches and using the new Lion Roar Modelling Saw (set #LT0026) this was done in no time at all, just make sure you don't cut off too much plastic.

If you did not want to cut off the kit breech ring the metal ring could be left out and the barrel simply fitted to the kit breech.

Note: I found it easier to glue the two halves of the kit breech together before cutting off the ring as this ensured an even cut would result, but you can cut them individually if preferred?

Altering the kit gun breeches as per above

After modifying the Dragon barrel the inside of the breech is exposed and the plug on the end of the LionMarc/Passion Models barrel is designed to fit neatly into the breech making for straightforward fitting from here.

On the Trumpeter breech there is a ring deeper inside the breech that needs to also be removed to allow the barrel plug to fit in place, the breech hole is also larger than the metal barrel plug but it easy to fit evenly.
There is another issue with the Trumpeter breech in that it is marginally narrower than the Dragon breech and the metal breech securing ring sits a little higher than the breech.

Insides of the Dragon and Trumpeter kit breech after removing the securing ring.
The inner ring also has to be removed from the Trumpeter breech for the metal barrel to fit.

After fitting the barrel to the appropriate kit barrel cradle the rest of the construction is per the kit instructions, the minor diameter issue with the Trumpeter kit is mostly hidden between the trunnion mounting with the barrel in the neutral position.

Images of the LionMarc/Passion Models barrel fitted to the two kit guns.


Barrel length comparison of available metal barrels including the Dragon and Trumpeter kit barrels.

LionMarc/Passion Modelsfor sFH 18 15cm Field Howitzer with the correct dimension barrel and nicely done spiraled rifling in the drilled out muzzle with the smallest of alterations requiring to fit to the kit.

While designed primarily for the Dragon kit it can also be used on the Trumpeter kit with a little addiitonal work and offers a noticable improvment with the rifling over the kit barrels

Highly recommended 8/10

The set is also marketed in Japan under the Passion Models label by M.S.Models as set #P35-019 and is the same barrel as included in the LionMarc set reviewed here.

See the sFH-18 150mm Howitzer subjects page for additional reviews.

On the Net:
http://svsm.org/gallery/150mm_FH18
http://svsm.org/gallery/150mm_model1918
http://tanksinmoscow.com/Poklon/Foto/sFH18_01.htm

	s.F.H.18 Model Detail Photo Monograph No.19 Published by ROSSAgraph ISBN 83-919061-6-7
	German Heavy Field Artillery 1934-1945 Schiffer Military History ISBN 0-88740-759-5
	Hummel Sd.Kfz.165 Nuts & Bolts Vol.10
	Ground Power No.70 March 2000 GALILEO Publishing Co.,Ltd.

Thanks to LionMarc Model Designs for the review set.