PMMS
Lion Roar
Lion Roar set #LB3501
Review by Terry Ashley

After a layoff from producing metal barrels Lion Roar have returned with this barrel designed for the Tamiya Tiger I kits #35227 Initial, #35216 Early and #35194 Mid production types which consists of a single aluminium barrel with fine rifling added inside the muzzle and four machined brass parts for the single piece muzzle brake and gun collars as well as three etched parts for the muzzle brake details.

Assembly is straight forward but the rear muzzle brake brass collar may need enlarging slightly with a fine needle point file to fit the barrel as will the rear of the muzzle brake but test first to see if this is required?

The inner muzzle brake grommet includes the raised detail and was an easy fit inside the muzzle brake without any filing needed with the muzzle end cap also fitting precisely to the muzzle brake but you have to add two small notches yourself with a fine razor saw and extreme care is needed here not to destroy a good barrel by not getting the cuts even on both sides.

On the top of the muzzle brake is the small securing fittings with three very small etched parts and care is needed when fitting these while the fit of the barrel to the target kits requires no alteration and simply replaces the kit barrels but watch the orientation of the muzzle brake to ensure it lines up correctly in relation to the mantlet.

A simple update set to add a considerable more detailed barrel to any of the Tamiya Tiger I kits.

Unassembled parts
Lion Roar
Image showing barrel rifling and assembled barrel
Lion RoarLion Roar
Muzzle brake close up
Lion Roar

As this set is designed very similar to the ABER Tiger I barrel (Set #35 L-26) and it is inevidable that they will be compared, so we will have a look to how they shape up together.

The first difference is the ABER barrel is on two parts with a separate rear brass collar while the Lion Roar barrel is in one piece and the separate collar on the ABER barrel does have better defined details. Both barrels have rifling included but the Lion Roar rifling is very fine and is not easily seen with the ABER rifling being better defined but as the barrels are deep inside the large muzzle brake this probably won't be an issue.

The inner muzzle brake grommets are separate etched parts on th ABER barrel while they are included with the brass grommet on the Lion Roar barrel and this does make for easier assembly but in the end both look okay.

The rear muzzle brake collar is also better defined on the ABER barrel while the holes in the Lion Roar muzzle brake have slightly rough edges that will need filing with a fine needle file to smooth out while the ABER muzzle brake has an excellent finish. The muzzle brake cap on the Lion Roar set is slightly more pronounced than on the ABER barrel while both require you to add the two small notches on the cap, with the associated dangers.

Both barrels have the subtle beveling at the base to fit the Tamiya kits and both fit perfectly without alterations but overall the detail and finish of the ABER barrel is superior. The Lion Roar barrel is cheaper with this and availability are probably the things that may determine which to get?

Comparison with ABER barrel (#35 L-26)
ABER (top) Lion Roar (bottom)

ABER
Comparison of muzzle brake with ABER barrel (#35 L-26)
ABER (top) Lion Roar (bottom)

ABER


ABER rifling (left) and Lion Roar rifling (right)
ABERLion Roar

Thanks to my credit card for the review sample.



Page created 26 April 2005

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