75mm OQF Mk.V
barrel for Cromwell Mk.IV
Armorscale Set No. B35-015
1:35th Scale
Review by Terry Ashley
This
replacement barrel from Armorscale gives you one 75mm OQF Mk.V barrel and mantlet
for the excellent Tamiya Cromwell Mk.IV (kit 35221) to fix about the only problem
in the kit of the undersized 75mm barrel.
The set consists of one aluminium barrel and three brass parts for the muzzle brake as well as resin replacement mantlet and Besa machine gun.
The barrel features the correct contours as well as rifling inside the muzzle with the tip threaded to allow easy fitting of the muzzle brake. This consists of the muzzle brake with correct oval shaped holes and a separate end cap that fits precisely in place with just a very small join to be eliminated. You could use filler for this or better run a small amount of solder around the join and lightly file smooth to completely eliminate the join.
A brass collar fits between the barrel and muzzle brake and the opening in this needed filing to enlarge slightly to fit the barrel with the muzzle brake as mentioned simply screwing into place eliminating the need for glue.
The resin mantlet and Besa MG are cleanly cast with just the usual casting blocks to be removed with subtle cast texture on the mantlet and the muzzle of the Besa hollowed out slightly.
Both the barrel and muzzle brake matched the 1:35 plans in Ground Power #044 exactly but there was a bit of work needed to fit to the Tamiya kit parts.
Firstly glue the two Tamiya gun halves (parts D39 & D40) together allowing the glue to dry completely and then removing the small raised locating lugs that fits into the plastic mantlet. The resulting hole in the gun is too large for the metal barrel and I inserted a small plastic tube collar to reduce the hole to the required 4mm.
With the barrel dry fitted into place glue the resin mantlet to the kit gun using the barrel as a guide to line this up correctly. Remember of course to glue the Besa in place before attaching the mantlet to the gun.
The barrel can then be fitted into place ensuring you line up the holes in the muzzle brake with the correct orientation.
The kit gun with the new mantlet/barrel can then be fitted to the front turret plate as per the Tamiya instructions without any further modifications.
Conclusion:
An excellent replacement barrel for the Tamiya Cromwell with correctly proportioned
barrel and muzzle brake as well as bonus resin mantlet to add that final
touch to the Tamiya kit.
Highly recommended.
Thanks to armorscale for the review set.
Page created 29 July 2005