1:35 Russian 57mm ZIS-4 tank barrel for T-34/76 model 1941

57 mm ZIS-4 Barrel for the T-34/76 Model 1941, 1:35, Aber

This turned metal barrel of the Soviet 57 mm ZIS-4 tank gun in 1:35 scale is intended to replace the plastic barrel on a model of the T-34/76 tank in the model 1941 version. It is not a kit but a detail accessory for modelers. The metal part has a perfectly straight axis and an accurately bored muzzle, and it carries no parting line that would have to be sanded away. It is with the long, slender ZIS-4 barrel that this precision tells most, because any bend in a plastic part shows up on the model immediately.

The real subject

The ZIS-4 was a Soviet 57 mm tank gun with a long barrel and a high muzzle velocity, developed as an anti-tank weapon. T-34 tanks armed with it were known as tank hunters and were built only in small numbers. Against armored targets the gun had better penetration than the usual 76.2 mm caliber of the day, but its high-explosive round was weaker, which limited its versatility. The combination of the standard model 1941 turret and the unusually slender long barrel gives the model a very distinctive silhouette.

Usage and painting tips

Cut off the plastic barrel close to the mantlet and level the seating surface so that the metal part sits on the axis. Bond it with super glue or epoxy. Degrease the surface before painting and use a metal primer. Soviet vehicles are painted in a green shade with pronounced modulation; it pays to lighten the barrel slightly on its upper surface and to bring out the muzzle with a dark pigment and traces of scorching.

Who the set is for

• builders of Soviet armor in 1:35 scale
• modelers who want to build a less common variant of the T-34
• anyone who wants accurate geometry on long barrels with no parting line
• competition modelers and builders of Eastern Front dioramas

This is a detail accessory, not a complete model. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.