1:350 WWII IJN 150mm Metal Barrels (10 Pcs.)

Turned metal barrels of 150 mm caliber, 1:350 scale, a set of 10 pieces

This item is not a ship model but an add-on set of turned metal barrels in 1:350 from the manufacturer Flyhawk. The set contains ten barrels for the 150 mm artillery of the Imperial Japanese Navy of the Second World War period. It serves to replace the plastic barrels from a base kit. Check that it matches your particular kit before buying, against the dimensions of the barrels on your model.

What the set is for

Plastic barrels in 1:350 inevitably have a thicker wall, a solid muzzle and often a mold parting line that has to be laboriously cleaned up. A turned metal barrel, by contrast, has a perfectly circular cross-section, a thin wall, a drilled muzzle and is straight along its whole length. On a model where the artillery is one of the most prominent features, the difference is visible at a glance. A metal barrel is also more resistant to bending while a finished model is being handled.

Usage tips

Cut the original plastic barrel off and carefully open the hole in the gun turret out to the diameter of the pin on the metal barrel, ideally with a hand-held pin vise, so that the part does not crack. Degrease the metal barrels before painting and apply a primer suitable for metal, otherwise the paint will not hold. Bond them with cyanoacrylate glue applied in a minimal amount. Check dry that all the barrels point at the same angle; asymmetry is very noticeable on a finished model. Fit them at the end of the build, so that they are not bent during handling.

Who the set is for

• Builders of warship models in 1:350
• Modelers who replace plastic barrels with metal ones
• Anyone interested in Japanese naval equipment of the Second World War period
• Collectors who finish their models with detail sets

The set is an accessory, not a model in its own right. It does not contain a base kit, glue or paints, unless stated otherwise.