1:700 Set of 12 pcs 100 mm barrels for French warships

Aber 1:700 set of 12 barrels of 100 mm caliber — French warships

A set of twelve turned metal barrels of 100 mm caliber in 1:700 scale from the Polish maker Aber. It is not a kit of a ship but replacement parts for the plastic barrels of the dual-purpose and anti-aircraft guns of French warships. A turned barrel has a circular cross section, it is perfectly straight and it has a drilled muzzle, which on parts this small makes the greatest difference against a casting from a mold.

The real subject

The 100 mm guns of the 1930 model with a barrel 45 calibers long served with the French Navy as dual-purpose and anti-aircraft armament and were carried by a range of units from battleships to cruisers. They were usually fitted in twin mountings arranged along the sides of the superstructures, so twelve barrels in the set match six such positions. On the ships of the Richelieu class this caliber made up the main part of the long-range anti-aircraft defense.

Usage tips

Cut the plastic barrels off at the shield of the mounting and drill the hole out with a micro drill to the diameter of the pin. Glue the barrels with cyanoacrylate glue applied with the tip of a wire, and on twin mountings take care that both barrels point parallel. Degrease the metal and spray it with a base coat for metal, otherwise the paint will not hold on the smooth surface. It is best to paint them at the same time as the mounting so that the shade matches exactly.

Who the set is for

• Builders of French warship models in 1:700 scale
• Modelers adding metal barrels to the anti-aircraft armament
• Anyone interested in display models with a high level of detail
• More advanced modelers used to working with very small parts

This is an accessory set of turned barrels, not a standalone model. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.