1:72 Browning Cal. 50 Flexible Fixed Back (Pair)

Browning Cal. 50 Flexible Fixed Back 1:72 — a pair of resin machine guns

An accessory for a model, not a kit. The name states that the package makes up a pair, that is two pieces of the .50 caliber Browning heavy machine gun in the flexible form with the rear treated as fixed. Weapons like that belong in gun positions, at side windows and in open cockpits, where they are visible on a model from several sides at once — and that is exactly why it pays to replace the plastic part with a casting.

The real subject

The .50 caliber Browning, that is 12.7 mm, is an air-cooled short-recoil machine gun that served in American aircraft of the Second World War in both fixed and flexible installations. A flexible weapon differs from a fixed one in the additions for a gunner to work it — a different rear, controls and sights. The particular combination of features differed between installations, which is why the manufacturer offers several variants side by side.

Usage and painting tips

With flexible weapons the angle matters: before you glue the part on, think about where the barrel will point and fix it dry with adhesive tape. Cyanoacrylate sets quickly and a correction once it has dried tends to be painful. Wash the resin in warm water with detergent before painting. A proven painting procedure is a black primer, a dark steel shade sprayed over it with an airbrush and finally a graphite lead drawn lightly over the edges — the metal then gets a natural sheen without a chrome effect.

Who the set is for

• modelers of bombers and multi-purpose machines in 1:72 scale
• builders who detail open gun positions
• those who are bothered by simplified plastic weapons on a model
• more experienced modelers used to working with resin

The accessory is supplied unpainted, as resin parts to be finished. Glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.