1:72 German early 75mm KwK.37 L/24 barrel for Pz.III Ausf.N and Pz.IV Ausf.A-E

Short 75 mm Barrel in 1:72 Scale from Aber

A turned metal barrel in 1:72 scale for the German short 75 millimeter gun with the designation KwK 37. According to the manufacturer it suits a model of the Panzer III tank in the Ausf. N version and the Panzer IV in the Ausf. A to E versions. It is not a kit but a replacement for the plastic part. The short barrel has a pronounced muzzle and changes of diameter that never come out crisply in plastic at a small scale.

The real subject

The short 75 millimeter gun was a weapon intended to support infantry. It had a low muzzle velocity and fired mainly fragmentation shells against positions and soft targets, not against armor. It was fitted in the early Panzer IVs and later also in the Panzer III in the Ausf. N version, which thus took over the role of the support vehicle at the moment when long-barreled machines took over the anti-tank fight.

Building and painting tips

Cut the plastic barrel off as close to the turret as possible and drill the seating so that the pin of the metal barrel sits firmly without passing right through. Degrease the metal with alcohol and apply a primer, otherwise the paint will not hold on the smooth surface. It is bonded with super glue, that is, cyanoacrylate, applied drop by drop. Fit the barrel at the very end of the build so that it is not bent during handling, and check its axis by eye from the front while the glue sets. In 1:72 scale, meter out the glue with the tip of a wire.

Who the set is for

• modelers in 1:72 scale who build ground vehicles
• builders of early German tanks
• anyone who wants a metal barrel with an open muzzle
• modelers who dislike the parting line on a plastic barrel

The set is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.