1:335 Germ.75mm barrel for Pz VI F2 or G without muzzle brake

The real subject

In the Ausf. F2 and G versions the German Panzer IV was given a long 75 mm gun, and that turned it from a support machine into a tank able to face the medium tanks of the day. The long barrel is the most conspicuous recognition mark of these versions and on a model it is visible from every side, so its shape and straightness decide the overall impression. The configuration offered is without a muzzle brake, which it is worth checking against a photograph of the machine you are building.

What the part offers

The turned part replaces the barrel from a kit in 1:35 scale. Turning gives the barrel a regular circular cross section and a straight axis; with it the longitudinal seam that a barrel made up of two halves has falls away, as does sanding it down and with that the risk of the barrel being narrowed or twisted during the repair. Turned barrels tend to have an open muzzle, so the view into the barrel does not end in a blanked-off surface; the exact treatment of the part is given in the manufacturer's description.

Building and painting tips

First try the seating dry and if need be carefully widen the opening in the mantlet or in the turret. Check the alignment by looking from the front and from above before the glue dries, because a crookedly seated barrel is visible on the finished model at once. For gluing use super glue or a two-part epoxy, as a cement for polystyrene does not hold here. Before painting, wash and degrease the part and apply a base coat, otherwise the paint cracks and peels on the smooth surface.

Terms of supply

The package contains the part to the extent that the manufacturer states. The model of the tank, paints and glue are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.