1:350 Twin 40 mm Bofors guns

Twin Bofors of 40 mm caliber in 1:350 scale

The resin set from the manufacturer Metallic Details represents a twin mount of Bofors anti-aircraft cannons of 40 mm caliber in 1:350 scale. Light anti-aircraft armament is usually the weakest place on ship models out of the box: the parts are coarse and the barrels too thick. The casting is finer than those and the difference is clearly visible on deck. It is not a model of a ship, but an accessory for one.

The real subject

The Bofors cannon of 40 mm caliber was the most widespread light anti-aircraft weapon of Allied warships of the Second World War and stayed in service long after it. It was fitted in single, twin and quadruple versions and was complemented by a sight for the crew. Twin mounts appeared on a wide spectrum of vessels from destroyers to large carriers, so the set can be used on a number of different kits.

Building and painting tips

Wash the resin parts in lukewarm soapy water, because paint does not hold on residues of mold release agent. Cut the casting blocks off with a fine saw or a knife, and with such small parts never snap them off. Sanding is done wet and with respiratory protection. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue, which you apply with a toothpick in minute amounts, so that it does not flood the detail. Apply a primer before painting, spray thin coats and seat the finished mounts on the deck only at the end, after the whole ship has been painted and weathered.

Who the set is for

• Builders of warships in 1:350 scale.
• Modelers who are bothered by the coarse anti-aircraft armament out of the box.
• More experienced builders used to very small resin parts.

This is an add-on set, not a standalone model. It is supplied unassembled and unpainted; glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package.