1:35 Early WWII Version - D69820 Cradle And 50 Round Ammo Can Browning M2HB .50 Cal On Tank Mount

Browning M2HB on a tank mount, early version, 1:35 scale (MASTER)

This is not a vehicle kit but a detail accessory from the Polish maker MASTER. It replaces the simplified weapon from a plastic kit with an assembly of the Browning M2HB heavy machine gun on a tank mount in the early war version, that is with the cradle designated D69820 and with a 50-round ammo can.

The real subject

The Browning M2HB is a heavy machine gun of .50 caliber (12.7 mm) with a thick-walled air-cooled barrel. On armored vehicles it was used on a mount on the turret or on the hull. The way the weapon was attached did not stay the same throughout the war: early assemblies had a differently shaped cradle and a different arrangement for holding the ammo can than later ones, and the capacity of the cans used differed as well. The differences are small, but they decide whether a model matches a particular period of service.

Building and painting tips

Before you start, compare the shape of the mount with your model: the assembly sometimes has to be set at a different angle than the original plastic part allows. Cut the plastic weapon off, level the surface and try the new assembly dry. Glue the small parts with super glue applied with a pin, and use epoxy on load-bearing joints, which gives you time to line things up. Degrease the surface before painting and lay down a primer suited to the material. Leave the weapon in a flat dark shade, run a dry brush with a steel shade carefully over the edges and polish the barrel lightly with graphite. Fit the assembly to the model only once the paintwork on the vehicle is finished.

Who the set is for

• Builders of American armor of the early war period in 1:35 scale
• Modelers who want the correct variant of the mount, not a generic part from the box
• Makers of dioramas where the weapon on the turret is the main thing on view
• Anyone interested in fine accessories for armament and ammunition

The accessory is supplied unassembled and unpainted, without a vehicle kit. Glue, paints and a model are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.