PlasticBattle, I'm hoping the barrel will withstand the sanding. I'm going to first go for just removing the steps towards the breech. I'll sand them at least to a taper first, than go for straightening taper. Never tried with this barrel before...

Adam, the most likely used around Normandy, would be the type M1A2.

It can be done -- there is plenty plastic inside to take the trimming and sanding. I did this many moons ago to use the Italeri turret on an M4A3E8 conversion. It just takes a bit of patience and checking and rechecking your progress. I love stuf like this -- it's the difference between "modeling" and "building," IMHO.

Thanks Bob.
I started last night removing the steps. I was feeling a little unsure of how much plastic would be left on the barrel's walls to go for removing the taper. I shall proceed with confidence...minded confidence that is.

To be correct, the Rubio 76mm M1A1 barrel is slightly longer than the kit tube. It's a little more than 1mm longer than the kit tube. What I did was cut the kit tube at the mantlet opening, bored out the opening to snugly fit the a/m barrel and fit the new tube in place.

When done, the tube measures out to about 8 1/4' in scale. Scale measurement comes out to 159.96" muzzle to bore; the actual gun measured 163.75". (Thank you, Mr. Hunnicutt!)

I like the look of the gun; so I'm using it.