First produced in 1949, the ZPU heavy machine gun was designed originally as an infantry weapons. This changed as the gun was found too heavy for normal deployment with troops. Redesigned, the gun was reissued as an antiaircraft weapon due to its effectiveness in vertical as well as horizontal rate of fire and served in many different capacities. Still in production today, over the years, the ZPU has been adequately adapted for use as towed artillery, armor, naval and even the occasional pickup truck. The ZPU has been modified for single, double and quadruple barrel configurations.

In keeping up with the demands of modelers from all over, Master has released three new versions of Russian made 14.5mm machine gun barrels for use in 1/35 scale modelling. For builders of the ZPU 1, 2, and 4 as well as the BTR-60PB/70/80 or BRDM-2’s this is welcomed news. Each of these barrels are sold separately and are sold in Master’s traditional peg-board style packaging. Here is a listing of what each set comes with:

New Barrel Types

GM-35-009 – KPV 14.5mm (Elongated cooling slots)

• 1 – Gun barrel
• 1 – Cooling jacket
• 2 – Brass connectors
• 1 – Sheet of photo etch parts
• 1 – Resin block (2 parts)
• 1 – Set of Instructions

The GM-35-009 – KPV 14.5mm barrel with elongated cooling slots is one of the more iconic Russian heavy machine guns. Its uses include both towed and static platforms as well as mountings in single, double and quadruple configurations. Master has reproduced their scaled version very well with an integrated flash suppressor onto the barrel. The cooling jacket fashions one of the more typical designs where the vent holes are elongated in shape which is capped at the end with a small turned brass collar. Included in the set is a small photo etch sheet with parts for constructing brackets for the top mounted handle to the gun. Also included are two small cast resin parts used to represent the composite handle grips.


GM-35-010 – KPV 14.5mm (Round cooling slots)

• 1 – Gun barrel
• 1 – Cooling jacket
• 2 – Brass connectors
• 1 – Sheet of photo etch parts
• 1 – Resin block (2 parts)
• 1 – Set of Instructions


Similar to the 009 set, the GM-35-010 KPV 14.5mm barrel with round cooling slots comes with integrated barrel and suppressor, a separate cooling jacket…with round holes and base collar, Phot etch for constructing the handle to the gun as well as the cast resin handles. This type of barrel, like the aforementioned set, were used in anti-aircraft applications include some strapped into the backs of pickup trucks.


GM-35-011 KPVT (Tankoviy)

• 1 – 14.5 mm Gun barrel
• 1 – 7,62mm gun barrel
• 1 – Cooling jacket
• 1 – Sheet of photo etch parts
• 1 – Resin block (2 parts)
• 1 – Set of Instructions

Regulated to tank and scout vehicle applications, the KPVT 14.5 mm Tankoviy (Tank) gun is a slightly long and more robust version of the KPV barrels. Master has integrated the flash suppressor into the turned barrel, similar to the two previous sets and the cooling jacket is indicative of what is seen being used on most BTR-60PB/70/80’s, BRDM-2’s, T-10’s and more. There is photo etch and resin parts provided to construct the top-mounted handle of the gun. In knowing the armor application of this gun, Master has provided a secondary barrel in this set to replace the plastic kit part that is supposed to replicate the 7.62 mm machine gun found on most of these vehicles.

Conclusion

I think I would have a hard time not recommending the GM-35-009 – KPV 14.5mm (Elongated cooling slots), GM-35-010 – KPV 14.5mm (Round cooling slots) and GM-35-011 KPVT (Tankoviy) replacement barrels from Master to anyone looking to upgrade the styrene gun barrel offerings from the kit manufacturers. All of the barrels look amazing and are replicated with precision to the existing 1:1 scale barrels. The quality of the materials and manufacturing of these barrels is excellent; and the purchase price for these barrels falls nicely within the same range as previously released barrels of similar configuration, making these replacement barrels a worthwhile valued purchase for anyone looking to improve the detailing of their scale models that might include the KPV or KPVT guns mounted to them.

References

Live Links

Army Recognition.com - ZPU-1 Anti-aircraft gun 14.5 mm

Army Recognition.com - ZPU-2 Anti-aircraft twin guns 14.5 mm

Wikipedia.org - KPV heavy machine gun

Wikipedia.org - ZPU