Introduction

During the early stages of Vietnam War, Viet Cong mainly used weapons captured from poorly defended ARVN militia outposts or crude, self-made weapons and shotguns made of galvanized pipes. North Vietnamese Army forces were principally armed with Chinese and Soviet weaponry though some VC guerrilla units were equipped with Western infantry weapons either captured from French stocks during the first Indochina war. In the summer and fall of 1967, all Viet Cong battalions were reequipped with arms of Soviet and Chinese manufacture such as the AK-47 assault rifle, SKS rifle and RPG-2 anti-tank weapon.

Also known in his designer’s name Kalashnikov; Soviet origined AK-47 is a gas operated, 7.62 caliber assault rifle. Since it entered production in 1949; over 75 million of the original rifle or its variants have been manufactured, more than any other firearm in history. AK-47 has developed a reputation for simplicity and rugged reliability. It was widely used by NVA Army, Viet Cong and also some special units of United States during the Vietnam War.

Soviet semi-automatic carbine SKS and its Chinese variant Type 56 is a gas-operated rifle with a wooden stock and rifle grip. SKS is shorter and less powerful than the semi-automatic rifles which preceded it like Soviet SVT series and American M1 Garand. Ten-round internal box magazine can be loaded either by hand or from a stripper clip. Both versions are fitted with an integral folding bayonet which rotates downward from the end of the barrel.

BRAVO*6 lately released 2 new rifle sets to be used in Vietnam War scenes.
B6-35318 AK-47
B6-35320 SKS / Type 56 Carbine

Review

Kits come well packed in standard light brown cardboard box with an illustration of the assault rifle in front cover. Back covers show a drawing on how to assembly photoetched parts. Inside the box, resin parts are represented with easy to remove casting blocks and inserted into a zip-lock bag. PE parts are secured in another bag.

Both are sculpted in 1/35 scale by Vladimir Demchenko and cast in resin. Quality is over standard as always and weapon details are well defined.

Each kit includes 4 rifles. As all SKS rifles are the same, AK-47s are served in 2 types due to Fire selector position and marked on sprues as A for Safety on and B for Single shot.

A photoetched fret is given inside kit. It includes gunslings, buckles, sling svivel assembly parts and bayonets. Bayonets are given as two pieces for 4 different types like short and long - Blade type and Spike type bayonets and marked in A,B,C,D letters. How to guide over kit is helpful for the identification and assembly of the PE parts.

Conclusion

Another useful kit from BRAVO-6 to improve low detailed Viet Cong or NVA rifles of your existing figures.