This set provides two photo etched sheets, and 4 resin receivers to construct 4 very detailed .30 cal 1919 air cooled machine guns and mounts. The sheets include enough parts to make up 4 complete guns, 8 ammo cans, and six ammo belts. Included is a length of brass tubing for the actual barrel, over this slips the rolled cooling jacket, with a neat little resin bore complete with the notch. To complete the assembly you will need to supply your own plastic or brass rods of 1mm and 0.3mm diameter. The brass for the barrel is extremely hard, and I chose to use some plastic rod instead. With careful assembly, you can make it so the ammo boxes open and close.
construction
Now not being a photo etch wizard, I found some of the part extremely tiny to work with and I even managed to melt one of the retaining chains while trying to anneal the part. (I'll replace that with some spare when I build the other three). I found the etched brass cooling sleeve just a smidgen too large in diameter to fit snugly over the resin bore, and the next one I'll sand the length edges a little before rolling it. As it is now, the seam is hidden on the bottom side. With careful gluing, you can place and remove the ammo can (I haven't added the ammo belt yet).
I wish I could say that this was a quick build, but I have stubby fat fingers, shaking hands, and so the going was slow. How slow I hear you ask! Well, in all it took me 6 hours to assemble one gun. Hopefully the follow up guns will go a little quicker. I am happy to report that I didn't lose any of the tiny parts, probably due to fact that I did it at work, and the desk I was using had a black top, so the flying parts showed up rather easy, and fortunately none went to the floor. I'm certainly happy I actually took folks advice and bought a Hold and Fold Bug, because without it, I really don't think I would have been able to fold some of the smaller parts. I found that the resin is fragile, as I managed to snap off the tiny mount under the receiver upon removing the receiver from the pour plug, but again the black work surface proved to be a saving grace as it was easy to find, and glued back in place with a little CA.
A pretty neat set to improve any vehicle or figure with a .30 cal machine gun. I bought my set from Lucky Models for the acceptable sum of $8.99 with free air shipping.
SUMMARY
Highs: Super details, and supplies just about everything need to have 4 complete guns, ammo belts, and spare ammo cans.Lows: For myself, the extremely tiny parts, if you are used to doing photo etch on a regular basis, you should not have any problems.Verdict: I'd recommend to anyone looking for some nice details, but you do need patience and skill to assemble them.
About Dave O'Meara (Grumpyoldman) FROM: FLORIDA, UNITED STATES
I'm rewriting this in a much more humoristic way, to help over inflate my ego, and place my self on a pedestal, because I don't have a life, and plastic models are the only thing I live for. I plead guilty as charged to excessive babble, light hearted humor, and continued encouragement to youngsters...
Dave,
Awesome! Thanks for the info. Great looking work there. Unfortunately I think my photo-etch skill are not up to par to deal with such small parts... Someday...
thanks for the morning laugh Gary, and it did help.
Now for two really dumb grumpy questions, since the Navy in all it's wizdom didn't allow engineers to run about below decks in confined spaces carrying large weapons.
1. I know you could change the cam on a .50 to feed from left or right, could you do this with a .30?
2. I take that the notch on the end of the barrel is for a wrench to change the barrel? When you did this, I take it that the cooling jacket or sleeve stayed attached to the receiver? Got a picture of this wrench?
OK I slipped in a few extra questions.....
Anchors on tanks and large calibre weapons in the engine room.... you two made me laugh out loud!! You must both work for government procurement....hahahaha!!!! Nice review by the way Dave, thanks for doing it. Would be nice if they came out with a .50 cal now, wouldn't it.
cheers
Bob
ps - never saw a .30 cal in the engine room either.....
Dave,
Was just wondering what technique you used to roll the cooling sleeve on this? I am sitting here with a 1/72 PBY Catalina photoetch set that includes barrels for the machine guns on the fret ... but can't figure out how to roll something so tiny and have it end up round and not flat!
Wow, forgot about this one.
I used a drill to roll the PE part round, rolling on a piece of hard rubber gasket material. Roll with light pressure, and using smaller drills each time, eventually she come up round.
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