Tired of fussing with the ever present mold line on the kit machinegun barrel? Ever have difficulty drilling out the end of that tiny barrel? Have I got a deal for you.......... JB Model.eu is offering two MG34 tank version barrels for $0.88USD. That’s 88 cents! Under a dollar!
the barrels
Of course these barrels are tiny. Roughly 3/8” long but they are beautifully turned brass and they come two (2) pieces in a package.
Based on photos I have seen the barrels look a bit short and I couldn‘t find any measurement for the length of the actual barrel. (see photo section of the Panther Kuglebende).
I was curious if the brass piece was for a specific armor vehicle or if it was met to be added on to a portion of the plastic kit piece as there is no written instruction included. I emailed JB Models but I’m afraid the language barrier made it impossible for me to convey my question in an understandable fashion.
Nonetheless, even if I have to add a short length of brass tube or plastic rod to this barrel I feel the added detail and inexpensive price make it well worth it
*****ADDENDUM*****
Reading the product description “Tank version of MG34” I wrote the review under the assumption that the turned brass gun barrels were to be used as stated “Tank version of the MG34”.
When I received the pieces, I thought they looked too short compared to the MG34 barrels I had seen in photos of the ‘Kuglebende’ machine gun placement on Panthers, Tigers and PZ series German tanks.
I erroneously proceeded under the assumption that perhaps they were meant to be added onto a portion of the kit piece.
Subsequently I find that JBModel part 35B38 specifically represents the coaxial machine gun barrel which protrudes from the main gun mantlet on certain German panzers. Now that this has been pointed out it seems that it should have been obvious. I apologize for any confusion that may have come from reading the review.
I believe the majority of the review stands true...these are beautifully turned brass MG barrels that will enhance any model. However, they are specific as to their use and perhaps should have been labeled “7,92 MG34 Coaxial MG Version”.
Editors note...
I completely agree with Charles that, after this has been pointed out, it should have been obvious to the both of us, but also brings to light the importance of vendors to be more specific in the descriptions of their products, especially with many of these purchases being strictly online.
SUMMARY
Highs: Beautifully rendered, inexpensive.Lows: Vague as to whether this is a stand alone barrel for a specific vehicle type, as when compared to photographs it appears too short for many applications. Verdict: No further reason to fuss with the kit barrels to make then look ‘passable’ once painted. Even if in certain applications an ‘extension’ piece is necessary the cost and detail make this a great deal.
About Charles Reading (CReading) FROM: CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
I live in the mountains north of Santa Cruz California. I have been building now since the early 1990's when I rediscovered modeling. Most of my kits are built with dioramas in mind. I took a "creative block" hiatis for a couple years - 2011 to 2013. I wasn't active in the modeling world. During tha...
I believe RB Model is the manufacturer and they supply to various companies with JB being one distributer among others. I will say that JB Model have a lot of pluses as regards distribution around the globe on these products, and at a good price.
I suppose they could be. It's not uncommon for a store to buy in bulk and repackage items with their name. Or perhaps JB Models produces them and RB Models lists them on their website?
They both have a very common name (RB & JB Model) and product line ( Ships and Armor) that they may be related in some fashion? Perhaps same family?
Cheers,
Charles[/quote]
RBModel is located in Poland, JBModel in Austria, and AFAIK JBModel is an online shop, and RBModel a producer which also has an online shop.
Add to that,the product number for these MG-34's is 35B38 at RBModel and RB35RB38 at JBModel. Seems to me, RBModel is the producer.
The lack of instructions with the JB products is one of the things that can often bedevil the unwary for sure! While these are the coaxial guns designed for the turret, they also have the full length barrels RB35B39 but these wouldn't fit the Kugelblende as they are the normal perforated jacket-type and not the armored version commonly found there. I'm guessing Charles that using that term is what may have added some confusion in terms of the answer you got back.
Please note that these particular barrels are not too short. They are for coaxial MGs for the tanks with armoured sleeves, from which only a very short length of the barrel was protruding. The barrels for the hull MGs are sold separately and are considerably longer. Cheers, bjo
On the beginning the jbmodel.eu shop was selling canons without the Jbmodel.eu packaging. It's few months after they started to do it. If you go to their site and you browse the canons by manufacturer on of the choices is RB MODEL (not jbmodel). I think (but I'm not sure any more) that there was a family connection between RB Model and JB Model but I can be wrong here. Anyway, Jerzy is a pole living in Austria (Wien) that could explain a bit a partnership between a polish manufacturer and an on-line shop owned by a pole. The reviews shouldn't be linked to the Jbmodel.eu brand of the producing company as even on on their site the producer is well defined. A note: " we thank jbmodel.eu for providing the review sample" should be added instead. IMHO the special packaging put the stress only on the shop's name and it's wrongly associated to the product producer.
my 3 cents
Pawel
EDIT: about the instructions, if I ever need instructions I just go to the armorscale website and download what I need. RB Model is the armorscale supplier and the products are almost identical or identical (depend on which model). Aber's instructions will also do the job.
JB/RB doesn't currently offer one. You'd have to go with Lion Marc or similar for that if you want a brass armored sleeve MG for the Kugelblende mounts.
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