introduction

Griffon Models has consistently released small, affordable, but highly effect upgrades for various aspects of certain kits. Many of these small sets come from larger “full detail” sets that they produce. This set, LB35024, gives the modeler some very useful items to dress up and super detail the M2HB 50 cal machine gun.

review

The set comes in a small blister pack with a bag containing some plastic rod, four turned brass barrels, four cooling jackets, and a small photo-etch fret. The barrels are excellent, with hollow muzzle ends, slightly tapered barrels, and the receiver end has an integral mounting post to facilitate mounting into the plastic kit receiver. The photoetch fret comes with parts to replace the handles and firing trigger, sights, and a barrel changing handle. There are enough parts to dress up four complete M2 machine guns.

The barrels are 28mm long, which scales out to 38.57”. A full M2HB barrel is 45”, however this includes the portion that threads into the receiver, which is about 6.5” worth of barrel, so the Griffon barrels scale out to the right length when installed. They are very nicely detailed with hollow muzzle ends, and all the correct details from what I can see from photos and memory of having mounted the M2HB countless times.

On to the cooling jacket, it is also of the same high quality and has the correct number of holes in the right pattern. Additionally, it fits very snugly over the barrel for a perfect, centered fit.

I mounted a barrel onto an Academy kit part. I merely removed the kit barrel (which was too long), then drilled a small hole in the center of the receiver where the mounting post on the new brass barrel would slip into. I slid the cooling jacket over the barrel, then pushed the assembly into the receiver. Instantly the gun is improved! Total time for this was less than five minutes. Add the photoetch parts, and we wouldn’t ever know that this started as an Academy plastic M2.

One item that could use improvement on the photoetch parts is the barrel changing handle, which if mounting on the M16 you shouldn’t use. The changing handle, like in most photo etched sets, is very flat. I would recommend building up the handle itself with putty to get a more 3-D appearance.

conclusion

Overall, very nice set and will do well with those who have a M16, or want to dress up other M2HB machine guns on other kits. Highly recommended!