Think Detail - Think Small

Ok - so you have an idea of how fiddily a PE set can be with the light guards, the engineering tool clips. You need some small tweezers and a magnifying glass for the job.
Well Mission Models is raising the bar and elevating detail to a new level of realism. They are offering this kit - .50 Cal Shells With Ammo Belt, item: "spent MM004". This kit is just what it says, .50 caliber spent ammunition and the belt to hold it.

The kit

When the mail main drops off this gem you will receive a small package. The kit is two small zip lock bags stapled to a folder-over card stock backer. The backer card acts as shipping material and instructions. The front shows you what you are getting, the back has nicely done instructions.
Each zip lock bag is only 3.5x3 inches. One contains the spent shells, the second contains the PE for the metallic belt clips.
This kit will allow you to detail your diorama or AFV with spent shell casings and the associated metal belt clips.

Background

When machine guns first came out the designers had to devise a means of feeding in bullets as fast as the gun could fire them. As the rate of fire increased the methods of feeding more and more ammunition dwindled. Two options came up: some type of spring fed case or a belt. The belt more feasible for high rate fire weapons due to the size limits of the fixed size spring fed ammunition cases.
The first belts were made of cloth. The longer the strip of cloth the more ammunition that could be held. Two strips of cloth would be sewn together with the stitching running perpendicular to the length. This stitching left a pocket for each bullet.
The cloth belts were adequate and served their purpose. Due to problems such as weather, fouling, jamming etc. other methods were explored and the disintegrating metallic link-belt was used. This came later in WWII and is still in use today.
The belt is a series of clips that use the bullet as the 'linkage' between clips. One side of the clip has one round loop, while the other side has two round loops. The single loops fits between the double loops allowing for movement. The two clips are matched up and slid over the bullet. A series of these are strung together to form a belt. The higher the ammunition need, the longer the belt.

The parts of the kit

One baggie has 25 spent .50 cal. shells. Each shell is a loose individual shell. Be careful opening this bag. The other bag has two PE frets. Each of the frets has 25 clip pieces on it for a total of 50 pieces.
The detail is fantastic on the all the parts. The shells have the beveled end where the actual bullet is.
The clips are connected to the fret on both ends and you'll have to have a nice fresh #11 blade to cut them away. I would suggest that you position the fret on your cutting surface (self healing matt) then position your knife blade exactly where you want to cut. Then, before cutting, place a paper towel or extra plastic bag over the fret, piece, and knife. Use anything as a drape over it so if you get the infamous 'flying part' you will have it contained. If any of these pieces make it to the floor forget finding them. They are small!

Impression

Wow, what detail. These are amazingly well done for their size. The turned detail on the shells is splendid and the fact that Mission Models has offered each clip as a separate part is a must have for a 'super detailer'. If you are looking for that extra push for your diorama or static 'used' AFV this is it.
Mission Models also has a similar "full" version where the shells are not spent.

Check out the other "built" review here on the site Built Review
I'd like to thank Mission Models for this sample