Introduction

General Dynamics’ Mk19-3 Automatic Grenade Launcher and Mk47 Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher (ALGL) are 40mm belt-fed automatic grenade launchers. Both weapons use standard disintegrating ammo belts supplied in 32 or 48 round boxes. The primary ammunition for Mk19-3 is the High Explosive Dual-Purpose (HEDP) M430 grenade, while the Mk47 can also fire a Programmable Prefragmented High Explosive (PPHE) 40mm grenade with air burst capability.

Live Resin offers a number of accessory sets for their 1/35 scale Mk19 and Mk47 weapon sets. This review covers the Mk19-3/Mk47 40mm grenades, spent shells (LRE-35084).

Review

The set is packed in a zip-lock bag with the resin pieces additionally secured between a firm cardboard backing. The CAD boxart picture on the front shows the kit parts, while the one on the back displays some possibilities of using the set. The box also states this accessory set is compatible with all Live Resin kits featuring Mk19/Mk47 grenade launchers, but also with any 40mm grenade machine guns produced by other manufacturers.

The set consists of 50 resin pieces organized on three carrier blocks: two blocks include 20 spent 40mm shell casings each while the last block includes 10 40mm grenades. The parts are cast in grey resin and, besides some tiny flash residues, the molding is perfect.

All 40mm spent shell casings and half of the 40mm grenades in this set feature pivoting coupling. Pivoting coupling design is essentially a metal plug and metal loop that fits around the 40mm grenade round, allowing soldiers to easily re-link and de-link 40mm grenade belts. Soldiers can even use the pivoting coupling to attach partially used ammo belts or single rounds in a process that requires no tools and no special training or skill. Fielded in 2009, the invention is now a standard issue for both training and combat use.

The 40mm grenades in this set are well rendered with the specific shape of the grenades looking spot-on. The spent shells, although very small, are nicely detailed with pivoting coupling masterfully executed in 1/35 scale. The spent casings would look really good on any vehicle with mounted 40mm automatic grenade launcher.

Conclusion

Want to display your 1/35 scale 40mm automatic grenade launchers with loads of spent shells? With forty 40mm shell casings, amazingly rendered in scale, this set is a perfect addition to any "in action" diorama. Also, with 50 resin pieces this set provides a great value for the money.