Introduction

A suppressor (or silencer) is a device attached to the barrel of a firearm which reduces the amount of noise, and the amount of visible muzzle flash, generated by firing the weapon. Suppressors are typically constructed of a metal cylinder with internal mechanisms to reduce the sound of firing by slowing the escaping propellant gas and sometimes by reducing the velocity of the bullet.

Knight's Armament Company (KAC) designed their NT4 Suppressor for US SOCOM 5.56 platforms. The NT4 is 6.6 inches long and reduces the sound level by 28db minimum. It has the quick release cross bolt latch and attaches onto the special flash hider. The NT4 Suppressor can withstand 210 rounds of fully automatic fire and is the only sound suppressor to meet and exceed the government requirement of a 10.000 round service life.

Review

This review covers the latest M4 carbine variant in 1/35 scale from Live Resin: US Army M4 carbine with Knight's Armament 5.56mm QDSS NT4 Suppressor(LRE 35103). Live Resin packs their goodies in a zip-lock bag which is safely secured between a firm cardboard backing. The box art on the front shows all the pieces included in this kit, while the one on the back lists Live Resin offerings which could be combined with this set: US Army scope sets (LRE-35007, LRE-35008 and LRE-35028), Insight's Technology AN/PEQ-2, AN/PEQ-15 (LRE-35010), Forward grip set (LRE-35011) and Harris bipod set/Surefire tactical Weapon Lights set (LRE-35012).

The kit consists of 14 parts: 6 M4/NT4 and 8 M4 ammunition magazines. As we come to expect from Live Resin weapon sets, the grey resin looks really good and I found no imperfections in the cast whatsoever, just some thin flash residue easily removed with a back of a sharp blade. Be careful when removing the weapons from their resin carriers; the barrels with suppressors are long and pretty thin so they might snap if not handled with caution. The details on the weapons are well defined and perfectly rendered in scale.

The M4s depicted in this set are fitted with integral Picatinny-type accessory rail on the upper receiver and Knight's Armament Company (KAC) Rail Interface System (RIS) handguard. The upper receiver rail provides the attachment point for optics, while RIS handguard could be fitted with various laser designators, forward grips, tactical lights or bipods. All the accessories are available separately from Live Resin, and are a definite must for this set in order to build a fully functional M4 weapon system. I definitely don't mind the concept of "accessorizing" Live Resin basic weapon sets; by using different accessories the possibilities of building a specific weapon system are endless.

Although very similar and equipped with NT4 Suppressor, all the weapons in this set are not identical; there are 4 slightly different M4/NT4 variants included, which are designated LRE-35103A to LRE-35103D. The differences include: two different buttstock versions, retracted or fully extended buttstock, and back-up iron sight (BUIS) present or not.

One more thing to note is the fact that these weapons are cast without their ammo magazines. Instead, 8 different magazines are included in the set as separate pieces which can be fitted into a tiny opening in the M4 lower receiver assembly. The selection includes: 30-round M4 magazine (2x), with Ranger Plate USGI (1x), with 5.56 NATO 3-pack accessories attached (1x), 30-round Magpul PMAG (1x), with Ranger Plate USGI attached (1x). The set also includes coupled 30-round M4 magazines (1x) and two magazines which can be coupled by the modeler himself. The magazines are easy to remove from their carrier block and fit perfectly to the M4.

What more is there to say about Live Resin stuff. Based on 1/1 scale plans and digitally sculpted using CAD software, Live Resin uses 3D rapid prototyping technique with the resolution of 5 microns to develop their models. All the high-end technology offers a possibility of producing miniature copies of real weapons. This set in no exception, as all the M4 carbine and NT4 Suppressor features are identifiable and perfectly rendered. The level of details is astonishing for 1/35 scale, especially the series of round perforations in the NT4 outer shell... these are all lined up and spaced perfectly. Well done, Live Resin!

Conclusion

This kit features the most common infantry weapon in US Army arsenal today, the M4 carbine equipped with QDSS NT4 Suppressor. The kit includes 6 M4s with rail system on the upper receiver and RIS handguards, and 8 different M4 ammo magazines. The resin cast is absolutely perfect with extremely well defined details. These M4s definitely need some accessories (optical sights, laser designators, forward grips, etc) which are all available separately from Live Resin... combining the various accessories provides modelers with an option of building almost any M4 setup they want.

Thanks to Yaroslav from Live Resin for this review sample.

References

Global Security
World Guns
Knight Armament Co.