Master

1/350 IJN Mikuma Light Cruiser Main Gun Barrels For the Yamiya IJN Mikum Class

Stock Number: SM-350-052

Reviewed By  Michael Scott, IPMS# 43177

MSRP: $29.95 Website: Master Models I am currently finishing up the 1/350 Tamiya IJN Mogami, 1942 version, so when these samples became available, I set out to incorporate the 12/7 cm barrels into this review build and to illustrate how to use the 15.5 cm barrels, even though the Mogami in this version has the 20.5 cm heavier gun. However, the installation process is the same. The set is composed of 23 brass barrels to replace the kit parts. Each is nicely done and drilled out to represent the bore. The instructions for installation are simple and precise. On the 15.5 cm barrels, one cuts the kit plastic barrel just in front of the cast-on blast bag, drills the appropriate sized hole and inserts the peg-end of the brass barrel into it and secures it with CA. I used a JLC saw to get a very fine cut which made the job much easier. Neat. No fuss, no muss. Installing the 12.7 cm barrels was a little different. Clip the existing 12.7 cm plastic barrels off the gun, then, with the trusty JLC saw’s fine toothed edge, cut off the remaining barrel stub, leaving the center portion. Drill out the hole for mounting the barrel, check for good fit, and superglue it into place. Done. And a nice improvement. One complaint: include at least one extra barrel per size. These are very small and can be easily accidently dropped into the black hole of missing parts, also known as the carpet monster. Don't ask me how I know. Thanks to Master and IPMS for dressing up my Mikuma!