Master Model

1/350 - Brass Barrels 1) USS Arizona Armament For the Hobby Boss model 2) USN 5"/25 Barrels for any 1/350 kit 3) Oerlikon 20mm/70 USN Type for any 1/350 kit

Stock Numbers: SM-350-049, SM-350-050, SM-350-051

Reviewed By  Charles Landrum, IPMS# 26328

MSRP: USS Arizona Armament, SM-350-049 - $29 USN 5"/25 Barrels, SM-350-051 - $13 Oerlikon 20mm/70 USN, Type SM-350-050 - $30 Website: www.master-model.pl I would like to thank Master Model for these review samples. Available directly from select distributors, more information is available at: www.master-model.pl For any modeler, but especially ship modelers, it is hard to achieve a realistic effect when gun barrels are out of round, warped or fail to have the right taper and shape; which is often the case with styrene injected or resin barrels. With smaller caliber guns and in smaller scales the barrels are often too fragile to handle. For these reasons turned metal barrels are an attractive alternative. Yet availability and price are often impediments to the use of replacement barrels. In steps Master Model from Poland. I remember when this company entered the model scene with their superb replacement .50 cal and .30 cal barrels including cooling jackets. Since that time they have moved into the ship model scene with a wide ranging product line that grows large each day. They were kind enough to send three of their latest products in 1/350, all geared to the WW2 USN modeler. USS Arizona (1941) Armament Set Battleship Upgrade Set (SM-350-049) 12 14" Barrels, 10 5" 51cal barrels, and 8 5" 25 cal barrels The barrel set for USS Arizona is for the Banner/Mini-hobby kit, which represents her final configuration. Included are turned brass barrels to replace all of the main and secondary batteries including the twelve 14" barrels, 10 5" 51 casemate guns and 8 5" 25 anti-aircraft guns. The size is to proper scale and the shape and the taper of the barrels matches the prototypes including the correct flare at the muzzle even on the 5in 25s! The 14" barrels have the muzzles partially bored. The 5" barrels are particularly petite and far better than the plastic parts.

The barrels are 1 for 1 replacements of the kit parts, and while going a long way to improve the scale appearance of the model, do not compensate for other issues with the kit. For instance, the kit main guns are set too far back in the turret. To achieve the correct length the "trunion" needs to be glued to the inside front glacis. With these Master Model barrels, the best solution is to glue styrene on the inside and drill holes to accept the barrels. The 5" 51 barrels are the correct length, but if you want to display the weather doors of the casement open, you will need the remainder of the gun mount. The 5" 25 barrels are the easiest replacement, but the gun mounts are not all that accurate and are best replaced with aftermarket offerings. These barrels will work with the L'Arsenal set of 5" 25 gun mounts. Oerlikon 20mm/70 USN Type (SM-350-050) 20 Gunmounts This set has a wow factor and has to be seen in person to believe! Unlike other Master Model sets, this is not simply a set of replacement barrels, but whole 20mm gun mounts built up from turned and photo-etched brass! Each mount is a mini- kit of 6 parts including a turned brass pedestal, turned brass barrel, the gun shield and bracket, the mount framework and site and drum, and the handwheel. To add to the challenge, there are 20 of these assemblies in each pack. Assembly is straight forward, and the brass parts are well engineered to minimize the number of parts, helping ensure alignment. But be forewarned, the parts are very small! You will need an organized work surface where small parts that like to spring off your tweezers can easily be found. The advantage is that with a brass barrel, it can't be broken. These are the cleanest and most petite 20mm gun mounts that I have seen.

USN 5"/25 Barrels (SM-350-051) 14 Pieces These are the same barrels found in the USS Arizona set except that you get more, so it will work with Trumpeter's USS Lexington and Saratoga kits. These two kits offer much more refined 5" 25 mounts but the barrels are overly thick and are best replaced. The Master Model barrels give a much better scale appearance even for these short barreled guns. Just cut off the plastic barrels, drill a small shallow hole and attach with CA; just be sure that the breach is in line with the barrel.

Bottom line, these sets are a great enhancement for a reasonable price and I unequivocally recommend each one.