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Voyager Models
WWII German Pz.Sfl.Ivb 10.5cm le.FH.18/1
Ammunition Stowage

Voyager Model 1:35 Set # PEA 151
Review by Jenny Croft

Dragon
Introduction:

This Voyager set is one of four sets specifically designed for the Dragon kit #6475 of the Pz.Sfl.Ivb 10.5cm le.FH.18/1. This is the ammunition stowage set which covers the lower hull stowage of both shells and cartridge cases with their racks; the others are the Barrel & Mantlet set , the "basic" set and the fender set.

The Pz.Sfl.Ivb 10.5cm le.FH.18/1 was an unusual vehicle, built on a shortened Panzer IV chassis with only three bogies per side, nineteen of them were built and saw action on the Eastern Front.

The Update Set:

This set comprises four etch frets of brass, eight turned brass shells, 59 large diameter pre cut brass tubes, eight small diameter brass tubes and a single piece of steel wire for hinges.

The Voyager set replaces the racks for ammunition in the lower hull of the Dragon kit, in fact the only parts of the lower hull interior still used in the dragon kit are part B17, the hull floor, B19 the engine firewall & B18 the drive shaft cover .

Construction of the Voyager interior starts with the larger cartridge case racks of which you need to make two; these are made of 22 big tubes, a backing plate, a front plate, 22 spacers which stopped the cartridge case from being unable to be retrieved when needed, 22 locking clamps which stopped the cartridges from sliding out & 22 plates which represent the stamped section of the backing plate. This may seem like a lot of work but if you lay the backing plate flat & then glue the tubes on then add the front plate, making sure not to spill any glue around the top (most visible) tubes then you have a very solid base to add the smaller details .

Once assembled you can add cartridge cases as you wish. This is the only disappointment in this set for me; the full allocation of shell cases is 58 but Voyager only supply 8 cases, this means that the racks are going to be very empty. It would only be necessary to provide the bottom plates to show stowed ammunition, not the full case. Voyager do have shell cases available in set VBS0306 which have 16 in each set, which would mean even purchasing 3 sets would not quite give a full compliment. The best solution I have come up with is to buy Aber set 35A48 88mm & 75mm ammo (bottom plates), the 75mm shell bottom is almost identical in diameter to the Voyager shell case and with the angle these are visible will not be distinguishable as 75mm plates.

The other smaller Cartridge case rack is identical in construction but holds only 14 cartridge cases.

The shell cases are made of a box shape that will need bending and a etched bending tool or similar is recommended for this job as it keeps the corners nice & clean and the box in shape. An insert fits securely into slots in the box which has holes for the shells; the front of each box has a hinged section so the top half can be folded down & the top folds up on each box there is a pressed section on each lid which is created by a laminate of etch to give the stamped pattern, there are two ten round boxes, one six round box and one fourteen round box, all of which can be displayed opened or closed.

Again Voyager only provide eight shells where a full load is forty , this is less of an issue as the boxes can be closed hiding their emptiness and Dragon do provide 16 loose shells for their boxes.

As well as these boxes is one other unidentified stowage box which has the dimensions of a four round shell box, it only opens at the top, and has no insert to hold shells so its use is unknown but is provided & has the option of opening or closing it as well.

Etched and metal parts in the Voyager set
Voyager Models
Voyager Models

Conclusion:

The Voyager set provides all the racks to replace the ammunition stowage, the advantage of the brass components is in the scale thickness which gives a more detailed looking stowage area. The ability to show the shell stowage open or closed offers the modeler more flexibility. Having said this, the limited visibility into the interior may have some modelers wondering if the extra effort is worth it.

Most modelers would expect that Voyager would have included enough backing plates to represent a greater ammunition supply in the racks and will feel slightly annoyed with this oversight.

Recommended


Thanks to Voyager Models for the review set.

Jenny runs her own Forum Website Tanks & Things, check it out




Page created May 25, 2009