Challenger 2 Barrel
LionMarc Model Designs Set No. AW-20000
1/35th Scale
Review by Terry Ashley
The resin parts are cleanly cast with no casting blocks or other residue to clean up before use which makes for a good start.
The rearmost resin thermal jacket also has the concertina dust cover and features a nice drooping profile which is most evident on the real barrel while the muzzle reference system has nice details included.
The thermal jacket sections have holes down the middle that fit snugly over the metal barrel core without any noticeable slack but unfortunately the diameter is thinner than they should be with the actual thermal jackets having a diameter in 1:35th of 5.5-5.8mm while the front section of the resin jacket is just 4.5mm in diameter and the rear section 5.0mm tapering quite shaprtly to 6.2mm just in front of the concertina dust cover.
The Tamiya kit barrel measures out at 5.5mm and the smaller size of the resin jackets is also quite noticeable when comparing them to photos of the real barrel and the jacket details on the sections immediately before and after the fume extractor have different details from photos as these show two small indentations instead of a single indentation as on the other jacket sections.
The muzzle opening is also undersized as the diameter of the C2 projectile is 3.4mm in 1:35th which is the size of the muzzle opening on the Tamiya kit but the opening in the metal part with the AW barrel is only 2.5mm.
The bracket on the front of the fume extractor is a separate part with a small notch to ensure the outer section of the jacket lines up correctly but you have to line up the muzzle with the rear jacket section by eye to ensure the sagging part of the concertina dust cover lines up correctly and unfortunately the pin that fits into the Tamiya mantlet (part 46) is a little narrow and the fit is quite sloppy meaning extra work will be required for a good fit.
Unfortunately a bit of a disappointment with the size discrepancies but by using the concertina dust cover and muzzle reference system on the Tamiya barrel will improve the look of these sections so all is not lost.
Thanks to Leo from LionMarc Model Designs for the review set.
Page created 4 February 2005