Lion Roar

1/35 Kwk43 88mm L/71 Metal Barrel For the Kingtiger Late Early, Elefant, Ferdinand

Stock Number: LB3519

Reviewed By  Michael Scott, IPMS# 43177

MSRP: $18.95 www.lionroar.net Imported by Dragon USA (www.dragonmodelsusa.com) This detail assembly is a direct replacement for the various German weapons armed with the 88mm Pak43. It is aimed at those AFV builders who are looking for a quick, accurate alternative to building, filling and sanding the standard multi-part styrene barrels supplied in some kits. The packaging is straightforward: a clear plastic envelope stapled at the top with the hang-tag and manufacturer's information. The parts, ten of them, are cushioned by a foam pad within the envelope. Brass parts are stored separately in a small zip lock bag that is best opened with a scalpel. The exploded, color depiction of the barrel and all of it's parts, which mostly make up the muzzle brake and the interior representation of some of it's parts, and the barrel itself comprise the total of instructions. You are left to surmise how these various bits are to be fitted together in such a manner as to stay in one piece. The barrel is threaded and has "lands and grooves" machined - a nice touch. Get your Optivisors on and get to work. The first part, the collar, will not fit up against the non-threaded part of the barrel. I dropped on the little washer, and then screwed on the bottom of the muzzle brake, which forced the collar flush against the barrel. So far, so good. Next came the trial and error determination of how to get the front of the muzzle brake pieces to fit and stay together. For the two toothed-rings, I finally resorted to CA to keep them from moving around and falling into the front part of the brake. I aligned the holes in the muzzle brake, and I was done. I opted to leave the little teeny bits off the outside of the muzzle brake - didn't want to goober them up with CA. A nice addition to your armor. No instructions made it seem more like building than assembling. Thanks to Lion Roar and Michel Hui at Dragon Models USA for the review opportunity!

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