Review of Trumpeter 1/35th Scale
Soviet 152mm Howitzer-gun M1937 ML-20
Kit no. 02315
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $49.95
Trumpeter is said on this box to be in Macau China, but I have other kits by them that say Hong Kong.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $49.95
Trumpeter is said on this box to be in Macau China, but I have other kits by them that say Hong Kong.
THE KIT:
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art is miss-leading. It shows a battery of five 152mm howitzers lined up and firing in a snow covered field. It shows a 5 man gun crew on the nearest gun and two officers and ammo and ammo cases spread around it. There is however no figures in the kit, nor ammo and ammo cases. Must not be any truth in advertising law in China.
One side panel of the box has the history of the gun in Chinese and English. Next to this is a small color picture of the gun made up in the firing mode, the statement that there are brass PE parts in the kit and a small illustration of the 2 frets of them in the kit. MADE IN CHINA also appears above a copyright of 2011 and Trumpeter’s street address in Macau and their web address.
The other side panel has 6 full color walk-around type photos of the kit made up with the heavy large wheeled carriage and in the firing mode. Next to these is the statement that the kit is NOT a toy and is intended for modelers over the age of 14 in ten languages including English. The main material is plastic.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art is miss-leading. It shows a battery of five 152mm howitzers lined up and firing in a snow covered field. It shows a 5 man gun crew on the nearest gun and two officers and ammo and ammo cases spread around it. There is however no figures in the kit, nor ammo and ammo cases. Must not be any truth in advertising law in China.
One side panel of the box has the history of the gun in Chinese and English. Next to this is a small color picture of the gun made up in the firing mode, the statement that there are brass PE parts in the kit and a small illustration of the 2 frets of them in the kit. MADE IN CHINA also appears above a copyright of 2011 and Trumpeter’s street address in Macau and their web address.
The other side panel has 6 full color walk-around type photos of the kit made up with the heavy large wheeled carriage and in the firing mode. Next to these is the statement that the kit is NOT a toy and is intended for modelers over the age of 14 in ten languages including English. The main material is plastic.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 7 light tan trees of parts, 2 individual light tan recoil arm parts, 2 brass PE frets and a turned metal gun barrel. However, in my kit there are 2 turned metal barrels. I haven’t a clue as to the origin of the second barrel. It is longer than the other one, has a metal vented muzzle brake attached to it and according to it’s layout does not match the parts tree drawing of it. The other slightly shorter barrel does match. I think maybe the editor of Cybermoder site, whom I used to work for, included this himself in the kit when he passed it on to me.
The instructions complete the kit’s contents. There are no decals in the kit, because I have never seen this gun wear any markings.
The instructions consist of a staple-bound booklet of 12 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white profile illustration of the gun In the towing mode and on the heavy carriage with large spoked wheels. This is followed by “Read before assembly” instructions in English and Chinese and international assembly symbol explanations and decal application instructions in English, German and Chinese.
Page 2 is the parts trees illustrations. Several parts are listed as being EXCESS and not needed to complete the model.
Pages 3 through 12 give a total of 13 assembly steps. Steps 1 to 10 is assembly of the gun in firing order. Steps 11 to 13 is assembly in the towing mode.
A slick coated 8 ½” x 11” sheet has a painting guild on one side as a 5 view illustration. The gun is shown in overall Russian green. A paint listing of only two colors: Russian green and tire black appears in one corner naming Mr. Hobby, Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya and Humbol brands of hobby paints.
The kit contains 7 light tan trees of parts, 2 individual light tan recoil arm parts, 2 brass PE frets and a turned metal gun barrel. However, in my kit there are 2 turned metal barrels. I haven’t a clue as to the origin of the second barrel. It is longer than the other one, has a metal vented muzzle brake attached to it and according to it’s layout does not match the parts tree drawing of it. The other slightly shorter barrel does match. I think maybe the editor of Cybermoder site, whom I used to work for, included this himself in the kit when he passed it on to me.
The instructions complete the kit’s contents. There are no decals in the kit, because I have never seen this gun wear any markings.
The instructions consist of a staple-bound booklet of 12 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white profile illustration of the gun In the towing mode and on the heavy carriage with large spoked wheels. This is followed by “Read before assembly” instructions in English and Chinese and international assembly symbol explanations and decal application instructions in English, German and Chinese.
Page 2 is the parts trees illustrations. Several parts are listed as being EXCESS and not needed to complete the model.
Pages 3 through 12 give a total of 13 assembly steps. Steps 1 to 10 is assembly of the gun in firing order. Steps 11 to 13 is assembly in the towing mode.
A slick coated 8 ½” x 11” sheet has a painting guild on one side as a 5 view illustration. The gun is shown in overall Russian green. A paint listing of only two colors: Russian green and tire black appears in one corner naming Mr. Hobby, Vallejo, Model Master, Tamiya and Humbol brands of hobby paints.
Large light tan letter A part tree holds: recoil arm parts, adjustment wheels, sight parts, ground anchor spades, cleaning rods etc. (49 parts)
Large light tan letter B part tree holds: the gun base halves, cradle yoke halves, shield, leaf spring, base of the towing cart etc. (26 parts)
Large light tan letter C part tree holds: parts for the recoil tray, the breech etc. (38 parts)
There are 2 identical medium sized light tan letter D trees Each holds: recoil arms details, ground anchor spade details, recoil arms hinge pins, recoil piston tubes, towing arm, leaf springs, towing cart details and it’s wheels and tires etc. (44 parts per tree)
There are 2 identical small light tan letter E trees. Each holds: wheels and tires for the carriage (11 parts per tree)
Small light tan letter F tree holds: the gun barrel halves and the vented muzzle brake etc. (12 parts)
There are 2 loose light tan recoil arm parts.
The alternate turned metal gun barrel is next.
Final parts are 2 brass PE frets, letters PE-A and PE-B.
PE fret PE-A holds clamps for the cleaning rods, fittings for the recoil arms and shields, recoil tubes (that have to be bent) etc. (21 parts)
PE fret PE-B holds: more details to go on the recoil arms and controls and the shield etc. (21 parts)
These 2 PE frets are in a Scotch taped shut cello bag with a stiff white card between them to prevent them bending.
PE fret PE-A holds clamps for the cleaning rods, fittings for the recoil arms and shields, recoil tubes (that have to be bent) etc. (21 parts)
PE fret PE-B holds: more details to go on the recoil arms and controls and the shield etc. (21 parts)
These 2 PE frets are in a Scotch taped shut cello bag with a stiff white card between them to prevent them bending.
None of the plastic trees are cello bagged.
I wish the kit had the gun crew and ammo in it that are shown on the box art. Otherwise the kit is highly recommended to modelers of average building skills.
Trumpeter markets another kit of this same gun with the only difference being that it has vinyl tires in it, instead of the plastic ones in this kit. That kit no. is 2323. It costs 4 more bucks than this kit. So, you pay your money and take your choice.
I Sincerely want to thank Stevens International for this kit.
I wish the kit had the gun crew and ammo in it that are shown on the box art. Otherwise the kit is highly recommended to modelers of average building skills.
Trumpeter markets another kit of this same gun with the only difference being that it has vinyl tires in it, instead of the plastic ones in this kit. That kit no. is 2323. It costs 4 more bucks than this kit. So, you pay your money and take your choice.
I Sincerely want to thank Stevens International for this kit.