Build Review of ICM 1/35th Scale
Soviet 100 mm Field Gun BS-3
Kit no. 35141
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
Out of production.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1999
Out of production.
HISTORY:
The 100 mm field gun M1944 (BS-3) (Russian: 100-мм, 1944 was a Soviet 100 mm anti-tank and field gun.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Field and anti-tank gun
Place of origin: Soviet Union
Wars: World War II, Vietnam War, Yom Kippur War
Produced: 1944–1951
Mass: 3,650 kg (8,047 lbs)
Length: 9.37 m (30 ft 9 in)
Barrel length: Bore: 5.34 m (17 ft 6 in) L/53.5, Overall: 5.96 m (19 ft 7 in) L/59.6 with muzzle brake)
Width: 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Height: 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Crew: 6 to 8
Shell: 100 × 695 mmR, (R/147mm)
Caliber: 100 mm (3.93 in)
Breech: Semi-automatic vertical sliding-wedge
Recoil : hydro-pneumatic
Carriage: Split trail
Elevation: -5° to 45°
Traverse: 58°
Rate of fire: 8 to 10 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 20 km (12.42 mi)
The 100 mm field gun M1944 (BS-3) (Russian: 100-мм, 1944 was a Soviet 100 mm anti-tank and field gun.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Field and anti-tank gun
Place of origin: Soviet Union
Wars: World War II, Vietnam War, Yom Kippur War
Produced: 1944–1951
Mass: 3,650 kg (8,047 lbs)
Length: 9.37 m (30 ft 9 in)
Barrel length: Bore: 5.34 m (17 ft 6 in) L/53.5, Overall: 5.96 m (19 ft 7 in) L/59.6 with muzzle brake)
Width: 2.15 m (7 ft 1 in)
Height: 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Crew: 6 to 8
Shell: 100 × 695 mmR, (R/147mm)
Caliber: 100 mm (3.93 in)
Breech: Semi-automatic vertical sliding-wedge
Recoil : hydro-pneumatic
Carriage: Split trail
Elevation: -5° to 45°
Traverse: 58°
Rate of fire: 8 to 10 rpm
Muzzle velocity: 900 m/s (2,953 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 20 km (12.42 mi)
THE KIT:
ICM is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Kiev, Ukraine. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a Soviet BS-3 field gun sitting in rubble in Berlin. The Reichstag building is in the background, surrounded by wrecked buildings.
The BS-3 is overall olive-drab. It has 5 spent brass ammo shells on the ground beside it.
One side-panel of the box gives ICM’s post office address in Kiev, Ukraine. It says the model makes up to be 256mm (10”) long. This is followed by one-paragraph histories of the gun in English and German.
ICM is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer based in Kiev, Ukraine. They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps of the box to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows a Soviet BS-3 field gun sitting in rubble in Berlin. The Reichstag building is in the background, surrounded by wrecked buildings.
The BS-3 is overall olive-drab. It has 5 spent brass ammo shells on the ground beside it.
One side-panel of the box gives ICM’s post office address in Kiev, Ukraine. It says the model makes up to be 256mm (10”) long. This is followed by one-paragraph histories of the gun in English and German.
The other side-panel of the box has the histories in Czech and Ukrainian. All the languages are labeled with color illustrations of the flags of the countries that speak the language. Kit was made in the Ukraine.
The bottom of the box has a color 4-view of the gun and 4 sizes of ammo rounds.
It is overall olive-drab, with no markings. The ammo is brass with steel tips.
The kit contains 2 light-grey part trees in a sealed clear cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 ½” x 10 “ page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history of the gun in the 4 languages.
Page 2 through to page 5 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
Page 6 shows a 4-view line drawing of the BS-3 in the firing position.
Page 7 shows another 4-view of it in the towing position.
Page 8 is the parts-trees illustrations, over a Testors brand paint color listing and CAUTIONS about the kit, in the 4 languages.
At the bottom of the page is ICM’s P.O. box address, telephone and FAX numbers, E-mail and web addresses, in Kiev, Ukraine.
The trees are alphabetized.
Light-grey letter A tree holds: the gun barrel, cradle parts, shield etc. (94 parts)
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 ½” x 10 “ page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history of the gun in the 4 languages.
Page 2 through to page 5 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
Page 6 shows a 4-view line drawing of the BS-3 in the firing position.
Page 7 shows another 4-view of it in the towing position.
Page 8 is the parts-trees illustrations, over a Testors brand paint color listing and CAUTIONS about the kit, in the 4 languages.
At the bottom of the page is ICM’s P.O. box address, telephone and FAX numbers, E-mail and web addresses, in Kiev, Ukraine.
The trees are alphabetized.
Light-grey letter A tree holds: the gun barrel, cradle parts, shield etc. (94 parts)
Light-grey letter B tree holds: the wheels, tail arms etc. (81 parts)
There are no crew figures or decals included.
THE BUILD:
I have only assembled the barrel and breech so far.
I have only assembled the barrel and breech so far.
A quick test fit took care of any fears, though, as the barrel went together very nicely, with no ridges or rough-seams, either on the outside or on the inside. No locating pegs are provided (they would just be visible down the barrel anyway), so careful gluing is essential with this piece.
The breech block assembly alone is 10 pieces, which in turn, mounts to a 7-piece recoil mount. Adding the barrel uses another 11 parts. All of this detail pays off, as the gun really starts looking like a miniature cannon at this point.
The kit also provides equally detailed shields and mount, with all of the hooks, grab-irons and tools to render an impressive artillery piece.
Ammunition is even provided, with three different types of shells provided, separate from the casings. When complete, the gun can be traversed and elevated into any pose you'd like.
The wheels are plastic, and are split in halves, with the wheels molded in one half and the tires split. Again, no locating pegs here, but the fit is excellent and once you've made sure that the tread is aligned there shouldn't be any problem. A bit of light sanding on the seam and you get a perfect wheel. The inside hub detail is very nicely done as well, although not much of it will be seen.
The breech block assembly alone is 10 pieces, which in turn, mounts to a 7-piece recoil mount. Adding the barrel uses another 11 parts. All of this detail pays off, as the gun really starts looking like a miniature cannon at this point.
The kit also provides equally detailed shields and mount, with all of the hooks, grab-irons and tools to render an impressive artillery piece.
Ammunition is even provided, with three different types of shells provided, separate from the casings. When complete, the gun can be traversed and elevated into any pose you'd like.
The wheels are plastic, and are split in halves, with the wheels molded in one half and the tires split. Again, no locating pegs here, but the fit is excellent and once you've made sure that the tread is aligned there shouldn't be any problem. A bit of light sanding on the seam and you get a perfect wheel. The inside hub detail is very nicely done as well, although not much of it will be seen.
The detail of this kit is at least equivalent to the best artillery pieces offered by Tamiya or DML.
It sorely needs a gun crew included.
It sorely needs a gun crew included.
Recommended.