In Box Review of ICM 1/35th Scale Soviet 100 mm Field Gun BS-3
Kit no. 35141
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright of kit is 2000.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright of kit is 2000.
HISTORY:
The 100 mm field gun M1944 (BS-3) (Russian: 100-мм полевая пушка обр. 1944 г. (БС-3)) was a Soviet 100 mm anti-tank and field gun. The gun was successfully employed in the late stages of World War II, and remained in service into the 1950s, being replaced in Soviet service by the T-12 antitank gun and the 85 mm antitank gun D-48 in 1955.
The BS-3 was also sold to a number of other countries and in some of these countries the gun is still in service. A number of BS-3 pieces are still stored in Russian Army arsenals.
Also, in 2012, at least 12 BS-3 guns are active with the 18th Machinegun & Artillery Division, located on the Kuril Islands, used as anti-ship and anti-landing guns.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Field and anti-tank gun
Place of origin: Soviet Union
Wars: WW II, Yom Kippur War
Produced: 1944–51
Weight: 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: Fixed QF 100 × 695 mm. R
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 полевая пушка обр. 1944 г. (БС-3)) was a Soviet 100 mm anti-tank and field gun. The gun was successfully employed in the late stages of World War II, and remained in service into the 1950s, being replaced in Soviet service by the T-12 antitank gun and the 85 mm antitank gun D-48 in 1955.
The BS-3 was also sold to a number of other countries and in some of these countries the gun is still in service. A number of BS-3 pieces are still stored in Russian Army arsenals.
Also, in 2012, at least 12 BS-3 guns are active with the 18th Machinegun & Artillery Division, located on the Kuril Islands, used as anti-ship and anti-landing guns.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Field and anti-tank gun
Place of origin: Soviet Union
Wars: WW II, Yom Kippur War
Produced: 1944–51
Weight: 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: Fixed QF 100 × 695 mm. R
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 a model company based in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The kit comes in an shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a BS-3 in a shell-pocked field with large damaged buildings in the background and 5 spent ammo shells laying beside it. It is overall dark green.
One side panel says the model is for modelers 8 and older and makes up to be 266 mm long (10 1/2"). followed by a one-paragraph history of the gun in English and German. Kit includes 156 parts. Paint and cement are not included. Not suitable for children under 36 months. Contains detachable parts. MADE IN UKRAINE.
ICM is a model company based in Kyiv, Ukraine.
The kit comes in an shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a BS-3 in a shell-pocked field with large damaged buildings in the background and 5 spent ammo shells laying beside it. It is overall dark green.
One side panel says the model is for modelers 8 and older and makes up to be 266 mm long (10 1/2"). followed by a one-paragraph history of the gun in English and German. Kit includes 156 parts. Paint and cement are not included. Not suitable for children under 36 months. Contains detachable parts. MADE IN UKRAINE.
This is repeated on the other side panel in Czech and Russian.
The bottom of the box has a 4-view of the gun in overall dark-green and illustrations of ammo rounds in color.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 2 light-gray trees in 2 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 1/4" x 10" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history of the gun in 4 languages, including English.
Page 2 through 5 give a total of 9 assembly steps.
Page 6 has a 4-view line drawing of the gun in the firing position.
Page 7 has another 4-view line drawing of the gun in transporting position.
Page 8 has the parts trees illustrations, over a suggested listing of Testors and Humbrol brands of paint colors and CAUTIONS in 4 languages, including English and ICM's P.O. Box address in Kyiv, Ukraine, their telephone and FAX numbers and web and e-mail addresses.
Light-gray letter A tree holds: the gun barrel, shield etc. (94 parts)
This kit contains 2 light-gray trees in 2 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 1/4" x 10" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history of the gun in 4 languages, including English.
Page 2 through 5 give a total of 9 assembly steps.
Page 6 has a 4-view line drawing of the gun in the firing position.
Page 7 has another 4-view line drawing of the gun in transporting position.
Page 8 has the parts trees illustrations, over a suggested listing of Testors and Humbrol brands of paint colors and CAUTIONS in 4 languages, including English and ICM's P.O. Box address in Kyiv, Ukraine, their telephone and FAX numbers and web and e-mail addresses.
Light-gray letter A tree holds: the gun barrel, shield etc. (94 parts)
Light-gray letter B tree holds: wheels, recoil arms, shovel, ammo rounds etc. (81 parts)
I have started to build the kit by assembling the gun barrel, one of the trails, wheels and part of the carriage.
There is no gun-crew figures included or decals.
Recommended.