1:72 Russian 76,2 mm ZiS-5/F-34 barrel for late KV-1 and T-34/76

Aber 76.2mm ZiS-5/F-34 for the Late KV-1 and the T-34/76 — Turned Barrel 1:72

This is not a vehicle kit but an accurate accessory: a turned metal barrel in 1:72 scale that replaces the plastic barrel from a boxed kit. The manufacturer is Aber of Poland, a specialist in metal and photo-etched parts for modelers. The metal replacement is perfectly straight, has a faithful muzzle profile and removes the parting seams as well as the bowing typical of an injection-molded part.

The real subject

The 76.2 mm gun in the F-34 variant (for the T-34/76 medium tank) and the related ZiS-5 (for the KV-1 heavy tank) made up the main Soviet tank armament of the decisive period of the war. It was a reliable general-purpose weapon effective against armored vehicles and infantry alike, and it was fitted in the later versions of both tanks.

Fitting tips

Cut off the plastic barrel and clean up the seat, adjusting the seating surface to the diameter of the metal part. Glue the metal with super glue (cyanoacrylate). Degrease the surface before painting and apply a primer suitable for metal, otherwise the paint holds poorly. Fill any step between the metal and the plastic if need be.

Who the accessory is for

• modelers building late KV-1 and T-34/76 type tanks in 1:72 scale
• those who want a perfectly straight barrel with no parting seam
• more advanced builders used to working with metal parts
• collectors after maximum fidelity of detail

The accessory does not include the model, the glue or the paints; it serves to modify a kit bought separately.