Eduard Brassin German 88mm and 105mm Guns. 1:72

[Shar2]

German 88mm and 105mm Guns
1:72 Eduard Brassin

The resin aftermarket parts for the big Revell 1:72 submarines seems to have been fairly monopolised by CMK but now Eduard-Brassin have started to release some. The two sets we have been sent are for the submarines main guns, the 88mm for the Type VIIc and the 105mm for early Type IXs. Both sets are contained in the standard blister packs used by Brassin, with the parts well protected by foam inserts. The guns even in this scale are quite small, but are really well detailed with plenty of small fragile parts, so take care when removing from the moulding blocks and cleaning them up.

88mm [672 034]. Unlike some sets where only the barrel of a gun is changed, this pack contains not only the barrel, but the whole mounting. The resin parts include the pedestal, mount, breech bock, barrel mounted rangefinder and optical sights, elevation quadrant, elevation and turning wheel fittings, and the prominent crew waist supports. The small etched sheet contains the elevation and traversing wheels, fittings for the rangefinder, and the waist support mountings. There is a tampion and clamp to be fitted to the muzzle, which is missing the cable that could be seen attached to the tampion and wrapped around the barrel and connected to the gun mounting.

105mm [672 053]. The 105mm is very similar to the 88mm gun, which is natural, seeing as it’s the smaller weapons big brother. The parts are very similar too, providing as it does, the barrel, breech block, sights, waist supports, pintle, rangefinder plus accessories, and the gun mount/trunnion. The etched parts are also similar with the inclusion of all the traversing and elevation wheels, waist support mountings, and tampion. Again, the wire from the tampion to the mounting is missing, but at least the length and gauge of wire required is given.

As always, check your references as from June 1943 the Atlantic-boats had landed the deck gun. Only in the Mediterranean and the Northern Sea boats kept their guns for a few months longer. In July 1944 some of the VIIc boats from the 8th Flotilla in Konigsberg got their guns back for the patrols in the Baltic Sea against the Russians. A number of Captains were also allowed to re-fit the deck gun when operating in the Indian Ocean.

Conclusion
It’s great to this pair of deck guns being released as not only does it give modellers the chance to improve on the kit details, but also backdate the Type IX to an earlier boat when they had deck guns fitted. These are superbly moulded with some very fine detail and will look great mounted on their respective submarines. Very highly recommended

Review sample courtesy of

[Panzer Vor!!!]

I believe that parts of both guns were removable and kept below decks till the gun went into action

I know the sights were but I think a other part was too

[Shar2]

That would be sensible, thanks for the info.

[whitestar12chris]

Great review Shar2, will watch out for these, got the cmk detail up set, but got more than one 1/72 u boat 5 at last count.

All the best Chris

[Panzer Vor!!!]

Ok I'm going regret this but why do you need 5 u boats in 1/72

[Alan P]

According to a couple of references, the Nov 1942 order to land the guns only applied to Type VIIs to compensate trim for the heavier flak armament. The Type XIs could still mount theirs as there was no weight penalty.

The last Type VII to engage a target with gunfire was U-701 in June 1942!

[Shar2]

Our references obviously don't match then Al.

[Julien]

Ok I'm going regret this but why do you need 5 u boats in 1/72

Well he could be building his own wolf pack?

[Panzer Vor!!!]

Well he could be building his own wolf pack?

Good point

So how many boots to make a pack then ???

[Julien]

Good point

So how many boots to make a pack then ???

As many as could reach the scene of the attack. So its quite open.