MiniArt US Radio Set SCR-299 (35455) 1:35

[Mike]

US Radio Set SCR-299 (35455)

1:35 MiniArt via Creative Models Ltd

 

 

Since its invention, radio has become a crucial communication technology for military operations, as it allows distant units and squads to keep in touch, share intelligence, and update each other about changing circumstances on and off the battlefield.  During WWI it was a nascent technology that was bulky and unreliable, but by the time WWII came around the technology had matured, and although the size of equipment was still relatively large due to the necessary use of electro-mechanical and valve-driven components, the range and reliability had improved, making portable short-range devices a possibility in the shape of backpack or large hand-held ‘walkie-talkies’, and longer range communications were at least portable in a trailer or the back of a light to medium truck.

 

The SCR-299 radio set was a long-range communications unit that was used from 1942 by the Americans as their primary radio set.  It was credited as being a key component in several strategic victories by the Allies in its various guises, either towed behind a wagon in a K-51 trailer, truck-mounted as the SCR-399, or air-portable under the guise of the… you guessed it, SCR-499, using the same core components.  A 2000W power supply gave it a broadcast strength of 350W and a frequency range between 2 and 8mhz in its standard form, with frequency conversion kits available to adapt the output for other uses.  Various lengths of antennae were used, depending on the operator’s requirements and frequency range.

 

 

The Kit

Parts of this set have been seen before in a K-51 ‘Ben Hur’ trailer kit from MiniArt, but it is now available individually, deployed on a custom table with ancillary equipment and power management unit also provided.  The kit arrives in a shallow top-opening box with profiles on the cover, and inside are three sprues of grey styrene, a small fret of Photo-Etch (PE) brass, decal sheet, and a two-sided instruction sheet that is printed on glossy paper in colour, with the profiles recreated along with a colour chart that gives codes for Vallejo, Mr Color, AK RealColor, Mission Models, AMMO, Tamiya, plus colour swatches and generic names for completeness.

 

 

 

 

Construction begins with the desk that will hold the operator equipment, making it from four structural parts and four more ancillaries, adding a pull-out drawer under the separate top, and a diagonally mounted rack for an equipment box on the right.  Two reels are built from two-part rolls of cable with separate end-caps, then the various radio boxes are built from copious parts, adding PE to some of them, a work-light, and a telephone handset on the transmitter box that is mounted on the left side of the table.  There are six boxes mounted on and around the table’s surfaces, and a large power unit is made from six sides that have dials moulded-in, with another box fitted to the top, a stand-alone fire extinguisher for those occasional overheating moments, a separate box that sits under the table, plus a four cushion stowage box and seat for the operator(s) to sit at, and another stowage box that has a PE chain diagonally across the ends.  A wiring diagram isn’t given per se, but many details can be gleaned from the profiles, especially the frontal drawing of the main bench.  Combined PE and styrene antennae mounts are provided in the box to assist with creating a more realistic scenario, making a 2.7m receiver antenna and a 4.6m transmitter antenna from your own stocks of wire or carbon fibre rod.  A 6.4m aerial could optionally be fitted for a stationary mounting, to which this kit is suited.

 

 

Markings

The small decal sheet contains stencils and legends for the equipment boxes, while the colour scheme is going to be predominantly olive green.

 

 

Decals are by Cartograf, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin matt carrier film cut close to the printed areas.

 

 

Conclusion

A well-detailed model of this crucial piece of Allied communications equipment that was used extensively during WWII, just needing some wire, antennae, and possibly some figures to give it life.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of