Tamiya 12670 - 1:35 US M40 155 mm Metal Gun Barrel Set

Turned metal 155 mm barrel for the M40 self-propelled gun model (Tamiya 35351) in 1:35 scale

Tamiya 12670 is a detail-up set for the Tamiya 1:35 model of the US 155 mm M40 self-propelled gun (35351). Instead of a plastic moulding, the modeller gets a single 155 mm barrel turned from aluminium, 196 mm long, with reproduced rifling at the muzzle - the detail that draws the eye first on a gun of this size.

Besides the barrel, the box contains brass parts and decals for building ten 155 mm shells with fuses - a natural addition to a scene showing the gun in its firing position. The base model is sold separately - this box contains the accessory parts only.

What's in the box:

• Turned aluminium 155 mm barrel (1 pc, 196 mm long) with reproduced muzzle rifling
• Brass parts and decals for building ten shells with fuses

Specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 12670
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Dedicated model: Tamiya US 155 mm Gun Motor Carriage M40 (35351)
• Type: metal gun barrel with brass parts and decals
• Material: turned aluminium, brass
• Barrel length: 196 mm

Turned metal barrels - a quick upgrade

A lathe-turned barrel has a perfectly round cross-section and no mould parting line. On a plastic moulding that line has to be filed and sanded away along the entire barrel, which easily damages the surrounding detail and makes it hard to keep the tube truly cylindrical. The metal barrel comes with a hollowed muzzle, so no drilling is needed, and fine details such as the muzzle rifling come out crisper than injection moulding allows.

Metal needs different preparation than plastic: before painting we suggest degreasing the surface and using a primer intended for metal, which gives the paint a proper key. Cyanoacrylate glue works well for joining the barrel to the plastic parts of the model.

About the vehicle - M40:

The M40 was a US heavy self-propelled gun built on the chassis of the M4A3 Sherman tank with HVSS suspension. Its open fighting compartment housed the 155 mm M2 gun, known as the "Long Tom" - one of the most effective long-range guns of its era.

The vehicle entered service in the final phase of the Second World War, supporting the Allied advance with indirect fire, and served again in the Korean War. The distinctive spade at the rear of the hull braced the vehicle when firing, absorbing the recoil forces.

Original vehicle specifications (M40):

• Type: heavy self-propelled gun
• Chassis: M4A3 Sherman tank with HVSS suspension
• Armament: 155 mm M2 "Long Tom" gun
• Service period: final phase of the Second World War, Korean War

About the manufacturer - Tamiya:

Tamiya is a Japanese company based in Shizuoka, active in the modelling industry since 1946. Alongside its plastic kits it offers detail-up accessories for its own models: turned metal barrels, photo-etched frets, detail sets and display stands. These accessories are designed for specific Tamiya kit numbers, so they fit without modification. The range is completed by Tamiya paints, glues and modelling tools.