ARM: Italeri 1/35 scale Cannone da 47/32 Model 39 and Crew

Kit Review: Italeri 1/35 scale Kit No. 6490; Cannone da 47/32 Mod. 39 with = Crew; 83 parts in grey styrene; retail price US$47.00

Advantages: first model of this weapon in styrene; well-executed model has = several options; five man crew a bonus

Disadvantages: directions only show how to assemble an emplaced gun; crew f= igures somewhat simpler than competitors=92 products

Rating: Highly Recommended

Recommendation: to all North Africa warfare fans

In 1935 the Austrian Boehler company developed a lightweight antitank gun = called the M 35, which was a 47mm weapon that was small and light enough to= break into five separate loads for use with pack animals. It proved popula= r with the untried antitank forces of the day and was widely sold and produ= ced under license in many countries.=20 =09 The Italians were one of the licensees and produced a shorter version of t= he gun as the Cannone da 47/32 M 35. A later model, the M 39, used a slight= ly different design of carriage and was some 130 pounds lighter (611lbs vs.= 740 lbs). It was slightly more powerful than the German PaK 36/37 3.7 cm g= un but inferior to the Czech 47mm or the Soviet 45mm guns. But it saw wide = use with the Italian army, as it was light and could throw a 3 pound high-e= xplosive projectile for infantry support.=20

This nice new kit from Italeri presents the later Model 39 version with li= ghtweight wheels (albeit the original wheels are shown on the box art, that= is not what comes in the kit) and a crew of five in the long desert unifor= m.=20

The gun itself consists of 52 parts and includes all of the necessary bits= as well as six rounds and a case for the ammunition. Even though it is a t= iny gun it comes with a three-piece barrel, separate recoil mechanism and b= reech block, and will permit free elevation and traverse if properly assemb= led. Optional seats (I guess they are seats, but are like the gun very tiny= ) are included for the crew members. A pedestal mount is included for use i= n other kits (a kit of the Semovente 47/32 is also coming).=20

But the only option shown in the kit has the gun with trails and spade dep= loyed for combat with the wheels removed to lower the silhouette. There is = a sprung axle mount (part 33F) which comes with the wheel mounts in place (= one was broken off the review sample in shipping) but no word on what they = are for, and all it says is to cut them off. Stub axles Parts 36F are then = glued to the wheels for display in the removed position. Also a locking bra= ce (39F) is shown installed but it would fold back for movement; likewise t= wo lifting handles (40F-41F) are shown stowed. It=92s too bad the kit engin= eers allowed for this but the direction writers did not.=20

The crew figures are somewhat simpler than other conventional figures =96 = the heads come molded onto the torsos as do some of the equipment. While th= ey are thus somewhat old-fashioned in design, the figures show better anima= tion and details than many older Italeri figures. Three of the personnel (t= he gun commander and two of the crew) sport beards and mustaches and all ha= ve reasonably good expressions. They appear to be wearing Italian airborne = helmets from what I can determine with the officer in a =93tent hat=94. The= four crew figures cover the gunner, loader and two =93other numbers=94 wit= h extra rounds.=20

The seams and some of the details on the figures are a bit deeper or smoot= her than many today prefer, but from what I gather most modelers are happy = to compensate for a lack of separation for an easier-to-assemble and paint = figure. =20

Artwork is by a G. Rava and is in watercolor; while very artistic it unfor= tunately gives the impression these troops are wearing desert =93tiger stri= pes=94 which they are not. Painting directions are of the =93follow the cha= rt on the back of the box and the box art=94 type.=20

Overall the kit is a bit pricey but lately Italeri has been once more prov= iding details as they did when they started over 35 years ago. The gun is a= gem and the crew are nicely posed to suit the piece. I do wish they had co= vered the other assembly options in the directions though.=20

Thanks to Ronelyne at MRC for the review sample.=20

Cookie Sewell

Reply to
AMPSOne
Loading thread data ...

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.