Kit Review: AFV Club 1/35 scale turned brass ammunition: Set No. AF35138; 17-pdr Gun Ammo; 40 parts (20 turned brass projectiles and cases, 20 etched brass bases); estimated price US $17.98 Set No. AF35158; 20-pdr Gun Ammo; 40 parts (20 turned brass projectiles and cases, 20 etched brass bases); estimated price US $17.98
Advantages: great way to dress up a Centurion, Sherman Firefly or M10 Achilles
Disadvantages: not cheap
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: For all Commonwealth vehicle modelers
AFV Club has basically cornered the market on turned brass ammunition sets, with their sets for 8.8 cm and 10.5 cm German weapons acknowledged as some of the best around. Now they have turned their sights (no pun intended!) on British pattern vehicles with these two new sets. Each one provides 16 rounds of complete ammunition and four empty casings in each package.
Set 138 covers the 17-pdr gun and while presumably for the AFV Club M10 Achilles with 17-pdr gun will complement any other 17-pdr vehicle like the DML or Tasca Sherman Fireflies. It provides four rounds each of the following: armor-piercing capped shot (APC); armor-piercing capped ballistic core (APCBC); armor-piercing discarding sabot (APDS); and High-Explosive -Tracer Mk 1 (HE-T). The separate etched brass bases provide five bases for each type, so one each can be considered as =93fired=94 when assembled.
Set 158 covers the 20-pdr and therefore is matched to the AFV Club Centurion kits. It provides four rounds each of the following: Armor- Piercing Discarding Sabot Mk 1 (APDS); Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot Mk 3 (APDS); high explosive (HE); and anti-personnel (cannister). The separate etched brass bases provide five bases for each type, so one again one each can be considered as =93fired=94 when assembled.
Overall these are very nice sets and will complement vehicles with those guns.
Thanks to Hobby Fan Trading Company for the review samples.
Cookie Sewell