I am pretty certain the set of barrels he has ordered are MG 34’s as to the best of my knowledge, armourscale don’t do MG 13’s. I am assuming the set ordered is 35-030.
Bill, i didn’t realise that the guns on the Pz I weren’t MG 34 until a few months ago, when somone on here, it may have been you, pointed it out. If it was you, do you happen to know if anyone does make MG 13’s.
No worries, it’s just me. [;)]
G
Hi guys,
I spoke to Lou earlier who confirmed that they are indeed MG34 barrels. I’m personally not going to lose any sleep over it! Apparently MG13 barrels aren’t a common item, I don’t think Lou even knew that the barrels should be MG13’s. I certainly didn’t!
As I say, it’s just a nice little Panzer for my display, the MG34 barrels may not look 100% right to the trained eye but I can live with that, They’ll certainly look better than the kit barrels and as yet I just don’t have the equipment to drill them out.
I’ll post a photo when they turn up, they should be here in the morning as he posted them today. Hopefully they should fit ok-I should think I’ll have to chop one down a little but I can’t forsee any major issues. If there is I’ll have to use the kit barrels and these will keep for a future build.
Figure Freak - yep, it’s pretty glossy at present but that’s more down to the extremely bright desk lamp which was casting the light for the photos. Obviously it will have a misting of dullcoat prior to pigments etc.
ATVB chaps,
Ben [Y]
Well as long as you happy with them, thats the main thing. I think only 1 company does MG 13 but as usual you can’t get them over here.
Assuming you are keeping the hatch closed, you shouldn’t have to cut the barrels. Just insert one further out than the other.
When you get the chance (and a bit of spare cash) i would deffinatly recommend a mini drill. This is what i use to drill out barrels (even 1/72nd) and other things, and if you plan on expanding to resin AM sets its ideal.
Bish,
The only company making MG13s that I know of is Adler’s Nest and they aren’t cheap. They sell them individually and not in a set so that adds a bit to the price as well since you need 2 for the Pz I.
Cheers guys,
I was hoping they’d be here today along with my Fruils but the postman just walked straight past!
As long as they are her for the weekend then I’m happy!
ATVB
Ben [t$t]
Not reading every paragraph here on the two pages, I got to say that it looks sweet so far. Making unbeliavable progress! Looks right down gorgeous already. I myself always prefer the A version before the B, but that’s just me…
MG13, MG34, MG131, MG42, MG3, MG18… What’s the difference? Well, mainly the barrel… And on some, not even that! Such minor details doesn’t really matter all that much really… Keep up the work! 
-Lasse
Hi guys,
Righto, I got the Fruils and the barrels yesterday. The Fruils are great and I’ll be assembling them tomorrow (it’s Easter weekend so I’ve got the next four days off now-sweet)!
The barrels do not look right at-all. Infact they look oversize and out of place so I’ve gone with the kit barrels which look fine. I’ve got my Panther build next on which I can use one and then I’ll have one left for a future build.
£6 for the pair so no big loss!
ATVB
Ben [Y]
I’d hardly call the barrel a minor detail when it comes to talking about an MG, particularly the ones you include in your list…that’s like saying all tanks are the same except for the minor detail of the turret. [;)] [:)] While they all may have had the same calibre of round at 7.92mm, the differences between all of the ones you include in your list are pretty substantial and are easily noticed from a visual standpoint, particularly those that are aircraft variants like the MG131.
I think Ben’s experience is instructive now that he has the MG34 barrels in hand, he can see just how different they are when compared to the MG13s that the Pz I was equipped with. [;)]
I know I know Bill… [:)]
BUT… The MG3 is 7.62! [whstl]
I do agree that on a weapon, and especially the German machineguns, the barrels is a lot of difference. And especially the aircraft versions…
You got me, I surrender! [clwn]
-Lasse [t$t]
Ben bear in mind that the barrels you have, though they can be used in vehicles, are really intended for the MG 34’s used by ground troops. To put it in a vehicle, you would not use the other sleeve. If you want MG 34’s for vehicles, Aber do two sets, though they are more expensive, in my opinion i always go for Aber barrels before Armourscale. The Aber sets are 35L63 which gives you two barrels for the hull mounted weapon, thses go for around £9. And 35L83 gives you 5 barrel tip for the turret mounted weapon, these are around a fiver.
Have fun with the Fruils, i love em. If you haven’t used them before, they are a bit awkward to start, but once you get used to them they can be put together rather quick, though i havnen’t done a set that small yet.
I got a message off Lou tonight, my Tiger I and the two muzzel covers i ordered has been posted today, so hopefully i will get that tues or wed.
Cheers Bish & Lasse,
I’ve used Fruils once before Bishon my last build (StuG III) and they were GREAT. The kit tracks with this Pz I are so tiny and hace 5 pints of contact holding them to the sprue I’ll be lucky to get enough links off in one piece to do one run, let alone both!
The MG barrels, although looking beautiful, would have looked totally wrong on this vehicle. The outer casing around the barrel is much wider than that of the MG13 and to get them to sit far enough in I’d have had to drill two big holes to push them into the turret far enough. It would have looked messy and, well, wrong!
Off work now so back to the bench (kitchen table) tomorrow to get the Fruils assembled and the tools fitted to the vehicle.
She’s coming along VERY nicely [Y]
Good morning gents,
I hope you are all well? Do you good American folk get ‘Good Friday’ off as what we call a ‘bank’ holiday with it being Easter weekend and all? I’m not at-all religious but I’ll take the paid holiday! We also get monday off so it’s a four day weekend for me!
Anyway, this is more of a carry on from the few words that I posted last night.
First job today is to get the rear of the vehicle completed. I fitted the rear ‘plate’ but left off the muffler, smoke candle holder and PE muffler cover as I wanted to paint them by hand and the candle holder covers the bulk of the muffler area. So, it’s paint and fit muffler & PE cover, paint and fit candle holder and fit PE candle ‘chains’.
Then onto Fruils. I picked up some 0.4mm dia gold plated wire yesterday (only £2 a roll). It’s in a 1 metre roll and is far stronger and a bit thicker than the awful bendy thin wire that Fruil supply so it will make things far easier! It fits the 0.5mm Fruil holes perfectly as well. The Fruil wire is the perfect size for making ‘cable’ runs to vehicle lights etc so that won’t be wasted.
Here is the wire, Fruils, Pz I with kit barrels fitted but unpainted and the MG34 barrel for comparison. It’s hard to tell but the vented MG34 cooling jacket is MUCH bigger in diameter than the MG13 barrels…
Finally, I saw Lasse took a photo out of the back of his house and I felt left out so I thought I share this view of part of my back garden from my bedroom window - Ben Hinks presents a photo which he has named ‘Sunny England’ (this is the first day in a week that it hasn’t rained here-bloody weather)!
Update later guys,
ATVB
Ben [H]
Nice work Ben. You seem to like your fruills of late. That paintjob is lookin good and i love that barrell.Keep it up and yer the weather could be better, who knows as we have had true seasons this year we might actually get a summer?
Thanks Bodge-a ‘real Summer’ in 2010 would be nice, instead of the usual two weeks of warm sunshine!
The MG34 barrels do look great but did you notice the bit where I said I wouldn’t be using them on this build as they are much bigger than the MG13 barrels which this Panzer did use? They would look totally out of place and imo a bit daft!
They will be used on two future 2010 build that I have planned so no loss whatsoever.
Anyway, when are you going to be coming up the M1 on a Saturday or Sunday as far as junction 17 so you can pop in for a tea or coffee and to talk models? [;)]
ATVB
Ben [H]
Good evening Gentlemen,
I only maged to get about 4 hours solid build time in today due to family stuff but I got to where I wanted to be so tomorrow I can look at assembling the Fruil tracks and getting the tools painted and fitted.
Today: Painted both the barrels, fitted the clear lenses to the front light, fitted the exhaust and PE exhaust cover, fitted the smoke candle holder and fitted the PE chains to the smoke candles and fitted and painted the pair of tow hooks that I meant to fit during the initial build but somehow overlooked! I really wanted the PE cover to look good and I wanted a ‘burnt metal’ orangey finish like on one of the box pictures so I painted the PE screen Grey and then used an Antique Bronze over the top with a light Grey drybrush -I think I did a pretty good job so all in all a good few hours work! I need to use a pin to unblock a few of the holes that are filled with paint but I want to let it dry overnight first.
Tomorrow-Get these Fruils assembled and the tools prepped and painted!
ATVB
Ben [Y]
Lookin better all the time mate. If i come up your way i will be sure to bell you first. It will be nice to see some of your models in the flesh for sure. Likewise if you ever come south to Bournemouth your more than welcome to call in and do some tank talk. Did you see my result at the Newmd show, took me by surprice im telling you . i posted up the show report Newmod 2010. Cheers for now. Andy.
Thanks Bodge,
I honestly can’t remember the last time I made it as far South as Bournemouth but the missus & I have often talked about spending a long weekend down there. She could go shopping and I’ll go and play with my mates tanks!
Sounds good - btw have you got a link to this 2010 Modeller thing?
Today I have two wonderful tasks-assembling Fruils and piercing the holes on that PE exhaust cover to clear the paint!
Take care buddy,
Ben [Y]
Good evening folks,
I’ve managed to get very little done today-constant distractions all day long!!!
I was hoping to get both track runs of Fruils completed but in the end I decided one run was enough. They were starting to get really boring and when I feel like that I think it’s best to clear up and attack the other run tomorrow with a clear head. Now I’m going to make a nice meal and watch a film I think [H]
These particular Fruils are TINY compared to the StuG fruils that I used on my last build and with my big hands are slightly fiddly! The stiff gold plated wire that I bought was much better than the Fruil supplied kit wire-due to it’s slightly thicker diameter there were very few bends when pushing through the locator holes and they definately make for a much quicker assembly time.
I’m pretty pleased with these ones-they’ll really look the part when painted, weathered and properly fitted [H]
Tomorrow I’ll rattle off the other run and make a start on the tools.
Thanks for looking chaps,
Many thanks,
Ben [Y]
Nice work. I appreciate the time spent on those.[|-)]