German MG42

Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3,

German MG42
Ref. # C-009
Scale: 1/35
Manufacturer: K59 Productions
Price: £6.99
Material: Resin

Introduction

K59 Productions are a small company from Hong Kong that produce a small range of resin high quality upgrades for a range of kits.

The MG42

The MG 42, by virtue of it's square profiled cooling jacket is difficult to produce in brass, traditionally the material of choice for high quality accessory replacements such as these. Whilst high quality brass MG 34's are produced by a number of companies, for the MG 42, resin is still the material of choice therefore.

Inside the simple cardboard sleeve is taped a small poly bag containing the resin parts and two small photo-etched frets, plus a paper insert detailing how the parts are assembled.

Looking at the parts layout, it's difficult to believe that they're all for just one machine gun...however, there are a few options. The instructions, in the form of a parts map and a labelled diagram are small and simplified, but adequate for the job. The casting of the resin parts is absolutely first class. No air bubbles at all and almost flash free. The photo-etch too, is first class. All the parts were easily removed from the tiny casting blocks and cleaned up with the help of a scalpel blade, and easily assembled with the aid of the diagram.

You have a choice during assembly, of a closed, stored bipod or one in use, as well as a choice between a drum magazine or a short length of belt ammo. As you can see from the pics, even the belt ammo was extremely well moulded and easily cleaned up. The final choice is either to have the receiver open, perhaps in the act of loading a new belt or clearing a jam, or closed. As you can see from the assembled pictures, I chose to have the receiver open, the gun mounted on the bipod and the drum magazine fitted.

Pic 4, Pic 5, Pic 6, Pic 7, Pic 8,

The photo-etch included is composed of extremely tiny parts. There's aren't any spare parts either, so you have to be careful! Included are the slings, clips for attaching it, a ring sight and two small parts for the inside surface of the receiver should you choose to display it open.

The cooling jacket of the barrel is supplied as a hollow casting, and so the barrel itself is supplied as a separate part which is installed inside it, form the right. It even has the release lever on it's end. It looks great!

Pic 9, Pic 10, Pic 11, Pic 12,

Conclusion

At last a high quality replacement for the MG42 that not only rivals the turned brass MG34 ones, but in my opinion, betters it! I can't wait to use this one on a model, and will definitely be getting more! Highly recommended!

Many thanks to Duncan Buchanan for the review sample.

K59 products are available from Duncan at DB models, take a look at their website: DB Models