AFV Club 1/35 Bofors and M42 40mm Gun Ammunition and Accessory Set Kit First Look
By Cookie Sewell
| Date of Review | July 2013 | Manufacturer | AFV Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Bofors and M42 40mm Gun Ammunition and Accessory Set | Scale | 1/35 |
| Kit Number | 35189 | Primary Media | 156 parts in olive drab plastic |
| Pros | Great way to complete a Duster or set up a towed 40mm diorama | Cons | No major problems noted |
| Skill Level | Experienced | MSRP (USD) | $TBA |
First Look
When the Swedish Bofors company created its light antiaircraft gun in 1934 in near partnership with the German Krupps firm, it is doubtful that anyone would know how wildly successful it would become and how it is still in use nearly 80 years later in both 37mm and 40mm calibers. While it has undergone some serious upgrades and improvements - today including laser rangefinding, radar tracking and in some cases AHEAD "smart" projectiles - it is still one of the most popular light antiaircraft and anti-material weapons in the world.
The US and Commonwealth made wide use of it in WWII for both ground and shipboard installations, and at the end of the war the US was fielding self-propelled twin 40mm versions on a Chaffee light tank chassis. Later, that early M19 weapons systems evolved into the more sophisticated M42 "Duster" on the Walker Bulldog light tank chassis. Even an amphibious version was trialed along with more advanced systems like the ill-fated M247 Sergeant York.
AFV Club has been releasing kits of both the M42 (early and late versions) and the Bofors towed mount in US and Commonwealth versions. This handy little kit permits fans of either weapon to properly upgrade it or use one in a nicely accessoried diorama.
The kit comes with 24 four-round clips of 40mm ammunition, all of which are identical and will only be differentiated by painting as to type and user. It also provides four British style 24-round crates, eight US cans, eight US crates and eight British crates. The US wooden crates have separate lifting handle ropes. Three empty clips are included on each sprue, but all of the four-round clips are complete.
Anyone modeling a Vietnam-era Duster will appreciate this, as most crews stored lots of extra ammo on their vehicles and this kit provides 96 rounds ready to go. It will require some judicious use of a razor saw to separate the clips so they can be wedged over the sides of the gun tub (where most units carried "ready" rounds) and the cans and crates should look good strapped down. Ditto the towed guns, as the crates and other cans can be laid around a gun along with ready clips laid out on canvas for firing.
Overall this a great accessory and one which should go with each 40mm or Duster kit.