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Anti-tank Pillboxes (BB121) Pimp Your Bunker Part V:
The Gun Barrels
with Blake Coster

Inspired by Mike's articles on pimping out the new Anti-tank Pillboxes, I decided to show you how to enhance the gun barrels included in the box set.

Learn more about the Anti-tank pillbox here...
Included in the box set are two set of gun sprues representing the 7.5cm FK, 7.5cm Pak40, 5cm PaK38 and the 8.8cm PaK43.

For the purposes of this article, I will be using the 8.8cm Pak43 barrel but feel free to experiment with the other barrel types.
The guns included in the box set
The 8.8cm PaK43 barrel on its sprue The Basics

Firstly, we need the correct barrel. The 8.8cm PaK43 is easy to identify as it is the longest barrel in the set.

But to help you identify which barrel is which I've provided some labelled examples below.
Below: 8.8cm PaK43 barrel. Below: 7.5cm PaK40 barrel.
8.8cm PaK43 barrel 7.5cm PaK40 barrel
Below: 5cm PaK38 barrel. Below: 7.5cm FK barrel.
5cm PaK38 barrel 7.5cm FK barrel.
Once you have the correct barrel you need to cut it from the sprue. This can be done with either a sharp hobby knife as shown in the example or a pair of hobby clippers.

Check out the GF9 hobby range in the online store here...
Cutting the 8.8cm Pak43 barrel from the spure
Filing the base of the gun flat Once it off the sprue, a quick tidy up with a file to ensure it sits flush in the bunker may be required.
Next up are the magnets that come with the box set. With a pair of magnet stuck together, mark each side with a permanent marker pen to identify which side will be glued.

Read Chris' guide to Rare Earth Magnets here for more tips and tricks...
Mark the side of the magnet so all the polarity is the same
The magnet glued into the bunker Once each side has been marked, the magnet can be glued into place with the non-marked side showing.

In this example, the magnet has been glued into the bunker. Simple repeat the process on the base of the other gun barrels.

Tip: These little magnets are strong so be sure you let the hobby glue cure fully before attempting to attach any of the gun barrels.
Detailing

When detailing any gun barrels I like to drill out the muzzle brake to add that extra level of realism.

A pin vice is ideal for this job. Select the appropriate size drill bit and careful drill out each section of the muzzle brake. Be sure to take your time and you want the hole to come out of the same place on the opposite side.

In this example, I've drilled out the top baffle of the muzzle brake of the 8.8cm PaK43. Repeat the process for the lower baffle.

Drilling out the muzzle brake
Drilling out the muzzle brake Next, drill down the muzzle itself. Again take your time and try to keep the drill bit straight.

Note: After drilling is complete you may need to touch up the paint with some Panther Yellow (FWP365).
This method can also be used on tanks. Below are two examples from my own collection.
Blake's Jagdpanther Blake's IS-2
The next step is the give the barrel a quick wash with Black Shade (201). The Black Shade is designed to settle into the recesses therefore highlighting the details of the model. Giving the barrel a wash of Black Shade
Drybrushing the barrel with Middlestone (882)

Once the Black Shade has dried, give the barrel a heavy drybrush of Panther Yellow (FWP365).

Hint: Paint the plug where the gun fits into the bunker Black (FWP300) so it fits seamlessly in with the bunker.

Your gun barrel is now complete. If you have been following Mike's Pimp Your Bunker articles you can easily add the camouflage netting by following his insturctions in part one as I've done here. See the links below to learn more. The completed 8.8cm PaK43 barrel
The 8.8cm PaK43 barrel in the Anti-tank pillbox

Here is the finished 8.8cm PaK43 complete with camouflage netting fitted into a bunker.

Next time I will show you how to model a marker for when your bunker gets knocked-out.

~ Blake. 

Read Part One of Mike's Pimp Your Bunker article here...
Read Part Two of Mike's Pimp Your Bunker article here...
Read Part Three of Mike's Pimp Your Bunker article here...
Read Part Four of Mike's Pimp Your Bunker article here...


Last Updated On Tuesday, June 23, 2015