Exo Kit:s 1/72 60-Pounder BL Mk I Field Gun

The 60-pounder was one of the most modern guns used by the British at the outset World War One. It had been introduced in 1904, after bitter experience during the Boer War had showed the British the need for a heavy, long-range support weapon. The design was pretty standard, except that the gun and cradle could be pulled back onto the box trail, to distribute the weight more evenly during transport. The 127mm gun could shoot a 27.3kg shell (shrapnel or HE) some 9.4km. It was the Divisional Heavy Batteries that were armed with the 60-pounder.

The performance of the 60-pounder was also improved over the years. This was done mainly by using better munitions, e.g. more aerodynamically shaped shell. This improved the range up to 11.2km. (In 1916 a new barrel was designed, that was both longer and could be elevated more. This was the Mk II. The alterations made the gun heavier, but increased the range even more, now up til 14.1km. This model did however not see service in World War One.) Also both the carriage and especially the wheels were altered during the war, improving the maneuverability of a pretty heavy gun. (it's weight was 4.47 tons.)

The general soundness of the design is showed by the fact that it was used well into World War Two.

  For more photos of this gun, click here!
  

Contents of the kit:

Click on the pictures for an enlarged version!

The mouldings are, I'm sorry to say, less than perfect. There are some flash here an there but nothing serious. The barrel, however, is marred both by air holes and the fact that it's warped - the last thing is serious, as it will always stand out if the gun barrel of a kit is less than straight. The carriage and the recoil cylinders are also warped. And the wheels also have air holes. Mind you, all this may be a faults connected only to my kit, but a warped gun barrel is VERY hard to set straight again. Dear, oh dear...

Perhaps the moulds are getting worn?

All this is a pity, as this is one of the most ambitious artillery kits I've seen. All the things that are usually lacking in 1/72 scale Arty is there all right: turning wheels, handles, dial sight. Most impressive.

Also, the plans are unusually good, with good historical notes.

You can get this kit from Tracks & Troops. Or perhaps directly from Exokit.

With better moulding this would easily have amounted to a four star kit. But now it presents a rather tough nut to crack. Until Exo Kit makes a new mould and improves the master somewhat, I'm afraid that the best bet for anyone wanting to build a nice 60-pounder is to kitbash this one with the Matadors offering.