1/72 L7 105mm Gun Barrel

[Pan Marek]

I'm working on 1/72 forces for the Yom Kippur War.  I bought pre made M48s and Centurions (heck, unbuilt plastic models cost the same!).  Problem:
The M48s have the 90mm and the Centurions the gun from the 50s.   I'm thinking- how hard is it to put on a replacement L7 105MM?   Harder than I thought, given
how the premades are put together.   I got barrels from Butler's, but they are soft metal, and bend very easily.   I thought- go to the internet!  Surely there are
replacement barrels!  Well, sort of, but the manufacturer is Russian, and no one has (for obvious reasons) stock.  Plus, I need 6 of them, and well, the price adds up.

I'm now thinking of making my own from plastic or brass tubing.   Why tubes instead of rods?  Can slip them over the original barrels.   Anyone have an idea of what thickness tube would look good?   Or, thoughts on whether plastic or brass is preferable?  Or, a source of premade replacement L7s?

Thanks!

[Panzer21]

I'm working on 1/72 forces for the Yom Kippur War.  I bought pre made M48s and Centurions (heck, unbuilt plastic models cost the same!).  Problem:
The M48s have the 90mm and the Centurions the gun from the 50s.   I'm thinking- how hard is it to put on a replacement L7 105MM?   Harder than I thought, given
how the premades are put together.   I got barrels from Butler's, but they are soft metal, and bend very easily.   I thought- go to the internet!  Surely there are
replacement barrels!  Well, sort of, but the manufacturer is Russian, and no one has (for obvious reasons) stock.  Plus, I need 6 of them, and well, the price adds up.

I'm now thinking of making my own from plastic or brass tubing.   Why tubes instead of rods?  Can slip them over the original barrels.   Anyone have an idea of what thickness tube would look good?   Or, thoughts on whether plastic or brass is preferable?  Or, a source of premade replacement L7s?

Thanks!

How about?

https://sandsmodels.com/product/l7-105mm-turret-basket-upgrade-for-diecast-centurion/

Neil

[Pan Marek]

Panzer-  Thanks!   Unfortunately, what you posted was the soft metal gun I incorrectly said was from Butler's Models.  I'm having a dickens of a time getting the barrels straight. If I use them, I'm sure the problem will persist, as it doesn't take much to bend them.

[fred]

Can you get the dimensions from the too soft metal ones, and use those to source the tubing?

Brass tube will be a lot more resilient, but is much hard to work with and cut.

Plastic is much easier to work with, and as long as you don’t get too narrow walls should be strong enough

[Pan Marek]

Fred-  I think that's the way I'm going to go.  It's bad enough having bendy bayonets and spears, but bendy tank guns?  Too prominent to hide!
Thanks.

[fred]

It’s a pain that the commercial parts don’t work. But bendy tank guns are no fun!

[Rick]

It's odd that you can get turned brass or aluminium gun barrels as replacement parts for big warship models but few people have thought to do the same with tank models.

[carlos marighela]

Ah but they do! Mostly for 1/35 and mostly for WW2 but there are turned aluminium barrels out there. I've seen 'em in 1/72 and 1/48 as well.  Rubicon even do a 1/56 L7 barrel for their Centurion.

Simplest option? Plastic or even aluminium or brass tubing with a larger plastic tube sleeved over it as the fume extractor. Tricky bit? The fume extractor does is not symmetrical on the L7 and its foreign copies, so you need to cut a wedge from the bottom of the tube, raise it slightly on the gun tube you are using and apply some filler. Of course if you aren't fussy you could just slide the bigger over the smaller and just file a bit away at the bottom.

Brass or aluminium tubing requires a saw and a file as opposed to a craft knife but it's unlikely it's ever going to bend.