Soviet 45 mm PTP Anti-Tank Gun M.1937
adm 1:72 Scale Figure Review
The picture shows the soft plastic sprue of the 45 mm PTP M.1937 anti-tank gun and its crew prior to assembly. The kit is designed for diorama builders who need the empty shell casings and ammunition boxes to create a realistic scene of a gun in action. Wargamers, too, will be happy to have the additional equipment items which can be used as stowage on attendant vehicles or to add visual appeal to an anti-tank gun stand. Two 45 mm gun stands are needed to raise a light anti-tank gun platoon attached to the Soviet rifle or motor rifle battalion. The anti-tank gunners are cast without bases, and they can be difficult to attach permanently to a wargame base which will be handled frequently during simulation games.
Contents
- 45 mm L.46 PTP M.1937 Anti-Tank Gun
- 4 Gunners, 23 mm equal 166 cm Height
- 4 Ammunition Boxes
- 10 Shell Casings
Evaluation
Good choice of subject, Soviet anti-tank gunners are difficult to find in this scale. The 45 mm anti-tank gun, too, is a rare find, it was previously available only as a more expensive metal model.
The gun has only 6 parts and is relatively easy to assemble.
The figures look like conversions of existing soft plastic figures from various manufacturers, and they may serve as an inspiration to wargamers and diorama builders interested in creating their own gun crews from regular infantry figures.
The gunners may be used to crew Soviet anti-tank guns from other manufacturers which are sold without figures.
Compatible with AER, ESCI, Hasegawa, Revell, Cooperativa, and SKIF.
Assembly instructions are not included, and the gun can be put together without them. However, a simple drawing would have been nice to indicate the angle of the gun shield and the alignment of the gun sight.
The soft plastic parts cannot be glued securely, although superglue should hold the gun together well enough for diorama purposes. Wargamers will want to solder the parts together permanently to prevent the gun from falling apart during a game. This editor used the Rai-Ro ZEP-70 pulse regulated soldering iron to clean the miniatures and fuse the gun parts together.
The gun wheels are not of the wire spoked type, they look like solid steel wheels. Serious modellers will want to replace the wheels with more suitable items taken from another kit.
The figures are cast without bases, making them rather difficult to attach to a wargame base. Diorama builders may consider this an advantage if the figures are to be glued into an existing landscape model.
Noticeable flash needs to be removed from the figures and ammunition boxes prior to painting. The gun parts were relatively clean.
The ammunition boxes are slightly distorted due to shrinkage, but they should look good enough when painted. Serious modellers may want to create their own ammunition boxes from plastic card.
Historical Employment
- Soviet Light Anti-Tank Platoon, 1937–1945
Possible Conversions
- Soviet 45 mm PTP M.32, 1933–1945
The 45 mm PTP M.37 and crew are unique in this scale. Wargamers will want a platoon of two 45 mm guns to give their rifle battalions additional anti-tank capability, even if these obsolete weapons are only really effective against light tanks, armoured cars, and armoured half-tracks.