This is a review of the Aber 1/350 Turned Brass Barrels for the UJN Destroyer Kagero’s three main turrets (127mm/50 3td Year Type and the Type 96 dual 25mm AA Gun). The set comes in a small plastic bag containing the instructions and a smaller bag containing the brass barrels.

The primary armament used on Japanese destroyers (exception of at least two classes of these ships) between 1928 and 1944 was the 12.7cm/50 Type naval guns. These were a medium caliber naval guns with a maximum range out to around 20,000 yards and having a rate of fire between 5 and 10 rounds per minute. These guns twin gun mounted in Model A turrets with the capability of individual barrel elevation.

The secondary armament on IJN destroyers was the Type 96 25mm anti-aircraft gun. Mounted in two or three barrel configuration were typically placed in fixed mounts. Rate of fire for the Type 95 25mm guns was between 200 and 260 rounds per minute cyclic and around 110 round per minute effective.

Contents

6 - 127mm/50 3rd Year Type turned brass barrels
8 - 25mm Dual Type 96 AA turned brass barrels


These turned brass barrels provide a great substitution for the kit barrels. While the kit parts are not terrible the addition of the brass barrels will increase the level of details not provided by the kit. The barrels have a hollowed front end which also increases the fine level of detail provided by this kit.

8 x 25mm turned brass barrels for the Dual Type 96 AA Guns. The turned brass barrels for the AA guns provide a nice level of detail not provided by the kit parts. The compression springs on the kit parts are oversized but are represented well on the turned brass barrels.

The instructions provided are clear and concise. They provide the correct sized drill required to firmly seat the barrels into the kit parts.