AFV Club
35017

Up until now, getting sufficient ammunition to make any artillery diorama or a single artillery piece or prime mover look like it is really going to engage somebody was expensive. Resin ammunition was costly and usually required after market sheets or hard work to get the right markings on the rounds. AFV Club has now remedied that situation, and this has to be one of the handiest kits yet.

Anyone who has built the AFV Club M548 has seen this ammunition before, as three sets of the ammunition come with that kit. This time, four sets of ammunition are included (each set includes eight 155mm HE-FRAG rounds, six 203mm (8") HE-FRAG rounds, eight 155mm bagged charge holders, six 203mm bagged charge holders, and a pallet set for each calibre of ammunition. All total you get 24 rounds of eight Inch and 32 rounds of 155 in the set, plus the bonus of eight brass 155s and six brass 203 rounds. A full set of decals for marking them as M106 (203mm HE-FRAG) and M107 (155mm HE-FRAG) are included as well.

These rounds compliment the following weapons: 155mm, M109/A1/A2 Italeri kits, M114 howitzer (Peerless Max/Italeri), M59 "Long Tom" (AFV Club); 203mm, M110/A1/A2 (Italeri). They will also go with the following weapons: 155mm, M12 King Kong (AL-BY), M40 (no kit yet, forecast from AFV Club), M41 Gorilla (Commanders, July release), M44/A1 (no kit), M53 (no kit); 203mm, M43 (no kit), M55 (no kit). They are also useful with NATO weapons like the AU F-1 or M109G series weapons.

Note that they are later rounds and are not suitable for early WWII applications. Early WWII rounds used base driving bands and were painted yellow for HE rounds. The decals are also for post-WWII usage, so be careful in selecting what you match up.

This set must be the cheapest way (around $14.98 U.S.) ever to "bulk up" dioramas and vehicle stowage. Primarily late WWII and on, but not for all US weapons types only "Redlegs" using 155mm or eight inch subjects. Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Marco Polo Import for the review sample.

-Cookie Sewell

Editor's Note: For more information on use of these rounds and containers with a WWII 155mm gun, read Ammunition for the 155mm in my article about building Italeri's 155mm kit.