Parabellum LMG 14/17 WWI Aircraft Machine Gun

Published on
June 7, 2018
Review Author(s)
Scale
1/48
MSRP
$6.50
Product / Stock #
QB 48 814
Base Kit
Most late war German bomber and reconnaissance aircraft
Company: Aires Hobby Models - Website: Visit Site
Packaging

Quickboost has released two Parabellum WWI aircraft gun resin details sets, 48 813 (LMG-14) and 48 814 (LMG-14/17). The Parabellum 7.9mm caliber LMG 14/17 was an upgrade of the LMG-14, which itself was a redesign of the MG 08 (The MG 08 was an adaptation of the Maxim machine gun). The LMG 14 was used primarily in German bombers (i.e.: Gotha G.IV), reconnaissance aircraft (i.e.: Halberstadt CL.II), and zeppelins, although it did see some limited use early on with the Fokker Eindecker E.I prototypes. The LMG-14/17 featured a thinner air-cooling jacket, redesigned controls, and an added mounting rail for a telescopic sight. I have included a photograph comparison below of the LMG 14 vs the LMG 14/17 out of the Wingnut Wings 1/32 Junkers J.I kit for reference.

The parts are packaged in the standard Quickboost re-closable packaging with a paper stiffener along with the description card. There are no instructions. You get three resin parts: These parts are do not specify a kit, but the LMG 14/17 was used on many late war German bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. I used the Mirage 1/48 Halberstadt CL.II LMG 14/17 for comparison purposes.

This set that provides a nice replacement to what is supplied in the Mirage Halberstadt CL series of kits. The Mirage kit I selected (481308) offered both the LMG 14, and the LMG 14/17 featuring injected plastic basics. The bonus from the Mirage kit I used is that there are plenty of photoetch upgrades that can be used with the Quickboost set if desired. I have looked at a few early Eduard WWI kits where the LMG is completely composed of photoetch where this Quickboost set would work quite nicely.

I have included comparisons of the parts in the pictures below that depict the Quickboost part on top in dark grey and the Mirage kit part in light grey below. I think the Quickboost part captures the main gun better than the Mirage part but it is curiously missing the charging handle. The Quickboost gun is also missing a structure (handle, mount?) on the cooling jacket, but the representation on the Mirage part is solid and will be hard to drill out to look proper. The cooling jacket is better on the Quickboost gun in my opinion, but if you like rolling photoetch, the Mirage kit does provide a photoetch cooling jacket that you can use. The Quickboost does represent the trigger guard, but it is overstated due to the limitations of resin and I would replace it with the PE part in the Mirage kit. The telescopic sight offered by Quickboost is much more realistic and actually has each end pre-drilled which is a nice enhancement over the Mirage part. The Quickboost magazine is a significant improvement over the Mirage part with detail. A big issue is that the magazine should be circular and the Mirage part is oval. Mirage does give you the option to build up the magazine from seven photoetch parts if you are adventurous.

Although most paints will adhere to resin alone, I would recommend that you wash the parts to remove any remaining mold release and prime them first. They will need to be installed with your favorite CA (super glue) or epoxy, as the normal plastic glues or solvents will not react with the resin.

This product is a good way to enhance your 1/48 Halberstadts and Gothas and well worth the time and cost. This product is highly recommended due to the superior appearance of the Quickboost parts over the injected kit parts.

Thanks to Aires Hobby Models and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this set.

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