Master Model has turned out quite a few turned-metal parts in the last few years. They’ve recently sighted in on some common US Navy guns with three new turned-metal barrel upgrade sets as part of their Sea Master line of products:

• SM-700-37- 1/700 USN 16in/50 Mark 7 barrels (9 pcs) - Iowa and Montana battleship classes- $7.00
• SM-700-38 - 1/700 USN 14in/45 (12 pcs) - New York (B-34), Nevada (B-36) and Pennsylvania (B-38) classes - fits to USS Arizona model - $7.00
• SM-700-39 - 1/700 USN 5in/51 (22 pcs) - many USN warships - fits to USS Arizona model - $5.50

Both the 16” and 14” barrel sets are an excellent replacement for kit parts. The barrels are hollow and the shapes appear dead on. The 5in/51 barrels are fantastic, but they will require a modeler of extreme skill and determination to use thanks to their small, but accurate, size in 1/700 scale.

Using the Master Model barrels couldn’t be easier as they feature a small mounting peg at the breech end of the barrels. Simply remove the existing kit barrel, drill a small hole in its place, and then insert and secure the Master barrel’s mounting peg into the hole with a bit of CA glue.

These Master Model products can be used on any of the warships that carried these weapons. For example, several USN warships (and some foreign navies) carried the excellent 5in/51 guns.

Master’s turned-metal upgrades will add a great deal of detail to a 1/700 ship. I’ve never been disappointed with a Master Model product in the past, and these barrel sets are a highly-recommended continuation of that winning streak.

My thanks to Master Model for the review samples and to IPMS/USA for the chance to review them.