Black Cat Models Accessory Review

Black Cat Models
1/350 IJN 13.2mm Type 93 AA Guns

Reviewed by Bob Craig
January 2021

From navweaps.com: “This weapon was originally designed by the French firm of Hotchkiss. Japan imported a number of twin and quadruple mountings for evaluation purposes in the early 1930’s and originally adopted the weapon on 4 February 1933. Production of the Japanese version started in 1935. These guns were generally similar to the larger Japanese 25mm/60 Type 96 AA gun. The US Naval Technical Mission to Japan reported that the Japanese considered the 13mm to be almost as reliable as the 25mm, “since it is basically the same but apparently not perfected to quite the same degree.”

Production reached 1200 guns per month late in 1944. The magazine held 30 rounds and was similar in design to that for the 25mm AA gun.

Like most nations, Japan found that small caliber MGs were inadequate against modern aircraft, but this gun was still produced in large numbers right up to surrender.”

Click to enlarge images

THE 20mm GUNS

The packaging is the typical Black Cat Models clear plastic clam shell container, with the parts secured to the bottom with very sticky double sided tape to hold the parts in place. There are 6 quadruple mounts printed in light grey resin, all printed on one wafer with thick printed plastic braces on each end to prevent accidental crushing.

The mounts are unshielded, and the printing detail is extraordinary for an item that is so small. Gun frame, gun sights, seats and foot pedals are all perfectly formed. The gun barrels, for as fine as they are, even have a flare a the end for the flash guards (although I needed a magnifying glass to actually tell!).

The guns are set to a specific elevation and can’t be adjusted, but the upside is that there are no small, fiddly bits to worry about attaching like with some of the combined resin/PE upgrade sets on the market.

CA glue or PVA are recommended for attaching the parts to your model. Airbrushing is highly recommended. The barrels are so fine I would worry about bending or breaking them if you try to hand brush them.

Close ups of some of the parts details.


INSTRUCTIONS
There are no instructions in the box, but the package directs you to the product page on the Black Cat Models website where you can download the instructions. Simply go to their web site, click on the IJN link under the 1/350 Accessories, and click on the 13.2mm Type 93 Quad Mount picture. There is also a link to download instructions on how to prepare their 3D printed parts.

CONCLUSIONS

These 3D printed 13.2mm Type 93 quad mounts are clear upgrades over any similar injection molded parts. The fact that they are one piece with no fiddly bits to attach will save a lot of time and effort on the modelers part. Highly recommended!

This is Black Cat Models set #AC350059b . They retail for $6.69 USD, and are available directly from Black Cat Models & several of our web site sponsors.