This accessory set from AFV Club contains a plethora of ".30 calibre," .50 calibre, and 40 mm. ammunition boxes, as well
as short lengths of 7.62 mm and .50 calibre ammo belts. That these are postwar boxes is evident from the included stencilling,
which indicates that the smaller boxes are in fact 7.62 mm and not .30 calibre (as the box title says).
Inside are 16 each of individual 7.62 mm and .50 calibre boxes, four rows of seven boxes each of 7.62 mm and .50calibre
rounds, four large "flats" of 33 x 7.62 mm boxes and 21 x .50 calibre boxes each, four sections each of 7.62 mm and .50 calibre
belts, and eight 40 mm ammo boxes, along with decals for the stencilling on the boxes (more about those later). I found the
40 mm boxes particularly welcome, as they are often seen attached to the rear baskets of M1 Abrams to hold the crew's personal
effects. The large clusters of ammo boxes are of limited use on most AFVs, but would go a long way towards filling the back
of a truck (as pictured on the box) or creating a resupply area for a diorama.
Moulding is very nice on the boxes, as is to be expected from AFV Club. The 40 mm boxes are five piece affairs, while the
machine gun boxes and rows all have separate ends to accommodate the details of the latches. Except for the 40 mm. boxes,
the boxes are open at the bottom, so they must be placed flat on a solid surface. Regrettably, the ammo belts only have detail
on one side, meaning they must be placed with care.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this kit is the decals. They appear to be some sort of hybrid waterslide/dry transfer
system, in that the decal film is peeled off a day or so after the decals have been applied. Make sure you read the instructions
on the side of the box before you start decaling! Fortunately, extra decals are included, so if you have any attrition, it's
not the end of the world. This seems to be a good solution to the vexing problem of decal film, which is common with
this sort of stencilling.
Overall, a good accessory set, with plenty of potential to dress up postwar vehicles and dioramas. I wouldn't describe
this set as great value for money necessarily, but if you need a mass of ammunition for a modelling project, then this should
be a viable option to resin aftermarket products.