M65 Atomic Annie gun

Dragon has certainly made an impact with its Black Label series of innovative building kit subjects. This latest will come as a surprise to many - a 1/72 scale model of the M65 atomic cannon, commonly referred to as "Atomic Annie".

This US-manufactured 280 mm high gun was developed in the 1950s for the express purpose of being able to deploy a 15-kiloton nuclear device. The design of the M65 used the German K5 railway gun as a starting point; it was first performed in 1953 and appeared in both Europe and the Korean Peninsula. The gun required two specially designed tractors for mobility and the 83.3-ton combination could reach a surprising speed of about 55 km/hr. The M65 gun could be prepared to fire in 15 minutes, and the range of the weapon was about 20 miles. At least 20 systems were produced, although the development of rocket and missile-dependent nuclear artillery quickly made the M65 obsolete. Nevertheless, this American 'prestige' weapon remained in service until 1963.

Dragon's 1/72 scale kit of the M65 is brand new, which is understandable given that this is the first modern kit of this weapon system. The set includes both the gun and the two tractors, with modelers having the flexibility to depict it in transport or firing mode. The gun barrel can be displayed at different elevation heights depending on the builder's choice, and the weapon's mechanisms are fully detailed. This particular small scale is very suitable for Atomic Annie because, even in 1/72 format, the length of the model is still 350 mm! Details are accurately replicated on the gun and associated truck units. Many will be surprised that Black Label produced such a stunning subject matter, but that's what the series is all about! Black Label is pleasantly surprising here with a highly detailed model from the Cold War era.