Introduction:

Battlegate Games is a new player in the model making business. After releasing several large scale figures and busts, the company decided to venture into 1/35 scale military models, offering a wide range of weapons and diorama accessories produced using rapid prototyping technology.

Battlegate catalogue is expanding fast with number of new 1/35 scale sets released each month. The news stories covering these sets on Armorama generate a lot of interest, with modelers asking for images of the actual resin product instead of the CAD boxart.

So, here it is… a review of several 1/35 scale resin weapons released under Battlegate Games label.

Review:

The review samples arrived in a hard metal box with Battlegate sticker. Opening the box revealed a small transparent plastic box with samples, additionally protected in bubble wrap. The box contains six zip-lock bags, each containing a single 1/35 scale weapon. The weapons included are:

ASW338LM (BGMG01)
Barrett MRAD (BGMG02)
FN F2000 (BGMG04)
Modernize Rk 62 (BGMG09)
Steyr AUG 3 (BGMG11)
L115A3 (BGMG48)

The complete sets include multiple weapon copies, but I received only one weapon from each set for the review purposes. This review will thus be a combined review of aforementioned sets.

Weapons:

All the weapons are very impressive. The resin looks really good; the pieces are nicely cast and feature lots of details. The carrier blocks are large, with a single attachment point on the weapon buttstock. These blocks should be carefully removed in order not to damage the delicate weapon.

ASW338LM

The ASW338LM (Asymmetric Warrior .338 Lapua Magnum) Precision Tactical Rifle is manufactured by Ashbury Precision Ordnance, USA. The rifle is designed as a modular system, with a full length continuous Picattiny type rail on the top and additional rails on the front of the weapon. The fully adjustable stock features a vertical recoil pad, cheek riser and adjustable monopod.

ASW338LM (BGMG01) set from Battlegate Games includes six 1/35 scale weapons. Along with the details mentioned above, these weapons feature Leupold Mark 4 magnifying scope, AN/PEQ-15 target pointer, suppressor and Anypoint Bipod/Tripod Mount. My review sample included the closed bipod as a separate piece, but since I don't have the complete weapon set I can’t comment if the set offers the opened bipod as well. Altogether, this is a cool looking weapon, with tiny details nicely delivered in scale. The only downside I noticed is the mold slip on the large scope which probably means I would have to replace it with the scope from my spares box.

http://www.ashburyprecisionordnance.com/

Barrett MRAD

The Barrett MRAD or Multi-Role Adaptive Design is a bolt-action sniper rifle that was designed by Barrett to meet the requirements of the SOCOM Precision Sniper Rifle. The MRAD is based on the Barrett 98B (.338 Lapua Magnum) with a number of modifications and improvements such as folding stock, an improved bolt guide, an ambidextrous magazine release, ability to accept standard M4/M16 pistol grips, etc.

Barrett MRAD (BGMG02) set from Battlegate Games includes three 1/35 scale weapons. These feature the characteristic MRAD stock wonderfully engineered in scale, full length Picatinny type rail on the top of the receiver with Leupold Mark 4 telescopic sight, as well as three additional rails on the front receiver (the side rails seem too long though). The adjustable bipod is supplied as two additional separate pieces and the assembly of such tiny pieces could prove tricky. Overall, the rifle looks good with many details nicely rendered, however a slight mold slip on the rifle scope could be difficult to repair.

https://barrett.net/

FN F2000

The FN F2000 is a 5.56×45mm NATO bullpup assault rifle, designed by FN Herstal in Belgium. Introduced in 2001, the FN F2000 offers all of the most popular features of the modern assault rifle, such as a compact bullpup layout, completely ambidextrous handling, and a modular design. The stock has built-in Picatinny type rails on the top of the weapon (for different sights and scopes) and a mounting point ahead of trigger guard, where additional modules may be installed (i.e. grenade launchers). In the basic configuration, the upper rail mount is fitted with a 1.6X magnification optical sight in its sight cover, and the lower mounting point is covered by a removable handguard.

FN F2000 (BGMG04) set from Battlegate Games includes six 1/35 scale weapons in its standard configuration. The futuristic appearance of the weapon is nicely reproduced with all the design features (including the flash suppressor with an angled cut tip) wonderfully executed in scale.

http://www.fnherstal.com/

Modernize Rk 62

The Rk 62 is a 7.62×39mm assault rifle manufactured by Valmet and Sako, with its design based on the Polish licensed version of the AK-47. It is the standard issue infantry weapon of the Finnish army. In 2015, the Finnish Defense Forces announced the modernization of the old Rk 62s, with the modernized variant labeled Rk 62M, features a new telescopic stock with tactical sling, Picatinny style rails on top of the receiver as well as on the handguards for mounting of various weapon accessories.

Modernize Rk.62 (BGMG09) set from Battlegate Games includes six 1/35 scale weapons. I’m not completely sure of the particular version of the Rk depicted in the set and the vague nomenclature of the set doesn’t help… Anyway, the weapon in the set includes some of the modernization upgrades, however the old tubular stock is still present. The weapon features an underbarrel grenade launcher, a large Leupold LR/T magnifying scope plus the Aimpoint red dot reflex sight. The details are nicely reproduced and it is amazing seeing such a busy looking weapon cast in one piece.

http://www.valmetweapons.com/

Steyr AUG 3

The Steyr AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle, designed in the 1960s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG, formerly Steyr-Daimler-Puch. The AUG was designed around the bullpup configuration concept with all the major components of the action located to the rear of the pistol grip. The Steyr AUG A3 is the most recent model of the weapon, produced since 2005. It is fitted with four Picatinny type rails for mounting of various accessories, such as illumination and target acquisition devices, including a variety of optics or night vision devices.

Steyr AUG 3 (BGMG11) set from Battlegate Games includes six 1/35 scale weapons depicting the AUG A3 Carbine fitted with Leupold CQ/T scope and Surefire M900 weaponlight foregrip. The resin looks really good and provides a great likeness to the real weapon, however I’m missing the side rails on the handguard. The nomenclature of the set is a minor gripe, as this version of the weapon is designated AUG A3, not AUG 3.

I wish the company would consider producing other AUG variants in 1/35 scale as well, as this weapon is used by many armed forces around the world.

https://www.steyr-mannlicher.com/


L115A3

The British military adopted the Accuracy International AWM and the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge for use as a standardized sniper rifle and applied the family name “L115” to the system. Its latest version, the L115A3 was introduced as part of the Sniper System Improvement Program (SSIP), with the first weapons being fielded in Afghanistan, in 2008. In 2009, a British army sniper used a L115A3 to score the longest sniper shot in history when he took out 2 Taliban machine gunners from a distance of over 2400 meters.

L115A3 (BGMG48) set from Battlegate Games includes two 1/35 scale weapons. The weapons are fitted with Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56 PM II day scope, 5-round box magazine and foldable stock with adjustable cheek piece, but lacking the stabilizing monopod. My review sample included the opened bipod as a separate piece, however not having the complete set I can’t be sure if the set offers the closed bipod as well. Altogether the 1/35 scale L115A3 from Battlegate looks really good, with the overall impression spoiled a bit by a slight mold slip on the scope which could prove difficult to amend.

http://www.accuracyinternational.com/

Conclusion:

Utilizing 3D rapid prototyping technology gives rise to super authentic miniature copies of real objects. Live Resin introduced the concept to military model making and was the only aftermarket option for getting 3D produced weapons and accessories in 1/35 scale. Battlegate Games recently entered the business hoping to get a piece of the market with their own creations. The quality of their offerings is still not on the Live Resin level, some molding defects and slightly softer details somewhat reducing the overall impression. However, unlike Live Resin, which is oriented to modern day weapons and accessories, Battlegate offers a number of WWII weapons, filling the gap nicely. Also, Battlegate weapons are cast with the weapon accessories (optics, target illuminators, etc), which should be a plus for many modelers.