25 pdr Field Gun Walkaround - Imperial War Museum London

While the paint dries on the anti-tank gunner let's revisit a previous build. While I was working on the 25 pdr it was a source of some frustration that I was unable to visit the piece held at the Imperial War Museum in London. I've been to the IWM many times but hadn't taken the time to take walk around photos of the 25 pdr prior to building the kit.

Unfortunately, before I started the kit the IWM closed for some time in order to undergo a multi-million pound refit and redesign, notably with the creation of a new First World War display in order to mark the centenary. This meant that I was unable to visit the museum but the IWM re-opened this summer so I recently paid a visit.

Let's say right from the start that I don't think the redesign has been an improvement. The First World War display is excellent, but the old ground floor has been lost, so there is a lot less floor space - the old basement is now the main level. This means that a number of large pieces are now missing, including the Jagdpanther, the Lee Grant tank, the Cromwell, the Bofors, the Fw 190, the P-51 and the Be2. This latter is a great loss; for all its faults I've always felt a real fondness for an aircraft which is a bit of a creaky old duffer but which has a certain awkward beauty.

Several other pieces, such as the MkV tank, the Camel and the Sherman, are now buried in exhibitions and side corridors. Displays such as the 1940s house and the children's war exhibition have been removed entirely. It's still a wonderful museum but I can't help feeling it has been diminished.

The 25 pdr has been retained, but it feels as though it has been sidelined in its new position up against a wall in a corner on the first floor. Previously it had been located in the main hall and it was possible to walk around it to your heart's content. Now, as you can see, movement around it is pretty restricted. It's also under spot lights and the lack of access combined with challenging lighting mean that the photographer is confronted with a challenge.

In these circumstances I've tried to give a sense of the various aspects of the piece while balancing areas which are quite dark and areas which can easily be blown out. The camera has done me proud but my word I wonder what was going through the minds of the designers of this space.

I would have preferred to get a sense of the other side of the piece, the rear, etc, but that was simply impossible. Nonetheless, hopefully these images will be of use to anyone building a kit of the 25 pdr. This particular example served in the Western Desert in 1942.

It's an impressive piece, but perhaps smaller than one might expect of an artillery piece of such power, fearsome reputation and sheer longevity. I suppose the key to it is the combination of firepower and flexibility.

Zigerastica