U.S. Radio Set SCR-299

MiniArt, 1/35 scale

Reviewed by Cookie Sewell

Summary

FirstLook

Unlike past wars, World War II was the first one where communications on a large scale became necessary to carry out combat operations. Prior to the war most communications were either by short range radio sets or landline via wires and field phones. But with the advent of mobile warfare more and more means of communications became necessary. For example, the Soviets started the war with only a radio receiver in platoon leaders’ tanks and nothing in the line tanks; Germans had two-way communications in every armored vehicle.

The US Army was unique in that it was the only army that had adopted VHF (30-300 MHz) FM radios at the start of the war. These were much clearer than the HF (3-30 MHz) AM radio sets used by all other major armies (compare your AM radio and FM radio in a car for example)

But VHF radios had relatively short range – at best only 35 miles under optimum conditions. For longer range communications they had to stick with HF sets of higher power and often use contiuous wave (manual Morse code) for maximum range.  The smaller set used by US forces was the SCR-193 which was found in vehicles like the M20 armored car; it would give the recon elements communications over a range of up to 75 miles. At higher echelons with more distance between elements – division/corps/army/army group – the preferred set was the SCR-299. This was followed by the very similar SCR-399 and SCR-499, both of which shared most of their components with the 299.

Capable of ranges of up to 400 miles or more, these sets permitted coordination between those headquarters for ensuring proper command and control of combat operations. But this was a big, bulky set; with all of its required components it tipped the scales at over 1000 pounds and needed vehicles like the K-51 truck and K-52 trailer to carry it.

The SCR-299 consisted of the following components: BC-610 transmitter, BC-312 receiver, BC-542 receiver, BC-614 amplifier, BC-729 antenna tuning unit, and PE-95 power unit. It also needed speakers, handsets, headsets, Morse keys and other accessories.

Miniart’s kit provides all of that and more in one go. In the box you get a folding rack/table, two speakers, two receivers, a transmitter, a handset with case, two wire reels, the cabinet for the power supply, a storage cabinet with four seats, and a fire extinguisher. Two external antenna mounts for whip type antennas are provided to attach to the transport vehicle.

No wires or cables are provided, but in a vehicle installation it would be placed up against a wall and other than a cord for the handset nothing would basically show.

Finishing instructions have everything basically painted olive drab and a small sheet of decals is provided for labels and placards.

Overall this is a different sort of kit and one which will appeal to specialty modelers over most vehicle oriented ones.

Sprue Layout:

Fh           30           Power supply cabinet, wire reels, accessories

Ga          31           Radio receivers, transmitter, racks, accessories

Gb          27           Storage bench, seats, accessories, handset

PE           14           Etched brass