1:35 5,5cm Flak (VG2) Gerät 58 Autom. Flugabwehrkanone

5.5 cm Flak Gerät 58 in 1:35 scale - a kit from the 16.02 brand

A kit of the automatic anti-aircraft gun of 5.5 cm caliber, carried under the development designation Gerät 58, in 1:35 scale. This is a model of the weapon itself, not of an armored vehicle - so it is suitable as a standalone exhibit on a base or as the centerpiece of a smaller diorama with a crew and ammunition. The contents of the package, the number of parts and the material used are given on the packaging; check them in the package itself before building.

The real subject

Gerät 58 was a German development design from the end of the Second World War which was to replace the older automatic anti-aircraft guns of smaller calibers. The reason was purely technical: as the speed and the resilience of aircraft grew, the smaller calibers were ceasing to suffice in range and in the effect of the projectile, while the heavy anti-aircraft guns were too slow for quickly aiming at low-flying targets. The 5.5 cm caliber was to fill this gap by combining a high rate of fire with a sufficient effective altitude. The weapon did not, however, get beyond the stage of development and prototypes, and series deployment never came about. That is precisely why it is interesting for modelers - it is a subject that appears in the standard offer of kits only rarely.

Building and painting tips

With models of artillery weapons, geometry decides: the barrel, the gun carriage and any base have to be precisely in line, otherwise the model is optically crooked once finished. So dry-fit the parts first and only then glue them, and let the assembly cure in a stable position. Before gluing and painting, wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water and let them dry; this removes the production residue on which paint does not hold. Apply a thin primer coat, which will show up any imperfections before you spray the covering shade. A sharp edge between metal and paint comes out well with a dry brush, and a dark wash emphasizes the rivets and the grooves. If you are not sure of the material of the parts, choose cyanoacrylate glue instead, which bonds both plastic and resin.

Who the model is for

• Modelers with an interest in the development and prototype weapons of the Second World War.
• Diorama builders who are looking for an unusual centerpiece for a scene.
• Collectors of artillery equipment in 1:35 scale.
• More advanced modelers who do not mind short-run production and fine parts.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.