1:48 German 88mm L/56 two-piece barrel for Flak 36 and Flak 37

Two-piece 88 mm L/56 barrel for the Flak 36 and Flak 37 1:48 — Aber

This is a turned metal barrel in 1:48 scale from the Polish maker Aber. It replaces the plastic barrel of the German 88 mm gun 56 calibers long in the two-piece form carried by the Flak 36 and Flak 37 guns. It is not a model of the gun but a detail accessory for improving one.

The real subject

The German 88 mm gun was among the best-known artillery weapons of the Second World War and was used both against aircraft and against ground targets. On the Flak 36 version the original single-piece barrel was replaced by a sectional design, in which only the worn part could be exchanged instead of the whole barrel. The dividing joint is clearly visible on the barrel and it is the main external mark by which this version differs from the older Flak 18.

Building tips

Cut the plastic barrel off at the cradle and level the pin so that the metal part sits exactly on the axis. Degrease the metal, roughen it slightly and glue it with cyanoacrylate glue. Use a base coat for metals before painting. Pick out the dividing joints and the collars on the barrel with a fine dark wash; that is where the weathering holds best.

Who the set is for

• Builders of German artillery in 1:48 scale
• Modelers who want to tell the Flak 18 and the Flak 36 or 37 versions apart exactly
• Anyone interested in a straight long barrel with a hollow muzzle
• Modelers bothered by filling the parting line of a plastic part

This is a detail set, not a complete model. Glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package.