1:35 GERMAN 88MM FLAK 36/37 W/9 TPS

The German 88 mm Flak 36/37 gun 1:35: Tamiya

An injection-molded plastic kit of the legendary German 88 mm Flak 36/37 gun from Tamiya in 1:35 scale. The set holds the gun itself, with the option of building the Flak 36 or the Flak 37 variant, and as a bonus nine crew figures in action poses. The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted; for the exact package contents, go by the enclosed instructions.

The real subject

Flak is short for the German Flugabwehrkanone, that is an anti-aircraft gun. The famous German 88, of 88 mm caliber, was originally intended for defense against aircraft, but its high muzzle velocity and accuracy made it an exceptionally effective anti-tank and general-purpose weapon as well. The gun was broken down onto a wheeled carriage for transport and was lowered onto a cruciform platform for the firing position. The Flak 36 and Flak 37 forms differed mainly in their fire control instruments. It was this weapon that gave the Tiger heavy tanks their 88 mm gun as well.

Building and painting tips

The gun builds best in subassemblies, the carriage, the barrel and the shield separately; the movable parts allow elevation and traverse, so glue carefully to keep them from seizing. Spray the base over primer; Dunkelgelb and the early gray are both common. Paint the figures separately, and bring the faces and the uniforms to life with a wash and gentle dry-brushing. The assembly looks good on a diorama base with dust pigments.

Who the model is for

• For anyone interested in German artillery of the Second World War
• For collectors and builders of figure dioramas in 1:35 scale
• For modelers who want to combine equipment with crew figures

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