8.8 cm Flak 37 Auf Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H - Smart Kit

Reviewed by Cookie Sewell

Summary

FirstLook

At the very end of the war the Germans were absolutely frantic to find weapons to oppose the Allies on both fronts and as such would try to mount any useful weapon on any functioning chassis. This particular combination, of which at least two may have been converted, is typical of that fervor. Mounted high on the chassis and without any stabilizer jacks or spades, this could only have been used in head-on firing and even then would probably start breaking suspension components after a few rounds. (Note that the similar concept of the “Nashorn” at least had a purpose-built chassis and a very narrow arc of fire as well.)

This latest effort from DML’s boutique subsidiary cyber-hobby.com is another low rate oddity which always strikes me as focused more on collectors than modelers. Forgive my cynicism, but model companies that kit one-off models of the very exotic, strange and marginally useful armored vehicles when they have no real place in the history of armored vehicles are something I find puzzling. I understand things like the Maus and E–100 – one of the former actually being completed and one of the latter being nearly built - but frantic field conversions such as this kit are something we modelers used to prefer to do on our own.

Granted, in today’s market if I wanted to model this one-off vehicle it would cost me about $50 for the Pzkw. IV chassis and another $40 for the 8.8 cm gun, but I would at least have a spare turret and Sd.Ahn. 202 carriage and mount base to show for it and which could be used for other projects.

What this kit comprises is – to paraphrase Dan Aykroyd on “Saturday Night Live” – is “Box O’ Parts”. It provides most of the components from the initial DML Pzkw. IV Ausf. H kit (No. 6300) with those from the 8.8 cm Flak 36/37 kit (No. 6287) with a single sprue of six new parts and a new engine deck element. These parts basically seal off the casemate section where the turret used to mount, add a hole for the pedestal of the Flak 37, and provide some accessories from the 8.8 cm kits.

Technical assistance and support for this kit come from Notger Schlegtendal, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.

Finishing directions are either for “Unidentified Unit Germany 1945" in a three color patch scheme with hard edged painting or three color patch scheme using a softer sprayed on effect. A tiny sheet of Cartograf decals (two black crosses) is provided but no markings are shown in the painting directions.

Overall the constituent parts are up to DML’s high standards – it’s just the concept which leaves me cold.

Sprue Layout:

A 28 Flak 36/37 pedestal base and outriggers
A 81x2 Pzkw. IV Generic road wheels and bogies
A 37x2 Pzkw. IV Generic drivers, idlers and return rollers
B 17 Brummbaer - front glacis details
B 44 Pzkw. IV Generic turret base and details, gun breech
B 52 Flak 36/37 - Flak 18 and Flak 36/37 barrels and cradles
C 57 Flak 36/37 gun upper carriage details
C 21 Pkzk. IV generic OVM
C2 1 Pzkw. IV rear engine deck
D 29x2 Flak 36/37 carriage details
E 26 Pzkw. IV generic hull sides and glacis plates
E 43 Pzkw. IV Ausf. H turret details and applique
G 52 Turret and hull ports, smoke grenade launchers
H 57 Engine deck and details
J 8 MG-34 machine gun
J 7 German Generic Jack
K 3 Painted dials on clear styrene
K 10 German Generic Antenna and tail light set
K 2 Pzkw. IV Ausf. H fenders
L 144 “Magic Track” left side
M 15 clear styrene
M 13 8.8 cm wooden boxes (2)
N 9 Pzkw. IV/8.8 cm Flak 37 conversion parts
P 33 Pzkw. IV Ausf. H engine grilles and vents
Q 12 8.8 cm ammo (6 full, 6 casings)
Q 6 Spare track links
R 108 “Magic Track” right side
X 1 Lower hull pan
Z 1 Twisted metal wire
MA 51 Etched brass
MB 15 Etched brass (casing bases)
MC 3 Etched brass
MD 2 Etched brass
ME 7 Aluminum parts
MF 1 Steel chain

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.