2cm Flak 38 with Crew Set
by Cookie Sewell
Summary
Stock Number and Description |
Tristar (via MRC in the US) 1/35 scale Kit
No. 35010S; 2cm Flak 38 with Crew Set (Limited edition) |
Scale: |
1/35 |
Media and Contents: |
131 parts in grey stryene |
Price: |
USD$18.00 |
Review Type: |
First Look |
Advantages: |
Nice, compact kit of this gun with a full
five man crew; small accessories make the kit work well as a diorama
centerpiece; given Tristar prices, this kit is a bargain! |
Disadvantages: |
Not as cleanly done as the competing DML
effort; some crudity on both the figures and the gun |
Recommendation: |
Highly Recommended for all German and AA fans |
FirstLook
I had received these kits long
before the DML Flak 38 kit was released (there was a delay while
import licences were being worked out and product lines developed
for sale in the US by MRC) but only now have word that MRC will
release Kits 35010 (the 2cm gun) and 35013 (the crew) in the same
box as a "limited edition" set. Given the fact that Tristar kits in
the US are not cheap, this is a genuine bargain and should merit
serious consideration. ]
The 2 cm guns were among the most prevalent of the German AA
weapons, and were found in a number of different towed and SP
mounts, and in single and quadruple use as ground systems (and some
naval mounts as well). They were marked by having a high rate of
fire and good explosive rounds, and were probably responsible for
many of the 9th Air Force close air support and battlefield air
interdiction aircraft lost in 1944-1945. As such, they have been
popular modeling subjects; this is the third kit to be released of
this weapon after the late 1970s ESCI kit and early 1980s Tamiya
one.
The gun itself consists of 89 parts in a mid-grey styrene on three
sprues, and even includes a "slide molded" barrel with hollow
muzzle. The parts are well done but the fixing points on the sprues
are heavier than most and speak to low rate production kits. There
are ejection pin marks on the major parts, but they are either in
inconspicuous places or easily removed.
I have to admit as my gun was a pre-release sample there was no
direction sheet that came with it, but the parts are pretty easily
sorted out and the excellent artwork on the boxtop could be used in
a pinch to assemble the kit. This kit does not have the details of
the DML one, but it has free elevation so many modelers will be
happier with that (one good thing about free elevation on an
artillery piece is that it means fewer broken barrels if snagged or
the "gefingerpokener schlumpfen" twang it at a show to see what
happens!)
The Sonderanhanger 51 is nicely done but uses one-piece wheel and
tire assemblies and simplified mounting bits.
A spare barrel case and what appear to be canvas ammunition cases
are also provided with the kit, as are four magazines.
The figures are not bad, about on a par with the early DML ones and
much better than the Tamiya "dwarves" of 20 years ago or the awful
ESCI crews. They are a bit soft in some areas but appear to be quite
serviceable and will paint up nicely. They are all wearing the
standard field uniform, a good idea unlike the unfortunate DML
choice of winter wear for their 8.8 cm Flak 36 crew. There are even
"hobnails" on the bottom of one of the "other number's" boots!
A small decal sheet is provided for marking the gun and magazines.
Three different options are provided – grey, sand and whitewash.
Overall this is a nice kit, and coming with a good crew is an
advantage (considering the crew alone sells for US $14.50, getting
the gun for another $3.50 is very good value indeed!)
If I were to rank the four kits, it would be DML first and this kit
second – especially as it comes with the crew. The Tamiya is third,
and the ESCI/Italeri one last, mostly due to their obsolete crew
figure sets and simplified guns.
Highly Recommended.
Thanks to
Bob Lewen of MRC for the review sample.
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