Tamiya 35091 - 1:35 FLAK 38 2cm Flakvierling 38

Plastic model kit of the German 2 cm Flakvierling 38 anti-aircraft gun with Sd.Ah. 52 trailer in 1:35 scale

The Flakvierling 38 combined four 2 cm automatic cannon on a single mount - a design that could fill the sky with shells and deal effectively with low flying ground attack aircraft. The weapon was also used against ground targets, where its fire proved devastating to infantry and unarmoured vehicles.

Tamiya 35091 comes from a 1977 mould and reproduces both the gun itself and the two-axle Sd.Ah. 52 transport trailer. The model can be built in the firing position, with the base lowered onto the ground, or in the travelling position with the gun mounted on the trailer. Twenty-round magazines and magazine racks are included.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for the 2 cm Flakvierling 38 gun
• Sd.Ah. 52 transport trailer
• 20-round magazines and magazine racks
• Option to build the gun in the firing or travelling position
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35091
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This is a kit for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The kit has a modest number of well fitting parts, so the build is accessible even to beginners. The key is to keep the four barrels parallel - they are the first thing the eye is drawn to on the finished model, so they are worth a little extra care. Deciding between the firing and travelling position before painting begins makes the work easier.

Dark yellow (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow) suits 1943-1945 subjects, while German grey (e.g. XF-63 German Grey) fits the earlier period. Small mechanism parts, magazines and racks are easiest to paint before assembly. A wash and some dry brushing bring out the detail of the mount, and a matt varnish gives the right military finish. The kit also works well as part of a diorama, alongside a towing vehicle or in a prepared firing position.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the gun - 2 cm Flakvierling 38:

The single 2 cm Flak 38 was effective, but as ground attack aircraft grew faster it proved too slow to react and too thin in volume of fire. The answer was to link four such guns on a single rotating mount - the Flakvierling 38.

The theoretical rate of fire reached around 1,800 rounds per minute, although in practice it was lower because of the need to change the 20-round magazines. The weapon was mounted on trailers, on half-track chassis, on armoured vehicles and on ships, and was also emplaced in fixed positions to defend key sites.

The Flakvierling 38 served on every front and remained dangerous to the end of the war. It was also used against ground targets, where a burst of 2 cm shells from four barrels was highly effective against infantry and lightly armoured vehicles. For transport, the gun was carried on the two-axle Sd.Ah. 52 trailer.

Original gun specifications (2 cm Flakvierling 38):

• Calibre: 20 mm
• Configuration: four linked automatic cannon on a rotating mount
• Theoretical rate of fire: approx. 1,800 rounds per minute
• Feed: 20-round magazines
• Role: anti-aircraft defence, fire against ground targets
• Transport: two-axle Sd.Ah. 52 trailer

About the manufacturer - Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. It began as a timber business and released its first plastic model kit in 1960. Two years later came the 1:35 scale tank that established this scale as the worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds, well thought out kit engineering and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of items covering vehicles, guns and figures from the Second World War and the modern era. Alongside kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.