Tamiya 35283 - 1:35 88mm Gun Flak 36 North Africa

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German 88mm Flak 36 gun “North African Campaign”

Tamiya 35283 reproduces one of the most famous artillery pieces of WWII – the German 88 mm Flak 36 anti-aircraft gun in its combat configuration from the African theatre. Although designed to engage aerial targets, it was its use in the anti-tank role that made it feared among Allied tank crews.

The kit uses Tamiya's proven gun tooling, supplemented with new and revised parts and a set of eight crew figures in tropical uniforms. The gun sits on its characteristic cruciform mount, and the kit is generously equipped with scenic accessories, making it a ready starting point for a desert diorama.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with the 88mm Flak 36 gun and cruciform platform
• Wicker ammunition cases, 88 mm rounds and spent shells (two projectile types)
• Rangefinder and tripod-mounted binocular sight
• Additional accessories: hammer, mounting stakes and small equipment
• Zündapp KS750 motorcycle
• 8 gun crew figures in tropical Afrika Korps uniforms
• Waterslide decal sheet for three marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35283
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled barrel length: approx. 141 mm (L/56 barrel)
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (full crew set, small accessories)

Note: This kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Thanks to the part fit typical of Tamiya, assembling the gun is approachable even for less experienced modellers, although the many accessories and crew figures call for patience at the finishing stage. The wicker ammunition cases, hollowed shells and small equipment are best painted separately before placing them in the scene.

For a desert finish on the gun and crew, the typical Afrika Korps palette is recommended: sand yellow (e.g. Tamiya XF-59 Desert Yellow) with browns and greys on the details. The instructions give paint codes for the three marking options. To sharpen the detail, experienced modellers may consider replacing the barrel with a turned metal aftermarket part available separately in our shop.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Polystyrene cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes of various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise detail
• Optionally: pigments for a desert dust effect

About the gun – 8.8 cm Flak 36:

The 8.8 cm Flak 36 belongs to the family of German “eighty-eight” anti-aircraft guns whose development dates back to the late 1920s and early 1930s. Originally intended to engage high-altitude aircraft, the gun's high muzzle velocity and accurate optics soon saw it pressed into service against armoured vehicles as well.

Its most notorious anti-tank debut came in June 1941 at Halfaya, during the British Operation Battleaxe. Firing from concealed positions at short range, the German guns halted the British armoured advance, including the heavily armoured Matildas whose protection withstood most anti-tank guns of the period. In desert conditions, where the flat horizon favoured long-range fire, the Flak 36 became one of the Afrika Korps' most dangerous assets.

Original specifications (8.8 cm Flak 36):

• Calibre: 88 mm
• Barrel length: L/56 (approx. 4.93 m)
• Weight in firing position: approx. 5000 kg
• Crew: approx. 10
• Armour-piercing muzzle velocity: approx. 800 m/s
• Rate of fire: approx. 15–20 rounds per minute
• Anti-aircraft ceiling: approx. 8000 m
• Production: 1930s–1940s, Germany

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. The company initially traded in timber, but from the late 1940s it produced wooden models, and in 1960 it launched its first plastic assembly kit. Two years later it introduced its iconic 1:35 scale tank, which set the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is renowned for exceptionally precise injection moulds and excellent part fit, which is why its kits are favoured by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, comprises hundreds of items and is considered one of the most comprehensive 1:35 catalogues of military vehicles and equipment in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling supplies: paints, glues, tools and brushes.