Tamiya 35302 - 1:35 Flak 37 w/Crew

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German 3.7cm Flak 37 anti-aircraft gun with crew

Tamiya 35302 reproduces the German 3.7cm Flak 37 anti-aircraft gun – a light, fast-firing 37 mm automatic cannon, one of the principal German short- and medium-range anti-aircraft weapons. The kit is supplemented with five crew figures, allowing a dynamic scene of firing at a low-flying aircraft to be recreated.

The gun sits on its characteristic mount, and its barrel elevates and rotates after assembly. The kit also includes an Sd.Ah.52 transport trailer along with ammunition clips and equipment. The crew figures, developed in collaboration with ICM, stand out for their good proportions and sharp detail.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with the 3.7cm Flak 37 gun and mount
• Sd.Ah.52 transport trailer
• Ammunition clips and equipment
• Five crew figures in Luftwaffe uniforms: commander with binoculars, gunner, spotter with rangefinder and two loaders
• Waterslide decal sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35302
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Set: 3.7cm Flak 37 gun on an Sd.Ah.52 transport trailer with five crew figures
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (gun with crew, fine detail)

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

Building the model:

Thanks to the good part fit typical of Tamiya, assembling the gun is approachable even for less experienced builders, although the movable barrel and small equipment call for care. The crew figures are best painted separately before being placed in the scene, and the ammunition clips and small accessories before final assembly.

For the gun, a typical German grey or dark yellow is recommended, while the crew uniforms are painted in Luftwaffe colours. The instructions give paint codes. For added realism, the detail benefits from a wash, and the metal surfaces from light dry-brushing.

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

About the gun – 3.7cm Flak 37:

The 3.7cm Flak 37 is a German 37 mm automatic anti-aircraft gun, a development of earlier designs in the family. Together with the 20 mm guns, it formed the basis of German short- and medium-range air defence, effective especially against low-flying targets. It was characterised by a high rate of fire and a high muzzle velocity.

These guns were operated mainly by Luftwaffe units responsible for air defence. They were used to protect command posts, bridges, airfields and troop columns, as well as in self-propelled versions on vehicle chassis. The single-axle Sd.Ah.52 trailer, reproduced in this kit, was used for transport.

Original specifications (3.7cm Flak 37):

• Calibre: 37 mm
• Crew: approx. 7
• Muzzle velocity: approx. 820 m/s
• Practical rate of fire: approx. 150 rounds per minute
• Effective anti-aircraft ceiling: approx. 4800 m
• Transport: single-axle Sd.Ah.52 trailer
• 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 model belongs, comprises hundreds of items and is considered one of the most comprehensive 1:35 catalogues of military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling supplies: paints, glues, tools and brushes.