In Box Review of the German 3.7cm FLAK 37 Anti-aircraft Gun Mit Sd.Ah. 52
Kit no. 35145
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1980
Available at Kit Linx for $27.19, Sprue Bros. for $27.49, Section 8 Hobbies for $27.20 or Mega Hobby for $27.88.
I paid $12.98 for this kit at a local shop that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1980
Available at Kit Linx for $27.19, Sprue Bros. for $27.49, Section 8 Hobbies for $27.20 or Mega Hobby for $27.88.
I paid $12.98 for this kit at a local shop that went out of business.
HISTORY:
The 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43 was a series of anti-aircraft cannon produced by Nazi Germany that saw widespread service in the Second World War.
The cannon was fully automatic and effective against aircraft flying at altitudes up to 4,200 m. The cannon was produced in both towed and self-propelled versions. Having a flexible doctrine, the Germans used their anti-aircraft pieces in ground support roles as well; 37 mm caliber guns were no exception to that.
With Germany's defeat, production ceased and, overall, 37 mm caliber anti-aircraft cannon fell into gradual disuse, being replaced by the Bofors 40 mm gun and later, by 35-mm anti-aircraft pieces produced in Switzerland.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Anti-aircraft cannon
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1936–45
Used by: Nazi Germany, Romania, Bulgaria
Wars: World War II
Designer: Rheinmetall
Produced: 1936–45
No. built: 20,243 (Germany), 360 (Romania)
Variants: BK 37 aircraft gun, 3.7 cm Flakzwilling 43
Specifications for the 3.7 cm Flak 43
Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) (transport)
Barrel length: 3.626 m (142.8 in)
Crew: 6–7
Shell: 37 × 263 mm
Shell weight: 623–659 g (1.373–1.453 lb)
Caliber: 37 mm (1.5 in)
Barrels: 57 calibers
Breech: gas-operated bolt
Carriage: three-legged platform
Elevation: -7° 30' to +90°[citation needed]
Traverse: 360°
Rate of fire: 150 rpm (practical), 250 rpm (theoretical)
Muzzle velocity: 770–820 m/s (2,500–2,700 ft/s)
Effective firing range: 4,200 m (4,600 yd) (anti-aircraft)
Maximum firing range: 7,995 m (8,743 yd) (ground range)
Feed system: 8-round clips
The 3.7 cm Flak 18/36/37/43 was a series of anti-aircraft cannon produced by Nazi Germany that saw widespread service in the Second World War.
The cannon was fully automatic and effective against aircraft flying at altitudes up to 4,200 m. The cannon was produced in both towed and self-propelled versions. Having a flexible doctrine, the Germans used their anti-aircraft pieces in ground support roles as well; 37 mm caliber guns were no exception to that.
With Germany's defeat, production ceased and, overall, 37 mm caliber anti-aircraft cannon fell into gradual disuse, being replaced by the Bofors 40 mm gun and later, by 35-mm anti-aircraft pieces produced in Switzerland.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Anti-aircraft cannon
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1936–45
Used by: Nazi Germany, Romania, Bulgaria
Wars: World War II
Designer: Rheinmetall
Produced: 1936–45
No. built: 20,243 (Germany), 360 (Romania)
Variants: BK 37 aircraft gun, 3.7 cm Flakzwilling 43
Specifications for the 3.7 cm Flak 43
Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) (transport)
Barrel length: 3.626 m (142.8 in)
Crew: 6–7
Shell: 37 × 263 mm
Shell weight: 623–659 g (1.373–1.453 lb)
Caliber: 37 mm (1.5 in)
Barrels: 57 calibers
Breech: gas-operated bolt
Carriage: three-legged platform
Elevation: -7° 30' to +90°[citation needed]
Traverse: 360°
Rate of fire: 150 rpm (practical), 250 rpm (theoretical)
Muzzle velocity: 770–820 m/s (2,500–2,700 ft/s)
Effective firing range: 4,200 m (4,600 yd) (anti-aircraft)
Maximum firing range: 7,995 m (8,743 yd) (ground range)
Feed system: 8-round clips
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever.
Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a Flak 37 posed against one of Tamiya's signature all-white backgrounds that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The gun is on a earth yellow cart and is panzer grey. It has 20 white kill marks around the barrel.
The box art says it is an accurately produced FLAK 37 anti-aircraft gun, with detachable gun carriage.
One side panel has color illustrations of a stick projectile Type 42, a stereo rangefinder EmRfm, 3.7cm armor-piercing rounds and 3.7cm high-explosive rounds. Followed by a paragraph all in Japanese and MADE IN JAPAN.
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box.
I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever.
Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a Flak 37 posed against one of Tamiya's signature all-white backgrounds that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The gun is on a earth yellow cart and is panzer grey. It has 20 white kill marks around the barrel.
The box art says it is an accurately produced FLAK 37 anti-aircraft gun, with detachable gun carriage.
One side panel has color illustrations of a stick projectile Type 42, a stereo rangefinder EmRfm, 3.7cm armor-piercing rounds and 3.7cm high-explosive rounds. Followed by a paragraph all in Japanese and MADE IN JAPAN.
The other side panel shows 2 color side views of the Flak 37. One is in a camouflage of scheme of dark yellow and red brown. The other one is overall Panzer grey in winter whitewash with the stick projectile mounted on the barrel. Another paragraph all in Japanese follows and the 1980 copyright date for the kit.
The bottom of the box has a color 2-view of the gun showing it's top and side in dark yellow and dark green camouflage scheme on the carriage and panzer grey gun, with 3 white kill rings around the barrel.
Over a side view of the gun with an overall dark yellow carriage and panzer grey gun, again with the 3 kill rings around the barrel.
Below this is a color illustration of a wooden walled emplacement, aboard a German 8 ton semi-truck Sd.Kfz. 7/2 in a dark yellow and red bown wave pattern and an above view of the gun with shadow-like images of the 7 man gun crew.
Over a side view of the gun with an overall dark yellow carriage and panzer grey gun, again with the 3 kill rings around the barrel.
Below this is a color illustration of a wooden walled emplacement, aboard a German 8 ton semi-truck Sd.Kfz. 7/2 in a dark yellow and red bown wave pattern and an above view of the gun with shadow-like images of the 7 man gun crew.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 2 tan trees and the decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags, the instructions and a color kit catalog.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet printed on both sides that is 7 1/2" x 20" folded 3 times along its length to fit the box.
The face side begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme shown off the carriage, over the history of the gun, painting and marking instructions showing the gun in the box art scheme, READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS, a list of recommended tools and paint colors to use, in English and Japanese. Over the first 2 assembly steps.
The reverse side gives a balance of a grand total of 7 assembly steps and Tamiya's street address in Shizuoka City, Japan in the 2 languages.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
Tan letter A tree holds the carriage parts, projectile, ammo case, stereo rangefinder (33 parts)
This kit contains 2 tan trees and the decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags, the instructions and a color kit catalog.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet printed on both sides that is 7 1/2" x 20" folded 3 times along its length to fit the box.
The face side begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme shown off the carriage, over the history of the gun, painting and marking instructions showing the gun in the box art scheme, READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS, a list of recommended tools and paint colors to use, in English and Japanese. Over the first 2 assembly steps.
The reverse side gives a balance of a grand total of 7 assembly steps and Tamiya's street address in Shizuoka City, Japan in the 2 languages.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
Tan letter A tree holds the carriage parts, projectile, ammo case, stereo rangefinder (33 parts)
Lettering jumps to the tan letter E tree. It holds the gun parts (52 parts)
Sadly there are no crew figures included in the kit. It would have been nice to have had some.
Sadly there are no crew figures included in the kit. It would have been nice to have had some.
The decal sheet and the color kit catalog complete the kit's contents.
Tamiya accidentally put 2 sheets in this kit.
The sheet just holds white kill markings that go around the gun barrel.
Tamiya accidentally put 2 sheets in this kit.
The sheet just holds white kill markings that go around the gun barrel.
The detail is very good.
Highly recommended.