In Box Review of Dragon 1/35th Scale
German Flakpanzer IV (3cm) Kugelblitz
Kit no. 6040
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1996
Out of production
I paid $35.48 for this kit at a local shop that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1996
Out of production
I paid $35.48 for this kit at a local shop that went out of business.
HISTORY:
German Reich (1944-1945)
Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun – 2-5 Built
As the German Luftwaffe (German Air Force) lost control over the skies of Germany in the second half of the Second World War; it could no longer provide sufficient protection against Allied aircraft. Panzer divisions were especially affected by the lack of cover from fighter aircraft because they were always at the center of the most intense fighting.
While the Germans already had copious amounts of half-tracked Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns of different calibers and weights (Sd.Kfz.10/4, Sd.Kfz.6/2, Sd.Kfz.7/1, etc), these had the significant flaw of being vulnerable to the planes they themselves were meant to protect against.
A tank-based anti-aircraft vehicle (German: Flakpanzer) could solve this problem, but little effort was done in this direction. The first attempt was the Flakpanzer I, which was built only in limited numbers and was more an improvisation of an existing design rather than a purpose-built vehicle.
The later 20 mm armed Flakpanzer models (Flakpanzer 38(t)) and the Wirbelwind) were built in some numbers but were considered unsuccessful, mostly due to the weak fire power of the 2cm Flak 38 by this late stage of the war.
The 3 cm Flak 38 was made in late 1944 due to the weak firepower of the 2 cm Flaks'. It was built as a combination of the aircraft 3cm MK 103 cannon and the 2 cm Flak 38 mounting, mostly to get it in operational service as soon as possible and to be cheap to produce. In mid-1944, Rheinmetall-Borsig was tasked with the production of some 2000 guns, in addition to 1000 gun that were to be built by Gustloff Werke, but only small numbers were produced by the end of the war.
The similar four-barreled version of the 2 cm Flak 38 was also tested with the 3 cm MK 103, but it too was built in limited number only. The 3 cm Flak 38 was not a successful design, largely because of the strong vibration when firing which made the target aiming difficult and could cause some damage on the mounting itself.
One innovation was the use of belt-fed system instead of the old magazine fed system. There are few designation for this gun, (depending on the source) the 3 cm Flugabwehrkanone 103/38 (simply Flak 38), Flak 103/38, 3 cm MK 103/38, or more aggressive ‘Jaboschreck’. The Jaboschreck word in essence can be translated as fast ground attack aircraft (Jagdbomber in German or just short Jabo) terror or fright (schreck).
SPECIFICATIONS:
Dimensions; 5.92 x 2.88 x 2.3 m
Total weight, battle ready: 23-25 tons
Crew: 5 (Radio operator, two gunners, driver and commander)
Armament: 2x 3 cm Mk 103/3 Auto-cannons, 1x MG 34
Armor: Panzer IV hull 10-80 mm, turret mantlet 30 mm and the oblate spheroid part 10-30 mm
Propulsion: Maybach V12 gasoline HL 120 TRM of (220 kW) 300 bhp@2500 rpm
Suspension: Leaf springs
Speed: on /off road: 38 km/hr, 20 km/hr
Range: (road/off road) 200/130 km
Total production: 2-5
German Reich (1944-1945)
Self Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun – 2-5 Built
As the German Luftwaffe (German Air Force) lost control over the skies of Germany in the second half of the Second World War; it could no longer provide sufficient protection against Allied aircraft. Panzer divisions were especially affected by the lack of cover from fighter aircraft because they were always at the center of the most intense fighting.
While the Germans already had copious amounts of half-tracked Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns of different calibers and weights (Sd.Kfz.10/4, Sd.Kfz.6/2, Sd.Kfz.7/1, etc), these had the significant flaw of being vulnerable to the planes they themselves were meant to protect against.
A tank-based anti-aircraft vehicle (German: Flakpanzer) could solve this problem, but little effort was done in this direction. The first attempt was the Flakpanzer I, which was built only in limited numbers and was more an improvisation of an existing design rather than a purpose-built vehicle.
The later 20 mm armed Flakpanzer models (Flakpanzer 38(t)) and the Wirbelwind) were built in some numbers but were considered unsuccessful, mostly due to the weak fire power of the 2cm Flak 38 by this late stage of the war.
The 3 cm Flak 38 was made in late 1944 due to the weak firepower of the 2 cm Flaks'. It was built as a combination of the aircraft 3cm MK 103 cannon and the 2 cm Flak 38 mounting, mostly to get it in operational service as soon as possible and to be cheap to produce. In mid-1944, Rheinmetall-Borsig was tasked with the production of some 2000 guns, in addition to 1000 gun that were to be built by Gustloff Werke, but only small numbers were produced by the end of the war.
The similar four-barreled version of the 2 cm Flak 38 was also tested with the 3 cm MK 103, but it too was built in limited number only. The 3 cm Flak 38 was not a successful design, largely because of the strong vibration when firing which made the target aiming difficult and could cause some damage on the mounting itself.
One innovation was the use of belt-fed system instead of the old magazine fed system. There are few designation for this gun, (depending on the source) the 3 cm Flugabwehrkanone 103/38 (simply Flak 38), Flak 103/38, 3 cm MK 103/38, or more aggressive ‘Jaboschreck’. The Jaboschreck word in essence can be translated as fast ground attack aircraft (Jagdbomber in German or just short Jabo) terror or fright (schreck).
SPECIFICATIONS:
Dimensions; 5.92 x 2.88 x 2.3 m
Total weight, battle ready: 23-25 tons
Crew: 5 (Radio operator, two gunners, driver and commander)
Armament: 2x 3 cm Mk 103/3 Auto-cannons, 1x MG 34
Armor: Panzer IV hull 10-80 mm, turret mantlet 30 mm and the oblate spheroid part 10-30 mm
Propulsion: Maybach V12 gasoline HL 120 TRM of (220 kW) 300 bhp@2500 rpm
Suspension: Leaf springs
Speed: on /off road: 38 km/hr, 20 km/hr
Range: (road/off road) 200/130 km
Total production: 2-5
THE KIT:
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a color illustration of 2 Kugelblitz being attacked by a Soviet Yak fighter.
They are parked on a snow-covered field. There are three German infantry-men around them. All three men are dressed in winter-white uniformes and steel helmets. Two men are armed with 98K carbines. One man is armed with a sub-machine gun. One man is running. The two men In the foreground show one standing and firing his rifle at the Yak. The other man is kneeling on one knee and ducking.
The Kuglelblitz’s are both in wave pattern camouflage of mid-stone, red-brown and khaki. Both just have black and white German crosses on the sides of their turrets.
One corner of the box art says the kit is new tooling.
One side panel of the box shows a one-paragraph history of the Kugelblitz in 6 languages, including English. Each is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
This is followed by a CAUTION: When you use paint or cement do not be near an open flame and be in a well-ventilated room. In the 6 languages.
Kit is for modelers aged 10 and over. Not suitable for children under 4 because of small parts, in multiple languages, including English.
Dragon (sometimes called DML) is an old prolific model company based in Hong Kong, China. They manufacture all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a color illustration of 2 Kugelblitz being attacked by a Soviet Yak fighter.
They are parked on a snow-covered field. There are three German infantry-men around them. All three men are dressed in winter-white uniformes and steel helmets. Two men are armed with 98K carbines. One man is armed with a sub-machine gun. One man is running. The two men In the foreground show one standing and firing his rifle at the Yak. The other man is kneeling on one knee and ducking.
The Kuglelblitz’s are both in wave pattern camouflage of mid-stone, red-brown and khaki. Both just have black and white German crosses on the sides of their turrets.
One corner of the box art says the kit is new tooling.
One side panel of the box shows a one-paragraph history of the Kugelblitz in 6 languages, including English. Each is labeled with a color illustration of the flag of the country that speaks the language.
This is followed by a CAUTION: When you use paint or cement do not be near an open flame and be in a well-ventilated room. In the 6 languages.
Kit is for modelers aged 10 and over. Not suitable for children under 4 because of small parts, in multiple languages, including English.
The other side panel of the box shows 3 color walk-around type photos of the model made up in the box art scheme. Followed by the copyright of the kit as 1996, over Dragon’s street address in Hong Kong, China and the kit was made there.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 12 medium-grey parts trees and the hull tub part, 3 black trees, a steel PE fret and the decal sheet in 5 sealed-clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8” x 10” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the Kugelblitz, in 6 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 6 gives a grand total of 18 assembly steps.
Page 7 is a painting and marking guide.
It shows a 4-view profile of the Kugelblitz in the cover art scheme (already described above).
Page 8 is the pars trees illustrations. Some parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
The bottom of the page repeats the 1996 copyright date for this kit, over decal placement instructions in the 6 languages.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds the turret parts etc. (21 parts)
The kit holds 12 medium-grey parts trees and the hull tub part, 3 black trees, a steel PE fret and the decal sheet in 5 sealed-clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 8” x 10” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the Kugelblitz, in 6 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with ATTENTION about the kit, over international assembly symbol explanations and a suggested paint color listing of Gunze Sangyo and Italeri brands of hobby paints.
The bottom of page 2 through to page 6 gives a grand total of 18 assembly steps.
Page 7 is a painting and marking guide.
It shows a 4-view profile of the Kugelblitz in the cover art scheme (already described above).
Page 8 is the pars trees illustrations. Some parts are shown blued-out. Meaning they are excess and not needed to complete the model.
The bottom of the page repeats the 1996 copyright date for this kit, over decal placement instructions in the 6 languages.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds the turret parts etc. (21 parts)
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: the early idler, drive sprocket ammo bins wheel centers, etc. (25 parts) 5 parts are excess.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter C trees. They hold: axles, idler wheels , road wheels etc. (31 parts ea.) 5 parts each are excess.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter D trees. They hold road wheels (8 parts ea.)
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter E trees. They hold the return rollers and bogie stops.(16 parts ea.) 3 parts each are excess.
There is no letter F tree.
There is no letter F tree.
There are 2 identical medium-grey letter G trees. They hold drive sprockets and idler wheels. (4 parts ea.)
Medium-grey letter H tree is the hull tub part. (1 part). I have barely started building this model and only put the drive sprockets and idler wheels on the hull tub part from medium-grey letter G tree.
Lettering jumps to the 2 identical medium-grey letter J trees. They hold exhaust pipes, tow hooks, etc. (26 parts ea.) 4 parts each are excess.
The one piece upper hull is next.
Letter MA is the brass PE fret (10 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents.
I have added a set of On The Mark brand brass PE.
No crew figures are included. In an open-topped type vehicle like this they are necessary.
Detail is very nice.
Recommended.
Detail is very nice.
Recommended.