In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
German Flakpanzer IV “Mobelwagen”
Kit no. 35237
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1999
Available at Hobby Lobby
I paid $14.26 for my kit back 21 years ago at Hobby Lobby.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1999
Available at Hobby Lobby
I paid $14.26 for my kit back 21 years ago at Hobby Lobby.
HISTORY:
When the German Army (Heeres) made their very thorough plans for the formation of panzer divisions in the 1930s, they over-looked to some extent the effect that air power would have on the ground fighting. The early campaign plans were effective because the German forces enjoyed air superiority and were taking the initiative with each successive operation in the 1939-41 period.
In these early campaigns, such as the invasion of Poland in September 1939, and the France and Flanders operation of May-June 1940, the Germans themselves showed the world how tactical air power could be used to dominate the battlefield.
Aircraft like the Junkers 87 (Stuka), the Junkers 88, and the Me-109 were used to attack and disrupt enemy ground forces just ahead of the Panzer divisions spearheading the assault. The success of such tactics were quickly noted by the Soviets, Americans and British, and as WWII progressed tactical ground attack aircraft, even more potent than those possessed by the Germans, came into service in increasing number on the Allied side.
Such types as the Soviet IL-2 Sturmovik, the Typhoon, and the Thunderbolt became the scourge of the Wehrmacht and played a major part in facilitating the un-stoppable Allied advance into Germany in 1944-45. At the crucial time of the fighting in the Normandy and Caen areas in June –July 1944, Just after the D-Day landings, more German heavy tanks were knocked out by rocket-firing Tycoons and Thunderbolts than by Allied tanks and anti-tank guns.
By this period of the war the Luftwaffe was being rapidly decimated on both Western and Eastern fronts, and Allied aircraft could roam the skies over Europe almost unmolested, picking out military targets at will, It was a critical time for the Wehrmacht and losses from air attack were colossal. There were plenty of anti-aircraft vehicles and weapons in service by any normal standard, but the Allied air onslaught was enormous.
Provision of anti-aircraft equipment had not been overlooked, even in pre-war days, but it came later than other equipment. When war broke out in 1939, the Germans had made some allowance for divisional AA defense, and light anti-aircraft platoons were organic within field divisions. For the most part, however, they were towed light pieces, though efficient to deal with what air opposition there was in the early campaigns.
It soon became apparent, however, that anti-aircraft defense in the field was quite inadequate. To give more mobility and firepower, some self-propelled equipment was quickly developed. By 1940, a version of the light half-track Sd.Kfz-10 was in service, Sd.Kfz. 10/4 with the 2cm Flak 30 mounted in the rear compartment.
In 1941, a version of the medium half-track Sd.Kfz. 7/1 was entering service with the quadruple Flakvierling 36 mount fitted. These were just two of several quite effective items of self-propelled anti-aircraft equipment. Priority was initially given to furnishing assault guns and tank destroyers (panzerjager) to the armored divisions and the development of full-tracked AA tanks did not take place until 1942-43, the first vehicles of this type entering service in 1943.
This was the Flakpanzer 38(t) which consisted of a 2cm Flak 38 mounted on the hull of the ex-Czech Pz.Kpfw, 38(t) tank, This type was in short supply, however, and the field army asked for more superior vehicles which could operate with the tank formations.
In the spring of 1943, a Flakpanzer IV was designed with twin 3.7cm AA guns in a protected mount.
Hitler approved of the design, but the twin gun model was never actually built. Instead a somewhat simpler version of the Flakpanzer IV was produced which used existing gun mounts on a standard Pz.Kpfw. IV hull.
This type was known as the Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen and BMM of Prague and Alkett built 211 of them on the chassis of the Panzer IV Ausf. H or J. The Mobelwagen was essentially a standard Panzer IV hull and chassis with hinged armored flaps 10mm thick.
While these looked very useful, they were in practice almost valueless, since the flaps had to be lowered flat to give a clear traverse for the armament and working space for the gun detachment. Thus, at the crucial moment of action the crew were quite unprotected.
With the flaps raised, the vehicle had a prominent high silhouette which made it hard to conceal, because of the box-like shape, the name Mobelwagen (furniture van) was most appropriate.
The Mobelwagen was produced with two different gun mounts. One version had the 2cm Flakvierling 38 quadruple mount, while the other has a single 3.7cm Flak 43. The combat weight of both versions was 25 tons, but the version with the 2cm guns had a five man crew, while the version with the 3.7cm gun had a seven man crew.
The latter version stowed 416 rounds, while the 2cm gun version carried its ammunition in the standard magazines supplied for the gun. There was full traverse through 360 degrees in both versions,
The Mobelwagen entered service in the Autumn of 1943 and were used by AA platoons of tank regiments until the end of 1944. It was realized from the start that the Mobelwagen design was something of an expedient to get an AA tank into service as quickly as possible and in December of 1943 a replacement design was approved, the Wirbelwind, which had a fully traversing armored shield forming an open turret integral with the 2cm Flakvierling mount,
Apart from the fact that the engine was slightly uprated from 2600 rpm to 2800 rpm/272hp, the Mobelwagen was technically and dimensionally similar to the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H/J, though the overall height was increased to 310cm.
When the German Army (Heeres) made their very thorough plans for the formation of panzer divisions in the 1930s, they over-looked to some extent the effect that air power would have on the ground fighting. The early campaign plans were effective because the German forces enjoyed air superiority and were taking the initiative with each successive operation in the 1939-41 period.
In these early campaigns, such as the invasion of Poland in September 1939, and the France and Flanders operation of May-June 1940, the Germans themselves showed the world how tactical air power could be used to dominate the battlefield.
Aircraft like the Junkers 87 (Stuka), the Junkers 88, and the Me-109 were used to attack and disrupt enemy ground forces just ahead of the Panzer divisions spearheading the assault. The success of such tactics were quickly noted by the Soviets, Americans and British, and as WWII progressed tactical ground attack aircraft, even more potent than those possessed by the Germans, came into service in increasing number on the Allied side.
Such types as the Soviet IL-2 Sturmovik, the Typhoon, and the Thunderbolt became the scourge of the Wehrmacht and played a major part in facilitating the un-stoppable Allied advance into Germany in 1944-45. At the crucial time of the fighting in the Normandy and Caen areas in June –July 1944, Just after the D-Day landings, more German heavy tanks were knocked out by rocket-firing Tycoons and Thunderbolts than by Allied tanks and anti-tank guns.
By this period of the war the Luftwaffe was being rapidly decimated on both Western and Eastern fronts, and Allied aircraft could roam the skies over Europe almost unmolested, picking out military targets at will, It was a critical time for the Wehrmacht and losses from air attack were colossal. There were plenty of anti-aircraft vehicles and weapons in service by any normal standard, but the Allied air onslaught was enormous.
Provision of anti-aircraft equipment had not been overlooked, even in pre-war days, but it came later than other equipment. When war broke out in 1939, the Germans had made some allowance for divisional AA defense, and light anti-aircraft platoons were organic within field divisions. For the most part, however, they were towed light pieces, though efficient to deal with what air opposition there was in the early campaigns.
It soon became apparent, however, that anti-aircraft defense in the field was quite inadequate. To give more mobility and firepower, some self-propelled equipment was quickly developed. By 1940, a version of the light half-track Sd.Kfz-10 was in service, Sd.Kfz. 10/4 with the 2cm Flak 30 mounted in the rear compartment.
In 1941, a version of the medium half-track Sd.Kfz. 7/1 was entering service with the quadruple Flakvierling 36 mount fitted. These were just two of several quite effective items of self-propelled anti-aircraft equipment. Priority was initially given to furnishing assault guns and tank destroyers (panzerjager) to the armored divisions and the development of full-tracked AA tanks did not take place until 1942-43, the first vehicles of this type entering service in 1943.
This was the Flakpanzer 38(t) which consisted of a 2cm Flak 38 mounted on the hull of the ex-Czech Pz.Kpfw, 38(t) tank, This type was in short supply, however, and the field army asked for more superior vehicles which could operate with the tank formations.
In the spring of 1943, a Flakpanzer IV was designed with twin 3.7cm AA guns in a protected mount.
Hitler approved of the design, but the twin gun model was never actually built. Instead a somewhat simpler version of the Flakpanzer IV was produced which used existing gun mounts on a standard Pz.Kpfw. IV hull.
This type was known as the Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen and BMM of Prague and Alkett built 211 of them on the chassis of the Panzer IV Ausf. H or J. The Mobelwagen was essentially a standard Panzer IV hull and chassis with hinged armored flaps 10mm thick.
While these looked very useful, they were in practice almost valueless, since the flaps had to be lowered flat to give a clear traverse for the armament and working space for the gun detachment. Thus, at the crucial moment of action the crew were quite unprotected.
With the flaps raised, the vehicle had a prominent high silhouette which made it hard to conceal, because of the box-like shape, the name Mobelwagen (furniture van) was most appropriate.
The Mobelwagen was produced with two different gun mounts. One version had the 2cm Flakvierling 38 quadruple mount, while the other has a single 3.7cm Flak 43. The combat weight of both versions was 25 tons, but the version with the 2cm guns had a five man crew, while the version with the 3.7cm gun had a seven man crew.
The latter version stowed 416 rounds, while the 2cm gun version carried its ammunition in the standard magazines supplied for the gun. There was full traverse through 360 degrees in both versions,
The Mobelwagen entered service in the Autumn of 1943 and were used by AA platoons of tank regiments until the end of 1944. It was realized from the start that the Mobelwagen design was something of an expedient to get an AA tank into service as quickly as possible and in December of 1943 a replacement design was approved, the Wirbelwind, which had a fully traversing armored shield forming an open turret integral with the 2cm Flakvierling mount,
Apart from the fact that the engine was slightly uprated from 2600 rpm to 2800 rpm/272hp, the Mobelwagen was technically and dimensionally similar to the Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H/J, though the overall height was increased to 310cm.
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 comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a color illustration of a Mobelwagen, posed against one of Tamiya’s signature all-white backgrounds, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The Mobelwagen is overall sand yellow, with dark green and red-brown squiggle pattern camouflage and no marks are shown.
Its side armor is folded down.
One corner says: Highly accurate static display model. Complete exterior detail included. Moveable gun with gun sight. Shields can be assembled in three positions. Includes crew figures. Ready to assemble precision model kit. Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age. Cement and paint not included.
One side panel shows a color top view of a Mobelwagen. Followed by a paragraph all in Japanese and a color view of the 2.7cm Flak 43, in the box art scheme.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a color illustration of a Mobelwagen, posed against one of Tamiya’s signature all-white backgrounds, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
The Mobelwagen is overall sand yellow, with dark green and red-brown squiggle pattern camouflage and no marks are shown.
Its side armor is folded down.
One corner says: Highly accurate static display model. Complete exterior detail included. Moveable gun with gun sight. Shields can be assembled in three positions. Includes crew figures. Ready to assemble precision model kit. Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age. Cement and paint not included.
One side panel shows a color top view of a Mobelwagen. Followed by a paragraph all in Japanese and a color view of the 2.7cm Flak 43, in the box art scheme.
The other side panel shows a color 3-view of the Mobelwagen in the box art scheme, followed by another paragraph all in Japanese and a color illustration of a crewman in a black panzer uniform. Tamiya’s street address in Shizuoka City, Japan is provided and their office address in Germany.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 8 tan parts trees, a loose tan hull tub part, black vinyl tracks, black plastic screen and the decal sheet in 4 stapled-shut clear cello bags.
The instructions consists of a staple bound booklet of 168 pages in 6 ¾” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the Mobelwagen built up showing it in the box art scheme described earlier and with the crewman standing in the fighting compartment. He appears to be saluting with his right hand and has his left on his hip. Odd pose!
Below him is the history of the Mobelwagen in English, German, French and Japanese.
Page 2 has READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions at the top, next to illustrations of Tamiya tools and cement it’s a suggested listing of Tamiya’s hobby paints. Below this is PRECAUTIONS about the kit. In multiple languages, including English.
The kit holds 8 tan parts trees, a loose tan hull tub part, black vinyl tracks, black plastic screen and the decal sheet in 4 stapled-shut clear cello bags.
The instructions consists of a staple bound booklet of 168 pages in 6 ¾” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the Mobelwagen built up showing it in the box art scheme described earlier and with the crewman standing in the fighting compartment. He appears to be saluting with his right hand and has his left on his hip. Odd pose!
Below him is the history of the Mobelwagen in English, German, French and Japanese.
Page 2 has READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions at the top, next to illustrations of Tamiya tools and cement it’s a suggested listing of Tamiya’s hobby paints. Below this is PRECAUTIONS about the kit. In multiple languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2 through to the top of page 13 gives a grand total of a whopping 30 assembly steps.
A half page gives painting instructions for the crew figure.
The bottom of page 13 is a painting and marking guide for the Mobelwagen. It shows a 3-view of the box art scheme. Its only marking is the German cross on its side shields. It is as it appeared in an unknown division, Summer 1944, in France.
The top of page 14 continues as a painting guide showing a top view of the Mobelwagen in the cover art scheme, over painting instructions in multiple languages, including English and an after-market assistance coupon in Japanese only. Sheet was printed in Japan.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. Bad move Tamiya! However, they do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
Two identical tan letter A trees hold: road wheels, drive sprockets, return rollers, idler wheels, bogies, final transfer covers etc. (54 parts ea.)
A half page gives painting instructions for the crew figure.
The bottom of page 13 is a painting and marking guide for the Mobelwagen. It shows a 3-view of the box art scheme. Its only marking is the German cross on its side shields. It is as it appeared in an unknown division, Summer 1944, in France.
The top of page 14 continues as a painting guide showing a top view of the Mobelwagen in the cover art scheme, over painting instructions in multiple languages, including English and an after-market assistance coupon in Japanese only. Sheet was printed in Japan.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. Bad move Tamiya! However, they do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
Two identical tan letter A trees hold: road wheels, drive sprockets, return rollers, idler wheels, bogies, final transfer covers etc. (54 parts ea.)
Next are the poly caps that fit inside the tan letter A tree wheels, drive sprockets and idler wheels.
Tan letter B tree holds: fenders, hull rear wall and front wall, engine compartment roof, air intake, grills, muffler, shields etc. (22 parts)
Tan letter C tree holds the flak gun parts (55 parts)
Tan letter D tree holds: spare track lengths, tools, tow hooks, machine gun, fire extinguisher, jack, tool box etc. (58 parts)
Tan letter E tree holds: the fighting compartment walls, The crewman figure etc. (69 parts)
Tan letter F tree holds the hull top and the supports for the spare roadwheels. (3 parts)
Tan tree letter G holds: shield parts, antenna etc. (8 parts)
The loose tan hull tub part is next.
The black vinyl tracks are next (2 long runs)
Next is the section of black screen.
The decal sheet completes the parts. It only has 2 German crosses on it.
The color Tamiya kit catalog is a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 5” x 10” page format, It shows aircraft, AFVs, artillery, figures, ships, motorcycles and race car kits.
Detail of the kit is excellent.
Highly recommended.
Detail of the kit is excellent.
Highly recommended.