Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ?39-?45 Series Kit No. 648
3; 3.7 cm Flak 37; 60 parts (59 in grey styrene, 1 paper); pre-order price US$19.95 via Dragon USA OnlineAdvantages: nice, simple kit of this popular light AA gun; comes with five ammo clips
Disadvantages: no trailer or crew included
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for German AA gun fans
Over the years the greatest killer of aircraft has proven to be light to m edium caliber antiaircraft guns, as they fire fast enough with a sufficient ly lethal projectile to knock down fighter-bombers or bombers at low altitu des. The 37mm to 40mm range is still popular today and can still provide su fficient lethal zones to ensure many aircraft do not venture below 10,000 f eet.
The Germans began with the 3.7 cm FlaK 18 gun in 1935 but had problems get ting it to operate reliably. Once its teething troubles were worked out, it gained wide acceptance in both Army and Naval applications. In 1936 it was replaced in production by the 3.7 cm FlaK 36 which used a simpler carriage and a two-wheel trailer (the ubiquitous Sonderhanhanger 52) and new ammuni tion. A new sight operated by clockwork improved its antiaircraft abilities and as such supplemented it in production as the 3.7 cm FlaK 37.
The weapons were fielded in 9 or 12 gun batteries and each gun had a crew of 7. While solid numbers are hard to find the Luftwaffe had over 4,200 of the guns in service in August 1944.
DML has used this particular gun on some of its self-propelled weapons and now has released it as a separate item. All you get in this kit is the gun and its lower carriage - no trailer is provided even though DML makes a ni ce Sd.An. 52 for other weapons, and there is no crew for the gun either. Bu t it does at least come with five clips of six rounds of ammo and also a pa per ammo box for use with the gun when displayed.
The gun is straightforward and the modeler has a number of options with th e kit, such as travel or firing modes, with or without gunshields and with or without flash hider. The gun can theoretically elevate on its own but th e profusion of connected rods and shafts may prevent that from being possib le.
Four finishing options are provided: Unidentified Luftwaffe Unit, Eastern Front 1945 (sand overall, no shields); Unidentified Unit, Western Front 194
4 (sand with whitewashed shields, kill marks on barrel); Unidentified Unit, Western Front 1944 (sand overall with shields); Unidentified Unit, Western Front 1944 (sand overall with tricolor spots on shield). A small sheet of Cartograf decals is provided.Overall this is a nice piece and should provide a nice touch for a diorama or conversions.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell