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2cm FlaK38 with Crew (35718) 1:35 ICM via H G Hannants Ltd Starting life as a 20mm naval anti-aircraft gun that was developed into the FlaK 30, the FlaK 38 was a further development of the basic gun to improve the fire rate that had previously been less than inspiring. The improvement meant an increase from 120RPM to 220RPM, but also benefitted from a decrease in all-up weight, which eased its way into service with the army in late 1939, just in time for WWII. As well as the usual trailer mount and three-legged base, a lightened mounting was also created for the gun, using a tripod that reduced the weight still more, and made it air-transportable by paratroopers into active warzones. Following accelerated acceptance trials, the new design began service with the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe in the summer of 1940, where it became the standard light-weight Flak defence weapon for close-range operation, where it was highly effective. Crews also found that the weapon was devastating against personnel and lightly armoured ground targets, which it could attack due to its wide range of elevation. This led to it being mounted on the back of trucks, half-tracks and other armoured vehicles where it could perform both roles, which it continued to do until the end of the war. It was considered less effective by the RLM later in the war due to the increasingly well-armoured fighters it was ranged against however, and in addition to being fielded in Zwilling (twin) mounts, it was also used in a quad-mount for increased fire density, with the intention of replacing it with a 40mm gun if the war had lasted longer. The Kit This is a reboxing of a brand-new tooling from our friends at ICM, and although many other companies have their own FlaK 38s in 1:35, this is their offering, and it’s a fresh tooling that has been created using accurate dimensions and proportions in an effort to obtain a highly realistic rendition of this important German anti-aircraft gun. The kit arrives in a shallow top-opening box with a captive flap on the lower tray, and inside are three sprues of grey styrene, a small decal sheet and instruction booklet printed in colour on glossy paper, with painting and decaling profiles on the rear pages. Construction begins by trapping the gun barrel with moulded-in breech between the two halves of the cradle, sliding the assembly into the armoured mantlet if you are building the variant with a splinter shield, with two L-shaped supports holding the cradle to the mantlet. Two hollow circular pivots fit on the sides of the cradle, slotting a magazine into the breech on the left side through the hole, and these locate in a two-layer trunnion on each side, choosing which elevation piston to fit underneath to set the barrel for anti-aircraft or travel and anti-personnel operations. The trunnions locate in slots on a circular base that has tread-plate moulded into the sides, fitting elevation and rotation mechanisms to the right and at the rear of the trunnions. The sighting gear is mounted on an arm above the rear of the gun, and a pair of seats are built and installed, one on each side over the tread-plated areas. The option with the splinter shield has a horizontal support tube fitted on two brackets at the front under the barrel, mounting two sections of shielding on the bottom tube, adding upper brackets to steady the parts during firing and transport. Two small tabs are removed from the circular pivots if you are fitting the shield, and an additional shield is fitted on a bracket in front of the gunner’s position, which is raised above the main shield for sighting the gun. Three additional magazines are supplied to store in the ready-mag box on the left side of the gun for either variant. The base consists of two layers with a large circular cut-out in the centre, plus three feet, one on each outrigger, lowering the completed gun into position as the final part of the build. A pair of diagrams show the completed model in armoured and unarmoured finishes to assist you with making your choice and ensuring you build it using the correct parts. The Figures The figures are newly tooled specifically for this boxing, and are found on a single large sprue of grey styrene. The parts for each figure are found in separate areas of the sprue for ease of identification, and parts breakdown is sensibly placed along clothing seams or natural breaks to minimise clean-up of the figures once they are built up. The sculpting is typically excellent, as we’ve come to expect from ICM’s artists and tool-makers, with natural poses, drape of clothing and textures appropriate to the parts of the model. Three figures are standing, one pointing to the sky with binoculars in his hand, spotting a target for their attention. Another figure is resting a foot on part of the structure, looking skyward and following the direction the spotter is pointing. The third standing figure is using a wide-set binocular sight to get a range on the target, while the seated figure is operating the gun with his feet and hands on the controls, also looking skyward. The range-finder can be found on one of the other sprues as part A11, and it has a detailed painting guide amongst the figure drawings that act as both instructions and painting guide, having part numbers and colour codes that correspond with a table on the front of the instructions that give ICM’s colour codes for their range of acrylic paints. Markings There are two decal options for the Flak38, both wearing camouflage of various colours. From the box you can build one of the following: Italy, 1943 Western Ukraine, 1944 Decals are by ICM’s usual partners, which is a guarantee of good registration, sharpness and colour density, with a thin gloss carrier film cut close to the printed areas. Conclusion An artillery piece, whether its target is on the ground or in the air, always has more presence when it is crewed, as it gives the model function as well as the oft-mentioned human scale. Detail is excellent, and should build into an impressive model with some care and attention. Highly recommended. Available in the UK from importers H G Hannants Ltd. Review sample courtesy of

I’ve not done much modelling of late, having been distracted for several years by toy trains, then moving house, a new role at work and loads of other excuses. As part of the house move, I got rid of a lot of the stash, since it became painfully evident that even if I could retire tomorrow, I would never build it all, and that I was, in fact, a collector of boxes and part-built kits, rather than a modeller. Alongside that, I’ve had a growing interest in wargaming - painting up and playing solo Five Parsecs games. What’s all that got to do with anything, well I’ve also had a long-term interest in “cold war gone hot” type scenarios, based on the crises which happened in my youth. I’ve decided to combine my interests (apart from the toy trains!) and build/play some form of solo RPG/wargames campaign set in a fictional engagement across the inner German border in the 1980s. To that end, I’ve started acquiring, building, and fussing about with various 20mm/1:76/1:72 scale miniatures, models and so on. (Note that, in common with all 06/24 builds, none of these are finished yet!) This thread is just to track these – it’d fall foul of some rule somewhere, since I model flying things and ground pounding things with equal ineptitude, and without firm distinctions. So I've stuck it in here (which will still be wrong!) Also, some of these are diecasts (albeit I usually take them apart and tweak them.) So, sit back, put Major Tom or 99 Red Balloons on the Walkman, and take trip back to the 1980s that never were with me… by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Untitled by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Harrier GR.3 wip by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr After by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Bedford MK/MJ by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr Bedford MK/MJ by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 1:72 scale Zil-157 models by Omega K/ICM by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 1:72 scale Zil-157 models by Omega K/ICM by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr 1:72 scale Zil-157 models by Omega K/ICM by Jon Gwinnett, on Flickr

These were in the painting trays for a long time due to the summer we had. I've painted them to have representatives of four regiments. 2nd Banal-Petrinja 1st Walachische

The set is done. Enjoy

I have received the Regiment de Dromadaires figures I requested Newline Designs to manufacture earlier this year. I think you can guess my next project after I clear the painting table . A nice looking set with plenty detail to get the eyes straining For anyone interested, Newline have the Christmas sale on until the end of November with 25% off.

At long last we and by great demand ( mainly by MrsG) I present my little band of Russians. They're Newline Designs 20mm so smaller than 1/72 scale. Here's a scale check, the officer isn't the most handsome fellow ever.