Alan 1/35 'Gepard' Flakpanzer 38(t)
Kit No. 018
MSRP: $29.95
GreatModels Price: $25.45
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History:
At the beginning of WWII, German ground forces were in the advantageous
position of Luftwaffe air supremacy. As the war went on, the strength
of the Allied air forces was increasing and the balance began to change.
Already, in 1943, the main attack forces of the Wehrmacht – its tank
units – was being attacked at an alarming rate by the Allied air
forces.
Although fighter-bomber aircraft did not possess the armor penetrating
capabilities of the other anti-tank weapons, they were often quite successful
because they usually attacked the thinner upper armor of the tanks. The
Panzer divisions had fairly strong anti-aircraft units on their rosters
since the beginning of the war, but their towed guns could not be emplaced
quickly enough to help tanks operating in open terrain.
A feasable solution was an anti-aircraft tank, or flakpanzer, capable
of opening fire several minutes after an air raid warning. The light tank
(ex-Czech) Pz.Kpfw. 38(t), famous for its excellent riding qualities and
dependability, was one of the leading candidates for the flakpanzer program.
The original order for a flakpanzer 38(t), armed with a single-barrel
2cm flak 38, was for 150 vehicles, but only 140 were ever made.
The last of these were built in January - February 1944. Their single-barrel
2cm gun could not provide sufficient fire saturation against aircraft,
even when the vehicles were used in groups. Eventually, the chassis of
the Pz.Kpfw. IV was used as a carrier of multi-barreled or larger anti-aircraft
guns.
What's in the box?
The kit comes in a tray and lid type box. The box art shows a Gepard,
at an angle, exposing the rear and the right side. It carries the markings
of the 12th SS "Hitlerjugende" Panzer Division (one of the alternatives
offered on the kit's decal sheet).
Parts trees are packaged in two cello bags. One cello holds three trees
of medium gray colored parts trees. The second cello holds four smaller
trees of light cream colored parts.
The decal sheet, one small brass PE part, and the instructions complete
the kit's contents.
The instructions consist of six pages that are 8.5" x 11" in size format
and six pages long. The first page gives the vehicle's history in Russian,
Japanese, English, and German. This is then followed with 14 assembly
step drawings. The last page gives a 3 view line drawing for painting
and decal applications. This is followed by international assembly symbol
explanations.
There are three marking options offered by the decal sheet. They are:
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9th SS "Hohenstaufen" Panzer Division, Eastern Front 1945
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10th SS "Frundsberg" Panzer Division, Eastern Front 1945
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12th SS "Hitlerjugend" Panzer Division, Eastern Front 1945.
There are four identical, letter "A", cream colored parts trees. They
hold: individual tread links, road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels,
leaf springs, suspension arms, etc. (66 parts each). Unfortunately, the
instructions do not indicate how many links you need to make a run. I
also assume there are more than enough for that, plus some others that
have to be mounted in two places as spares.
Parts tree, letter "B" is one of the larger medium gray colored parts
trees. It holds10 ammo rounds that are probably not used for this kit
as they are way too big to be 2cm flak38 ones plus the half cylinder holders
for these, the hull bottom, muffler and exhaust pipe, tools, tow hooks,
radio, etc. (84 parts).
Lettering now jumps to the "D" medium gray tree. It holds the vehicle's
left and right sides, the top piece, front piece, fold-down shield pieces,
split hatch covers, etc. (21 parts).
The final parts tree is letter "F" (also medium gray). It is the largest
parts tree. It holds the 2cm pak38 parts and it’s shields, 2cm ammo boxes,
the vehicle's rear hull piece, the gun's pedestal parts, more radios,
and numerous small fittings (96 parts).
There are no crew figures provided.
The single brass PE part is made to be folded into a perforated tool
box, which the instructions show the jack is stowed into and which mounts
on one of the fenders.
Conclusion
Parts are crisply molded and flash free. Highly recommended. By skim-reading
the instructions, I noticed that some of the placement of a few parts
was not too clear. Also, the fold-down parts of the vehicle's shields
can be positioned either closed or open.
Although my kit came as a trade with my net friend in Wales, GreatModels
does carry this kit. However, at the time of this writing, they are temporarily
out of stock on it. This is a neat vehicle and will be welcome to most
WWII armor modelers.
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