Dragon 1/35 German 8.8cm Flak Artillery

Post by **Jan01** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 6:50 pm

This is my entry in this SIG

DSC_0048.JPG

I got some extra shells from AFV Club, there is 10x brass and 10x Field green Anodized. Wanted to use these instead of the plastic ones supplied with the model.

Post by **Tiger131** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 6:51 pm

real nice looking kit

Post by **Jan01** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:11 pm

Tiger131 wrote:real nice looking kit

Thanks, have started the kit today

http://m.youtube.com/user/MrBobsBuilds · Post by **Rob** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:13 pm

Impressive kit! Nice add ons too

Post by **HWGuderian23** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:19 pm

Enormous kit

! Looking forward to this build

...
Good luck ...

Post by **Jan01** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:21 pm

Thanks guys, looking forward to building it.

Post by **Jan01** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:24 pm

A little bit about the 88

The German 88 mm Flak gun was one of the most highly publicized, famous and feared weapons of the Second World War. It was primarily an anti-aircraft gun adaptable to general artillery use where it performed with distinction, from the start to the very end of the war, against ground targets and in the anti-tank role.

The best gun of the war, the 88 was a lethal and extremely versatile gun. It could appear on a tank, as an anti-tank gun, assault or as an anti-aircraft weapon. It proved able to knock out any Allied tank at ranges up to 2,000 yards and equally lethal as an anti-infantry weapon. From this, the 88 developed a mythos or reputation equaled only by the Tiger tank and perhaps the German 81-mm mortar. Any German artillery fire was usually attributed to the 88 gun, even if known to be otherwise. An Australian infantryman said it all in describing the 88 as “anti-everything”.

In the following text, extracts from the U.S. Military Intelligence document of February 8, 1943 "German Antiaircraft Artillery", the point is well made. This weapons stout reputation is the dual result of a great design coupled with flexible and sound German tactical doctrine. The German military was flexible enough to allow the use of the 88 not only against aircraft but also on the ground, against tanks, infantry, other vehicles and even against major fixed fortifications.

" German Antiaircraft Artillery: 88-mm Dual-Purpose Gun"

I: OPERATIONAL USE AGAINST GROUND TARGETS

a. General: The basic principle of German combat methods has said to be a clever adaptation of fire to movement, with fire power increasing directly in proportion to the resistance encountered. Movement is normally from one piece of advantageous terrain to another, with maximum fire applied during the movement. Both fire and movement are applied with one basic purpose in view: To attain the objective of the unit. This principle is applicable to the offensive combat of all German units, from squads to armies. In defense the German commander chooses the most suitable ground for combined action by infantry, machine guns, antitank guns, artillery, and tanks. In such depth as resources permit, he will usually construct a series of defense areas capable of all-around defense against any form of attack. The artillery of all types will be placed where it can support either the defense area, or the tanks if these are launched in a counter- attack. In withdrawals, after skillfully thinning out most of the transport facilities and battle impedimenta, the German commander will usually launch some form of feint action to cover the withdrawal of the remainder of the force. This feint action often takes place in the evening; during the night the whole force withdraws, leaving only reconnaissance elements supported by a few guns to hold up hostile forces.

In any of the above general situations, full use in roles against ground targets can be expected to be made of any AA guns not specifically required for use in an AA role.

The 88 fired three main types of ammunition (88 x 571R). High-explosive shells with spring-wound or inertia-operated time fuse (up to 30 seconds) were fired at air targets. High-explosive shells with percussion fuse (impact or 0.11 second delay) were fired against ground troops or fixed targets. Armor-piercing shells with tracer and small base-fused bursting charge were used against tanks. Initially these were APCR (armor piercing composite rigid) projectiles with a tungsten core. Called wolfram in German, tungsten is a very dense and hard metal. Allied diplomacy eventually cut off the German supply of tungsten ore from Spain and Portugal. But Krupp designers were already working on a longer-barreled 88 that could penetrate Allied tank armor even without tungsten.

Specifications (Flak 36[2])
Weight 7,407 kg (16,325 lbs)
Length 5.791 m (20 ft)
Barrel length 4.938 m (16 ft 2 in) L/56
Height 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) (firing)
Shell 88 × 571 mm. R
Caliber 88 mm (3.46 in)
Barrels One, 32 grooves with right-hand increasing twist from 1/45 to 1/30
Breech Horizontal semi-automatic sliding block
Recoil Independent liquid and hydropneumatic
Carriage Sonderanhänger 202
Elevation -3° to +85°
Traverse 360°
Rate of fire 15–20 rpm
Muzzle velocity 820 m/s (2,690 ft/s)
Effective firing range 14,860 m (16,250 yds) ground target
7,620 m (25,000 ft) effective ceiling
Maximum firing range 11,900 m (39,000 ft) maximum ceiling
Sights ZF.20

http://www.youtube.com/user/longlance67 · Post by **longlance67** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:45 pm

built one of these a while back, your gonna have a blast with it

gonna be watching this one with a lot of interest

shane

Post by **Jan01** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:48 pm

Spent most of the afternoon building the figures.

A quick review on the figures for this kit: Even though Dragon have made some great figure kits, especially with there GEN 2 products, I can not say the same for these figures in this kit (must be the older figures). Each figure (6 in total) came in 6 parts (2 half's for legs, 2 arms, a head (not including helmet) and the torso). The legs and the torso are attached to the sprue on 3 parts where as the arms and head are attached at a single point. Mold lines were very visible, so had to be scrapped away with a sharp scalpel blade. I spent approx, 25mins per figure cleaning them up before I could assemble them.
Some of the figures are holding shells, but the hands are not in the right position, so will need to be opened up a bit for the shell to sit in the palm of the hand. I will need to fill in the seam at the back of the jackets and then smooth it off.
Overall the figures are ok, but I think Dragon could do with making a GEN 2 product of these figures for this gun.

Post by **chief5437** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:49 pm

That looks like a lot of plastic! Hope the build goes ok mate

Post by **Jan01** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 7:54 pm

chief5437 wrote:That looks like a lot of plastic! Hope the build goes ok mate

17 sprues in total. Hence the reason why I did not take photos of them separately.

Post by **rm6239** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:50 pm

I have this kit in the stash, really looking forward to seeing it built mate, good one. Already a good heads up regarding the figures.

cheers

Rossco

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Fri Jan 17, 2014 11:23 pm

I love the 88.
One of the most effective guns during ww2.
Great entry, and good luck with your build!

Post by **MarkVerploeg** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 10:17 am

great kit you have there
i'm finishing mine today well the gun and transport carts atleast
what version are you going to do? the 18 or the 36
the difference is just in the barrel really
good luck with your build
cheers Mark

https://www.youtube.com/user/bnealuk · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 10:25 am

88 Kits always have a crazy part count!! lol

Nice choice and with the extras will look stunning.

The problem with figures seems to be very common in kits. They give you a fantastic model and the in box figures let it down.

I'm sure you will do great with these.

Post by **Jan01** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 12:39 pm

MarkVerploeg wrote:great kit you have there
i'm finishing mine today well the gun and transport carts atleast
what version are you going to do? the 18 or the 36
the difference is just in the barrel really
good luck with your build
cheers Mark

I will be doing the 36.

Thanks everyone for the comments.

http://www.youtube.com/user/longlance67 · Post by **longlance67** » Sat Jan 18, 2014 1:44 pm

nice work mate

Shane

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 2:17 pm

Looking forward to following this one Jan - i couldn't get the Dragon 88 in time so settled on the Tamiya one instead.

Great work with the figures, all your hard work has definitely paid off (it's just frustrating whilst you're cleaning them up though

). Nice one!!

Post by **Jan01** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:32 pm

alextheblue wrote:Looking forward to following this one Jan - i couldn't get the Dragon 88 in time so settled on the Tamiya one instead.

Great work with the figures, all your hard work has definitely paid off (it's just frustrating whilst you're cleaning them up though ). Nice one!!

Thanks, but they are not quite finished yet, still need to do some work on them.

My Youtube channel · Post by **reelmesh** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:05 pm

Just like Frans mentioned, I love this gun, I've been trying to grab one of these kit's for awhile, I have the 1/48th Italeri kit, but I believe it will only have it's proper glory in 1/35.

On it Jan!

https://www.youtube.com/user/bnealuk · Post by **T3hGuppy** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:49 am

Looking forward to the next update dude.

Post by **Jan01** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:38 am

T3hGuppy wrote:Looking forward to the next update dude.

Will be later today.

Post by **Jan01** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:35 pm

Ok, finally an update, have been doing a least a hour before going to work for the past week.

As you can see I have been busy doing the gun carriage this week. Apart from the excess molds and seam lines, the model hardly needed any cleaning up. Like the other members building a dragon kit in this SIG, the model is excellent but the instructions need looking at very carefully. I have come across a couple of parts that are numbered wrong.

The3 start of the build.

DSC_0017 (2)_Edited.JPG

Moveable parts

DSC_0020 (2)_Edited.JPG

Where the parts are in the wrong place

DSC_0061_Edited.JPG

Post by **Jan01** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:38 pm

Finished one, am now half way through the second one.

DSC_0056_Edited.JPG

DSC_0057_Edited.JPG

DSC_0058_Edited.JPG

Once I have finished the second gun carriage, I will start on the cruciform for the gun.

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:13 pm

Great progress mate!
Looks like a very nice kit to build!

Post by **Jan01** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:36 pm

fly1ngdutchm4n wrote:Great progress mate!
Looks like a very nice kit to build!

Thanks, it is a nice kit, plenty of detail .

Post by **chief5437** » Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:08 pm

Looks great so far buddy! Very detailed kit, good work, keep it coming!

Post by **rm6239** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 7:10 am

Jan

Looking good mate, nice detail on those trailers.

cheers

Rossco

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 8:53 am

Looking great Jan!

I'm building the Tamiya 88, but the detail on your Dragon kit just looks so much crisper - love Dragon kits, despite their dodgy instructions!

Post by **Jan01** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:38 pm

Thanks guys for your comments. I've managed to finish the second gun carriage. Have now started on the cruciform for the gun. Will post photos at a later date with next update.

Post by **JayCub** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:51 pm

looks a super kit and one I would like to get my hands on also, but for now I can follow along on this build.

Tom

Post by **MarkVerploeg** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 11:30 am

looks great so far
qurious to see what you will do with the paint and weathering
but it is a very good to begin with

Post by **billk** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:22 pm

Great looking kit... very nice.

Post by **Jan01** » Tue Jan 28, 2014 7:38 pm

MarkVerploeg wrote:looks great so far
qurious to see what you will do with the paint and weathering
but it is a very good to begin with

Thanks, I will be curious too about the paint and weathering. Still thinking what type of diorama I'm going b to do.

Post by **Jan01** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:11 pm

Ok another update

Finally finished the second gun carriage, the only miss-hap I had with this, was the chair. It was a bit flimsy so needed to be careful when added the seat to straighten it up.
The cruciform was the quickest part of the build as there was not so many parts to it and didn't really need any cleaning.

The second gun carriage

DSC_0028_Edited.JPG

Start of the cruciform for the gun

DSC_0020_Edited.JPG

Dry run putting it together

DSC_0018_Edited.JPG

Post by **Jan01** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:14 pm

Whats been done so far including the figures (which are not in the photo)

(Still need to add some PE parts to the cruciform)

DSC_0030_Edited.JPG

Have now started on the gun. Will give an update sometime over the weekend.

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Sat Feb 01, 2014 9:44 pm

Jan01 wrote:Whats been done so far including the figures (which are not in the photo)

(Still need to add some PE parts to the cruciform)
DSC_0030_Edited.JPG

Have now started on the gun. Will give an update sometime over the weekend.

Awesome progress. I love this build

Post by **Jan01** » Sun Feb 02, 2014 12:03 am

fly1ngdutchm4n wrote:
Jan01 wrote:Whats been done so far including the figures (which are not in the photo)

(Still need to add some PE parts to the cruciform)
DSC_0030_Edited.JPG

Have now started on the gun. Will give an update sometime over the weekend.
Awesome progress. I love this build

Thanks Frans, its coming on quite nicely.

My Youtube channel · Post by **reelmesh** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 5:55 am

Wow, such a nice Kit and clean build, wealth of detail is very nice.

Great update mate, keep up the great work!

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 8:46 am

That's looking really nice Jan, some great detail there!

Post by **Paul** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:33 am

Great work Jan, superbly detailed kit

Post by **Jan01** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:48 am

Thanks guys for your kind comments.

Unfortunately didn't get much done over the weekend due to family commitments. But I'm hoping to have the gun finished before this weekend, then I can prime everything and then start painting.

Post by **Tiger131** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 10:08 am

looking real nice very detailed kit

Post by **Jan01** » Mon Feb 03, 2014 8:21 pm

The start of the gun

DSC_0146_Edited.JPG

DSC_0148_Edited.JPG

Hoping to get the rest of this finished before the weekend.

Post by **rm6239** » Tue Feb 04, 2014 10:53 am

Jan

Looking great mate, some really nice work and detail.

cheers

Rossco

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:43 pm

That's an awesome gun mate! Love those metal barrels, it make all the differance

Post by **Jan01** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 7:54 am

Thanks Rossco and Frans.

Its the second time I have used metal gun barrels. The first is on a 1/72 scale King Tiger (still WIP).

Post by **alextheblue** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 10:37 am

Looking great Jan - that metal barrel looks really nice!

http://www.youtube.com/user/longlance67 · Post by **longlance67** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 5:18 pm

Fantastic work mate

super neat and the metal barrel really adds alot

shane

Post by **Jan01** » Fri Feb 07, 2014 7:46 pm

Thanks guys for your comments.

There are a couple more metal parts for the gun that need to be added. Which I will be doing tomorrow.