German Flakpanzer V Ausf. A 1:35 Hobby Boss 84545

Plastic model kit: German Flakpanzer V Ausf. A 1:35 Hobby Boss 84545

We present the plastic model kit of the German Flakpanzer V Ausf. A in 1:35 scale, produced by Hobby Boss. This detailed model kit allows you to build a replica of one of the most interesting projects of German anti-aircraft weaponry from World War II.

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Model length: 194.3 mm
• Model width: 98 mm
• Number of sprues: 30, including lower hull, upper hull, and turret
• Photo-etched parts: 1 piece

History and development of Flakpanzer V Ausf. A:

Flakpanzer V Ausf. A, also known as Flakpanzer 341, was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun designed by Rheinmetall during World War II. The project aimed to arm the vehicle with two 3.7 cm Flak 341 guns mounted in a fully enclosed, rotating turret on the chassis of the Panther medium tank. Ultimately, only a wooden model of the turret mounted on the Panther chassis was built.

In the early years of the war, the Wehrmacht did not attach great importance to the development of self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. However, as the Allies gained air superiority, the need for more mobile and better-armed anti-aircraft vehicles became urgent. The Wehrmacht adapted various wheeled and half-tracked vehicles for the role of mobile air defense positions, which were to protect armored and infantry units in the field as well as temporary positions such as mobile headquarters and logistics points.

In May 1943, Rheinmetall developed a design for the Panther armed with four 2 cm MG 151/20 guns. However, these guns were deemed too weak, and in December 1943, the tank committee decided that all future self-propelled anti-aircraft guns based on the Panther would be armed with two 3.7 cm guns, and later with two 5.5 cm guns. Both Daimler-Benz and Rheinmetall were selected to design a turret armed with twin 3.7 cm guns for the Panther, and Rheinmetall completed its design in May 1944.

Despite progress in design, for various reasons such as the Allied landings in Normandy, increasing strategic bombings, and shortages of materials, production of Flakpanzers could not be realized. Work on Flakpanzer 341 continued throughout 1944, but in January 1945 it was halted due to the recognition of the 3.7 cm guns as insufficient.

Assembly and painting kit. Does not include paints or glue. To assemble, separately sold modeling tools are needed (including cutters, files, tweezers), paints, brushes, and plastic model glue (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement). The photo shows a professionally assembled and painted model.