Barcode: 0 89195 86483 3
Case Pack: 36 pieces per master carton
Box Size: 7.5" x 11.4" x 1.8"

• Newly produced ammunition box
• 5-directional slide-molded one-piece gun barrel w/hollow muzzle
• 3.7cm Flak 37 realistically presented
• Gun with/without gun shield can be assembled
• Cannon can be freely posed at different angles
• Travel lock realistically presented
• Option for opened or folded gun shield
• Gun shield w/bolt detail in scale thickness
• Gun sight and hand wheels w/well-defined detail
• Gun cradle offers great detail definition
• Triangular base-plate gun platform authentically detailed
• 5 boxes of realistically reproduced 3.7 cm ammunition included
  

Rheinmetall developed its 3.7cm Flak 18 anti-aircraft cannon in 1935, although only a small number were produced. However, development continued in the guise of the 3.7cm Flak 36, and when a new Zeiss sighting system (Flakvisier) was incorporated the following year, it ultimately became known as the 3.7cm Flak 37. By the time production drew down in 1944, a total of 1178 Flak 37 cannons had been manufactured. For transport the 1544kg cannon was usually mounted on a two-wheel trailer and the whole combination weighed a total of 2400kg. The weapon could traverse 360� and its theoretical rate of fire was 820m/s. Normally a crew of eight men would service each weapon, with a ceiling altitude of 4800m possible.

The same Flak 37 weapon was mounted on the Sd.Kfz.7/2 armored halftrack. Now, however, Dragon is offering a standalone kit of the antiaircraft cannon. Usefully, the kit can be built according to two options – either with or without the gun shield. Even more than that, if the gun shield is installed, it can be depicted fully extended or folded. It may be a small kit, but it is full of detail. Take the one-piece gun barrel, for example. It is made from a sophisticated five-directional slide mold in order to present an accurate replica with a hollow muzzle. Modelers can pose the gun in various elevations or degrees of traverse. It also comes complete with a set of finely scaled 3.7cm ammunition rounds to help create an authentic scene. This carefully crafted cannon is ready for immediate emplacement in a modeler’s diorama!

Review:

Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale ‘39-‘45 Series Kit No. 6483; 3.7 cm Flak 37; 60 parts (59 in grey styrene, 1 paper); pre-order price US$19.95 via Dragon USA Online

Advantages: 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 medium caliber antiaircraft guns, as they fire fast enough with a sufficiently lethal projectile to knock down fighter-bombers or bombers at low altitudes. The 37mm to 40mm range is still popular today and can still provide sufficient lethal zones to ensure many aircraft do not venture below 10,000 feet.

The Germans began with the 3.7 cm FlaK 18 gun in 1935 but had problems getting 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 ammunition. 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 nice Sd.An. 52 for other weapons, and there is no crew for the gun either. But it does at least come with five clips of six rounds of ammo and also a paper ammo box for use with the gun when displayed.

The gun is straightforward and the modeler has a number of options with the 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 the profusion of connected rods and shafts may prevent that from being possible.

Four finishing options are provided: Unidentified Luftwaffe Unit, Eastern Front 1945 (sand overall, no shields); Unidentified Unit, Western Front 1944 (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-