The Modelling News: Two of the most lethal 88's of WWII in 35th from Trumpeter in January...

Trumpeter has released built up shots of two of their latest kits due in January. Some of the most lethal guns ever transported by the Germans during WWII in 35th scale are the subjects. We look at the sprues, colours, built models & info in our preview...

Two of the most lethal 88's of WWII in 35th from Trumpeter in January...

German Army 8.8cm Flak41

by Trumpeter

Model: #02358

1/35th scale

Price: $63 USD from Hobbylink Japan

As early as 1939 the Luftwaffe asked for newer weapons with an even better performance, to address the problems of defending against attack by high-flying aircraft. Rheinmetall responded with a new 88 mm design with a longer cartridge and a longer barrel. A prototype was ready in early 1941 leading to the designation 8.8 cm Flak 41. The new gun fired a 9.4-kilogram (20 lb) shell at a muzzle velocity of 1,000 m/s (3,280 ft/s), giving it an effective ceiling of 11,300 meters (37,100 ft) and a maximum of 14,700 meters (48,200 ft), which General der Flakartillerie Otto Wilhelm von Renz said to be "almost equal to the 128-mm." It featured a lower silhouette on its turntable mounting than did the 8.8-cm Flak 18/36/37 on its pedestal mounting.

The colour profiles included in this kit

Colours of the four figures in the kit.

The decal sheet included in the kit

The barrel was at first a three-section one with a length of 74 calibers, and then redesigned to dual-section with a length of 72 calibers. Improvements in reloading raised the firing rate, with 20 to 25 rounds a minute being quoted. Because of problems in service, the guns were almost exclusively used in Germany where they could be properly maintained and serviced. The Flak 41 had the disadvantage of complexity, and was prone to problems with ammunition, empty cases often jamming on extraction. Because of the high cost and complexity of this weapon, the Germans manufactured relatively few of them, 556 in all. The first deliveries were made in March 1943 and, as of August 1944, only 157 were fielded; with 318 in January 1945.

The parts of the kit...

The kit consists of over 570 parts

Model Length: 254.5mm Width: 70mm

- Details finely represented by newly tooled parts

- Rubber tires

- 4 figures included

- Photo Etched parts included

Trumpeter's modellers have already constructed the test shot of this kit...

Schwerer Zugkraftwagen 18 t with 8.8cm Flak

by Trumpeter

Model: #09577

1/35th scale

Price: $107.51 USD from Hobbylink Japan

Sd.Kfz. 9 “Famo” (alias schwerer Zugkraftwagen 18t FAMO Typ “F 3”) was a German half-track that saw widespread use in World War II, and the heaviest half-track vehicle of any type built in quantity in Germany during the war years. Best known for its use during the Battle of France, where it was the only German self-propelled gun capable of destroying the heavier Allied tanks such as the French Char B1 and the British Matilda II. Remaining vehicles were used on the Eastern Front. The last of the type was destroyed in 1943.

The colour profiles included in this kit

The decal sheet included in the kit

A gun shield was provided for the 88, but the gun crew had no other protection. The driver's cab was replaced by a lower, armored cupola and the engine compartment was lightly (14.5 mm (0.57 in)) armored. The upper body had a crew compartment with three bench seats, one for the driver and his assistant, and two others for the gun crew. The gun was mounted behind the crew compartment. It could fire directly ahead without any problem, but traverse was limited to 151° to each side by the gun shield. Elevation was between -3° and +15°. The windshield could fold forward and was also removable.

Total of 16 sprues , chassis and tires

Model Length: 245.8mm Width: 40.7mm

The kit consists of over 760 parts

- Details finely represented by newly tooled parts

- individual tracks links

- Rubber tyres w/fine detail

- Photo-etched parts included

Trumpeter's modellers have already constructed the test shot of this kit...