20mm Flak 38

MAC Distribution, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Glenn Porter

MAC's 1/72 scale Flak 38 is available online from Squadron.com

I do believe MAC Distribution is, as the name implies, mainly a distribution company, distributing other people’s models although some of the kits may be of their own design. This may be one of them.

The Flak 38 was a modification and improvement on the Flak 30, also produced by MAC [kit no 72053], which was thought to have too slow a rate of fire. By modifying the bolt and spring mechanisms the rate of fire was increased and the Flak 38 began to enter service in 1940 and lasted till the end of the war.

In 1/72 scale, this kit is very small but looking at the sprue under my magnifier reveals some very fine detail such as the ribs on the magazines and tread on the circular footplates. Unlike the Flak 30 kit, this one has the shields in plastic rather than PE. They may be a bit over scale but some trimming around the edges should fix this. The only sink mark I could find was right in the middle of the gunner’s seat and should be easy to deal with. One potential problem will be how to paint the gun barrel and breech in gunmetal while the rest of the model is in Dark Yellow or Dark Grey. I think, if the whole model was assembled with no glue being applied to the barrel/breech, the top of the mount i.e. the two circular bits could be prised apart with some care and the barrel removed. Then the separate assemblies could be painted their respective colours before a reversal of the same procedure.

The instructions show three colour schemes, one in Dark Grey [Panzer Grey], Hollandia 1942, a second in Dark Yellow, DAK, Tunis 1943, and a third also in Dark Yellow of SS-Panzer-Flak- Abtailung 12, 1944. The third example has Green squiggly lines on the three gun shields.

I think the grab handles on the PE set would be better not used and substituted with fine wire bent to shape. This would only leave the small central shield and the foot trigger in PE, making the whole kit easier to make.

This impressive little kit should have many uses, Built in its own right, on or off the trailer, or as part of a diorama or as part of another vehicle. No mater how you build it, it’s highly detailed and should be a credit to what you add it too.

Highly Recommended though not to novices.

Thanks to Squadron for the review sample.

Review and Images Copyright © 2005 by Glen Porter
Page Created 05 January, 2005
Last updated 05 January, 2005

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