Review of the 88 Flak Gun

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:55 am

T-man what are the name of the figures you used?

Post by **aferguson** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:09 am

yes that cover is a big oversight and pretty much impossible to do anything about, as far as fixing it goes. It's going to be as annoying as the side windows on the bbi blackhawk being molded on......also nearly impossible to fix well.

I've always wondered about that opening on the real gun though. Why was it so big? To sight a gun you just need a pin hole to look through not a huge gaping hole. And if was so important that it had to be open while the gun was in operation why make a closing door for it at all? The only time it could be closed was when the gun wasn't in operation and then you don't really need it to be closed because nobody is shooting at you.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:12 am

If the gunner was tracking a moving target it would be easier looking out a large hole then a small on.....Me thinks

Post by **aferguson** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:16 am

hm....maybe. But other anti tank guns had to track moving targets too and the holes in their shields are tiny......look at the pak 40.

I've asked the question on missing-lynx so we should have the answer soon.

And it really should open on the 21c model....i would have given up tons of other details for a swinging cover there.

AMERICAN_GRENADIER · Post by **AMERICAN_GRENADIER** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:29 am

According to my German artillery at war book. The shutter was used for direct-fire at closer ranges.

Panther F · Post by **Panther F** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:59 am

Any safe tips on pulling the seat down without breaking it?

Post by **aferguson** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:43 am

close ranges......with the enemy at close range do you want to have a big hole in your shield? And that still doesn't answer why it was so big....at close range there is even less need for the hole to be big. A simple periscope site would be fine and not compromise safety. Still it was obviously there and obviously used......except on our models of course because it doesn't fraking open.

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:56 am

Well, obviously engaging ground targets was a secondary role for the 88. That port was simply an afterthought.

Your crew looks great! Those molded legs really transform the figures.

-Ski

Post by **aferguson** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:08 am

the shield was specifically added for engaging ground targets. There was no shield when it was developed for the anti aircraft role. Once it was found how useful it was as an anti tank weapon the shield was added for crew protection.......so the shutter shouldn't really have been an after thought. If you look at many early war pics, such as in france, you'll see 88's engaging tanks and they don't have a shield because it hadn't been fielded yet.

By 1941 it had and all 88's in north africa had a shield.

GooglyDoogly · Post by **GooglyDoogly** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:51 pm

Nice dio, Tman! Those figures really accentuate just how good looking the 21st 88mm really is.

As for the shutter...it's easy enough to cut it out, and simply make a shutter door from plastruct styrene. And there are various small-scale hinges out there, so it's not a problem to fabricate a swinging shutter.

Hmmm...anyone know exactly how they lock into the closed-position?

AMERICAN_GRENADIER · Post by **AMERICAN_GRENADIER** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:17 pm

aferguson wrote:close ranges......with the enemy at close range do you want to have a big hole in your shield? And that still doesn't answer why it was so big....at close range there is even less need for the hole to be big. A simple periscope site would be fine and not compromise safety. Still it was obviously there and obviously used......except on our models of course because it doesn't fraking open.

I agree, but i believe you wouldnt want to press your face against a shield of a firing 88. it also shows in many pics a gunner using binoculars and a smaller range finder. I wish my grandfather was still alive. he was in the 14th SS on the Russian front. I bet he would know!

krieglok · Post by **krieglok** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:26 pm

The real "shutter" is pinned at one corner and pivots on the pin. You can see it in the b&w photo above. The FOV 1:32 "88" has this shutter as a working feature...

The folding seat snapped off at the mount the first time I fiddled with it. I glued the mount back on and cleaned up the area where the mount slides through the seat bracket with an exacto blade to enlarge and clean up the seam that binds up on the mount. It is a weak spot that needs care when adjusting.

I have to loosen all the ground pads as two of the four were stuck. A little graphite in the appropriate places should loosen up the gun at the recoil mechanism.

One thing that bugs me is the missing "chair" on the other limber. The paint is closer to the dark yellow used on later vehicles rather than the DAK sand yellow. The DAK yellow had a slight tinge of green to it.

Over all it is impressive but slightly over priced in my opinion. Thanks to Tman for inspiring me to buy six DAK figures. I just have to find the artillery guy with the rangefinder. I figure there should be eight guys, officer included. You need a guy to run the fuze setting computer if the RAF should happen to show up...

TJ

Post by **aferguson** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 4:22 pm

i've decided to go with the gun firing on its wheels pose too, like tman. Not having any dak figures (to be honest i don't really care much for them, which is why i never bothered to track any down) i'm using some of my germans in greatcoats as crew. Replacing helmets with caps, appropriately painted and boots with shoes from the s1 panzerfaust shooter dude.

I think it makes an interesting piece, showing the colder side of the desert war..

Obi2kenobi · Post by **Obi2kenobi** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 11:22 am

I just got my 88 from MD today. Wow, this thing is huge! Now I need to hit TRU for DAK crew members.

Jesse James · Post by **Jesse James** » Thu Feb 12, 2009 3:29 pm

I got mine yesterday and opened one up today... Here's my thoughts:

It's a very detailed piece, I like that. I'm a little disappointed the gun is so difficult to get it "loose" to tilt the barrel though, as something this pricey is scary to "break loose". "break" of course being the bad thing.

The level of detail though is pretty outstanding... Lots of pieces comprise it, and it is pretty decently covered with moving parts. It'd be nice if the tools came off, that's a feature I always liked (but haven't seen on many 21st items), but that's a small detail. The paintjob on the cannon itself is nice, but the shells are a bit of a mess. Speaking of the shells, it's neat you get 6 and 2 crates to keep them in. Very cool.

My overall opinion though is that this is what I initially felt it to be... I don't agree with the $80 price, but $80 for two of them I agree with, and am quite pleased I picked this up. If 21st does indeed go the way of the do-do, I'll have a 2nd to paint in a more generic grey (yay!) for my ETO figures to stand around.

My range finders finally have a home too, very cool.

Overall though I find this piece to be quite impressive and cool looking. It'll display very well with figures I think, much like the PAK-40 did, and it's a shame 21st is maybe in some kind of trouble because I longed for some U.S. artillery too at some point... alas, that's not looking good, but this piece is being enjoyed for now.

Fitzystigertank · Post by **Fitzystigertank** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 8:30 am

i shall be recieving mine today. hopefully it comes before i have to go to work.

Fitzystigertank · Post by **Fitzystigertank** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:06 am

so i recieved my 88 and i have to agree with everyone. this thing is awesome. so many moving parts. i had a lil hard part getting it to go up and down like the rest of you but it came loose. the steering is a lil tight.
i can see why you guys bought more then 1. one of the moving parts that are attached to the legs snapped. no big deal.

Black_Dragon_One · Post by **Black_Dragon_One** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:08 pm

I bought 1 more and that is it for me..

AMERICAN_GRENADIER · Post by **AMERICAN_GRENADIER** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:17 pm

ive been punching myself in the face to stop from buying even more.
my wife is already pissed
i have to try and resist.
or
Is resistance futile!

Razor17019 · Post by **Razor17019** » Fri Feb 13, 2009 10:39 pm

I just spent a good 45mins opening and setting up my 88, only to find that it is missing the seat at the back of the cannon!

I emailed Monkey Depot, but it looks like the do not have anymore of these in stock to replace mine.

I guess mine was made on a Friday or Monday and the guy that was putting seats that day was sick!

What a bummer!

exether_mega · Post by **exether_mega** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:23 am

Razor17019 wrote:I just spent a good 45mins opening and setting up my 88, only to find that it is missing the seat at the back of the cannon!
I emailed Monkey Depot, but it looks like the do not have anymore of these in stock to replace mine.
I guess mine was made on a Friday or Monday and the guy that was putting seats that day was sick!
What a bummer!

Hogan ! ! !

phil

CENT-ONE · Post by **CENT-ONE** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:46 am

Razor17019 wrote:I just spent a good 45mins opening and setting up my 88, only to find that it is missing the seat at the back of the cannon!

Do you mean the fold down seat on the cannon or the seat on the wheel section? If you're talking about the one on the wheels it only comes with a seat on one of the wheel assembly sections. If it's the fold down one you're talking about I can send you one off of one of mine that I'm keeping on the wheels (can't fold the seat down if it's being towed so I won't miss it).

Razor17019 · Post by **Razor17019** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 5:53 am

CENT-ONE wrote:
Razor17019 wrote:I just spent a good 45mins opening and setting up my 88, only to find that it is missing the seat at the back of the cannon!
Do you mean the fold down seat on the cannon or the seat on the wheel section? If you're talking about the one on the wheels it only comes with a seat on one of the wheel assembly sections. If it's the fold down one you're talking about I can send you one off of one of mine that I'm keeping on the wheels (can't fold the seat down if it's being towed so I won't miss it).

It's the seat on the wheel section. It looks like it was never installed. The 21st C box it came in was sealed and all the twist ties were in place. Thanks for the offer, I do appreciate it. But you will need your seat.
I am waiting for a response from MD on it.

MG-42 · Post by **MG-42** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 6:38 am

[+] > I got an X-tra towing arm banded to the barrel , near the breech , between the armor shield.

+

=--> + on another one ,.. the tie-down base tray that held the 88's , apparently , was only molded & made for 5-shells .

* Too bad I didn't get one w/ X-tra shells instead.

... That would'a been cool.

............... and an X-tra back-seat for "Razor".

->->->-----> Share the LOVE ! ! !

Mitch v MG

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:10 pm

Got my 2nd 88 today. I think I'll leave this one in the box for now as it is sort of 21c's last hurrah. In a few weeks, I plan on repainting my unboxed 88 into the standard field gray color

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Review of the 88 Flak Gun

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