PMA’s 1:72 scale USMC M60A1 Patton Medium Tank with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) and Amphibious Gear
We learned that a new pair of armored vehicles have been added to the PMA arsenal; an updated 88mm FLaK gun in a Norman paint scheme, as well as a USMC M60 Patton tank outfitted with both Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) and an amphibious snorkeling device. While neither subject is new to the PMA stable, they do, nonetheless, represent important additions since stocks of their previous incarnations are beginning to run down.
Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German 88mm Flak 36/37 Anti-Aircraft Gun with FLaK Rohr 18 Gun Barrel and Sd. 202 Towing Vehicle – Deutsches Afrika Korps, El Alamein, North Africa, 1942 [Comes with Seven Crewmen and Rommel]
There are a number of distinctions between Unimax, the former makers of the Forces of Valor line and Waltersons, its new caretakers. While both companies cared about quality, consistency and dedication to their craft, its becoming increasingly clear that Waltersons wants to demonstrate its depth of knowledge and keen interest in the subject matter by offering a range of product that will truly sit well with today’s collector. Take, for instance, their 88mm FLaK gun, which first came out earlier this year and will now be reintroduced in just a few short months. The first model reflected a gun used by the Deutsches Afrika Korps at the Battle of El Alamein in late 1942. As such, it comes with the original 8.8cm FLaK Rohr 18 gun barrel, as well other gear designed for the first batch of 88s.
For the uninformed, the Flak 18’s carriage allowed it to fire in an emergency when still on its wheels and without its outriggers, but with a very limited traverse and elevation. For normal emplacement, one single-axle bogie was detached from the front outrigger and one from the rear, side outriggers were then hinged from the vertical position to the ground; the total time to set up was estimated at two and a half minutes. Both modes of operation made the gun much more suitable for fast-moving operations, the basic concept of the Blitzkrieg. The weight of the gun meant that only large vehicles could move it, the Sd. Kfz. 7 half-track becoming a common prime mover.
Targeting indicators were attached from the central controller to each of the four guns of a battery, allowing for coordinated fire. Indeed, with the automatic loading system, the gun layers’ job was to keep the gun barrel trained on the target area based on the signals from the controller. The loaders would keep the weapon fed with live ammunition which would fire immediately upon insertion — all while the gun layer aimed the weapon according to the data.
Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German 88mm Flak 36 Anti-Aircraft Gun with FLaK Rohr 36 Gun Barrel and Sd. 202 Towing Vehicle – Unidentified Unit, Stalingrad, 1942
Rather than repaint the gun, as Unimax chose to do, to portray an 88mm gun employed at the Battle of Stalingrad, Waltersons decided to go one step further and instead model the improved 8.8cm FLaK Rohr 36 gun barrel, which had a two-piece barrel for easier replacement of worn liners. Flak 36s were often fitted with an armored shield that provided limited protection for the gunners. These shields could be retro-fitted on older Flak 18s as well.
There’s a better than average chance that the third gun in the series, the FLaK 37, will also be modeled at some point in time, thereby covering all three different versions, and hopefully appeasing collectors and historians alike. Will the average layperson be able to distinguish one gun from another? Apart from the paint schemes probably not, but Waltersons thought it important enough to avoid making some of the same mistakes the former owners of the series tended to make when addressing the evolution of the gun and its employment throughout the war in differing theaters of operation.
Forces of Valor’s German 88mm Flak 36/37 Anti-Aircraft Gun with Trailer – Deutsches Afrika Korps, North Africa, 1942
“The peril of the hour moved the British to tremendous exertions, just as always in a moment of extreme danger things can be done which had previously been thought impossible. Mortal danger is an effective antidote for fixed ideas.”
– Generalfeldmarschal Erwin Rommel
At long last, Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, has begun to draw back the curtains on some of the 1:32 scale military vehicles collectors can expect to lay their mitts on this holiday season. The first vehicle they have lassoed from the dressing room is the venerable 88mm FLaK gun, this time around painted in the desert scheme colors of the Deutsches Afrika Korps. As you can see by the close-up image, no detail has been left out, including a pitted gun shield and kill tally, as well as a dual display mode, so collectors can show the gun in either a transported mode or ready to do battle atop its cruciform mount. While the accompanying figures were omitted from these test shots, the DAK version will include 8 figures – seven crewmen to serve the weapon and the Desert Fox himself, Erwin Rommel. We’re getting close to a release date, which will hopefully make it available around Turkey Day.
Observe the pitted marks on the gun shield and some of the kill markings on the lower portion of the gun barrel signifying this gun has seen its fair share of battle.
No doubt a Sd.Kfz.7 prime mover, adorned in the desert colors of the DAK, will follow suit, so collectors can proudly display in the gun in a towed mode with the crew seated within the vehicle\s passenger compartment.
The wheel assemblies can be detached enabling collectors to display their gun in either a transport or action mode. Notice too the burnished barrel indicating lots of wear and tear and heavy usage on the battlefield.
Waltersons upcoming 88mm FLaK gun will come in two flavors, including an all-new DAK scheme
On their Facebook page, Waltersons acknowledged plans to release two different versions of their German 88mm Flak gun: one will likely be patterned off of an existing livery, likely an early war field grey or whitewashed version, while the second replica will be based on a gun used in North Africa by the Deutsches Afrika Korps. Interestingly, the second version will come with a complement of eight figures instead of the usual five, one being the Desert Fox himself, Erwin Rommel. The other additional figures are ammunition proximity fuse operators. Its also not clear if the DAK version will be priced the same as the early war version, seeing as it boasts three additional painted figures. So, for now, we’ve listed the DAK version on our site at the same price as the grey one, until we hear otherwise. We’re guessing that Waltersons will also produce two versions of the Sd Kfz. 7 prime mover, which was used to tow the guns, both in the same schemes as the 88mm FLaK guns. Time will tell if we are correct.
Precision Model Art (PMA) has undergone some changes of late, but that doesn’t mean their quality has suffered or their lineup has been affected. As several new items arrive this month, we’ve also learned that a bunch of other products are in the wings, proving they are in it for the long haul against some of the more entrenched players with wider assortments.
Expected in January are two new renditions of the 88mm FLaK gun – one painted in a desert camouflage pattern (P0311) and the other in a winter livery (P0313). Also on the docket are two 5-man WWII era figure sets containing German soldiers in varying poses (P0401 and P0402). While the PMA products are a bit pricier than their competition, its important to keep in mind that they offer far more detail and craftsmanship, thereby warranting the higher coinage. For instance, the 88mm guns come with ammo crates and the gun itself can be configured to either a towed or firing position. Look for these and other new items to roll in this January.
Despite falling behind schedule, Dragon is continuing to show off lots of new 1:72 scale armor, no doubt as part of their grand offensive in 2013. Among the new introductions is this Ersatz M10 tank destroyer, which, in effect, is a modified Panther tank featuring bolted on armor around the superstructure to make it look like a US M10 tank destroyer (DRR60529). Also shown for the first time is a FLaK 37 88mm anti-aircraft gun, used in the harsh urban environs of Stalingrad in late 1942. Finally, up for consideration is a British Churchill Mk. III infantry tank, painted in a mottled summer camouflage pattern to reflect its usage in the mountains of Tunisia during 1943.
Panzerstahl’s German 88mm Flak 36/37 Anti-Aircraft Gun – Unidentified Unit, Stalingrad, 1942
We’re happy to report that a great many new items are winging their way to us as we speak. For openers, all six of Panzerstahl’s 88mm FLaK guns are expected, as is the first flock of Aviation 72 aircraft. Several new Hobby Master products are also on the docket, including their first ever British Comet cruiser tank.
Panzerstahl’s German 88mm Flak 36/37 Anti-Aircraft Gun – Unidentified Unit, Stalingrad, 1942
We’re happy to report that a great many new items are winging their way to us as we speak. For openers, all six of Panzerstahl’s 88mm FLaK guns are expected, as is the first flock of Aviation 72 aircraft. Several new Hobby Master products are also on the docket, including their first ever British Comet cruiser tank.
