Hi
Is the “new” Flak 18 from Tamiya a re-release of theor old 88? Are the crew new?
Click here for a previous discussion on the subject.
It is a re-release of the old kit with a new crew.
Have they reliesed the crew separately? I would love to make up a Sicily or Italy with the Dragon 88.
The Tamiya 8.8cm Flak gun is not a model 18 but can be built as either a Flak 36 or a Flak 37. They reissued the basic gun but put in a new sprue of DAK artillery crew. Try Rainbow Ten, the online Japanese shop, to order the DAK Crew sprue separately.
In terms of accuracy and finesse, I’d recommend the DML Flak 36 or 37 (despite the fact that the Tamiya kit was revolutionary in its day).
The Flak 18 is available from only AFV Club in injection plastic (very nice, BTW). It was also kitted in resin by Cal35 and CriEl but go with AFV Club.
(and NO, the DML Flak 36, Flak 37 or Tamiya Flak 36 and Flak 37 can’t be backdated to a Flak 18 either – there were significant differences between the 18 and the later 36 and 37. If you want more info on this, contact me offsite as I’ve authored a research article that will be published in the next Boresight magazine about the differing 8.8cm Flak guns and the myths surrounding their identification)
HTH
Roy
I agree with the AFV Club Flak 18. It is a superb kit, one of the better Flak gun kits on the market. After acquiring one, I quickly traded off my Tamiya Flak 36/37.