Merit 1/18th 88mm Flak 36 WiP (Completed pics Page 6)

Thanks Jean. And yes indeed, the errors with this are very magnified. But, if someone wants a large 88 at a good price and is not to worried about accuracy, its a lovely kit. But while I really wanted this in a big scale, I felt it just deserved the extra work. But compared to the detail you get with a Dragon kit (I've got their 35th Flak 37 in the stash) its chalk and cheese.

But all this scratchbuilding is not something I would want to do very often.

Hey Bish!

I just went through the whole tread, OUTSTANDING work on this big guy!  

I wish I could have kicked myself in the butt earlier and become active here again at Christmas time, I would not have missed your Flak 36 then and would have followed it "live"!

I'm going to pass on this kit though.  As someone mentioned in this tread (I think it was Bill), the lack of details at this scale is more apparent!   Great scratch work throughout!

Jean-Michel

Thanks, I wish there was a prize lol.

When I say about units being taken over, I was not on about the Flak Divisions but rather the Flak battalions within a Division. But it seems that these did not even exist until 1943 and before then the Army would rely on the Air Force Flak units. And then once the threat from the air grew greater, the Army created its own Flak units. I guess I had misunderstood.

I was checking through one of my German uniforms books after the last post and I had not realised that Army Flak units did indeed wear white. Strange that they did this rather than the usual Artillery red.

Thnaks for those links, i'll have a read through them.

Bish, grats on the 10k mark.  I wasn't aware there was a prize for the achievement, right on!

As far as the flak query goes, I can't find anything either that states these units were taken over by the army. Interesting find was a couple of American documents dated 1943, with their assessment of flak units.  Seems to state these was both integrated into army units, thus wearing white waffenfarbe, and those that were attached from the Luftwaffe, in which case red piping was the order.

http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/cgsc/carl/wwIIspec/number10.pdf

http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt/german-antiaircraft-defense-flak.html

regards,

Jack

Bish

And I just have to mark this. This is my 10,000th post. Finally, my free life time subscription to the mag.

You Da Man Bish!  It couldn't happen to a finer fellow   

Thanks for that info Jack. One thing I have never ben able to clarify is the Flak elements within a Division. I seem to recall reading that these were originally Luftwaffe units but that the army took over in 1943, but I have not been able to confirm it. In facvt, from what I have been able to find, there were no Flak Battalions within the Divisions until 1943, which is counter to what I had always believed.

I do have some good books on German airforce uniforms, so I recon I can have a go at re working that figure if I need to.

I have found one on e-bay so I think I might put it together and then see how it looks.

And I just have to mark this. This is my 10,000th post. Finally, my free life time subscription to the mag.

Did some searching through my reference library, and combined with these charts, it looks like the Luftwaffe would crew the 88's, their battalions being attached to the army.

http://niehorster.orbat.com/011_germany/41-oob/corps_dak.html

http://niehorster.orbat.com/011_germany/42-oob/42-10-23/d-i-pz-aok.html

According to Osprey,  the earlier crews were given army tropical clothing but replaced all insignia with their own (I'm assuming continental), including collar patches.

By late '41, they began issuing their own tropical clothing.  The field jacket differed slightly, more golden coloured, (but I've a photo book that has examples showing it was also made in blue-grey!) with straight edge flaps on the pockets and no pleats on the bottom pockets.  It was also designed to be fastened at the collar.  No collar patches worn, and Luftwaffe chest eagle in grey thread on tan backing for all ranks.  Trousers would also be more loose fitting, with a large pocket on the left thigh.

regards,

Jack

Thanks jack, ye, I was looking at that one. Would not take to much to correct it, not sure about the Waffenfarbe, but wasn't white waffenfabe for Inf, I think it would be red whether it was an Air Force weapon or army, will have to look into that.

If I add it, I will post some more pics.

Bish, very impressive work on the 'dreaded 88'.  

As far as figures go, Tamiya did have a 1/16  Afrika tank crewman.

It could easily be converted to an artilleryman by shaving off the skulls on his lapels, and using red instead of pink waffenfarbe, (or would it be under army control - then white piping would be in order).  Oh, and also the panzer badge on the chest pocket would have to go.

regards,

Jack

Sorry, bill, hadn't seen your post. Thank you very much. Much appreciated.

It was real satisfying to add all those details without any AM, I think I will be doing quite a bit more of that.

Haven't been able to get back here for a while Bish but glad to see this one get done! Very nice work not only in the scale but also in all of the details. A real winner for sure!

Thanks very much. I am really getting the taste for scratchbuilding, it is time consuming, as much so or if not more than adding PE. But it is very satisfying.

And I must admit, it does look rather nice. Unfortunately I still haven't decided where to put it. Its currently on the floor next to the model bench, but I really should move it before it gets damaged.

And thanks again, and glad you find it useful.

Bish,

A truly remarkable job. Thanks for taking the time to explain so much of what you were doing. I learned a lot for my own future work. The 88 was an amazing weapon. You have captured it well. Congratulations. It must look awesome in person.

Thanks a lot guys, I am indeed extremely pleased with this one.

garzonh, for these sort of displays, I prefer only partial cover of the board with a nice stain surrounding the terrain. I don't view this as a dio, simply a means of displaying the model. For dio's I do indeed cover the full board. I might look at getting a 1/16th figure, the nearest scale there seems to be, but I am still not sure yet. I just wanted the focus to be on the gun itself.

And no offense taken, its all down to personal taste I guess.

WOW, looks so nice and detailed, painting and weathering loos awesome.

I would had liked to have the complete base covered in sand and one figure would make it perfect!. But no offense it is a museum quality model.

Cheers!

You can take some pride in that project buddy.

Thanks guys. And thanks again for those pics Johan.

Outstanding m8!

Truly inspiring and challenging Blog...

Thank you, its just XLNT!

Very Best Regards

Johan

Haven't been looking in so often lately, so missed most of your build; but the finished article is looking real good. Congrats...cheers....Kenny

Thanks Ernest, the ones here are about the same size, I just wasn't sure if there were any that were not quite as long, but I guess the extra will come in handy. I think I will try and get some this week and get some better pics.

Next build is a Panther for the D-day GB, so back to something a bit more familiar.

Bish, I'm using a 26" wide roll of background paper I ordered online from either Adorama or B&H Photo (can't remember which).  They do sell different width rolls....seems the standard sizes are 26", 53" and 107".  26" is perfect for most average size models,  but I'm not sure if it would suit a dio....??

Here's the link to Adorama:  http://www.adorama.com/l/Lighting-and-Studio/Backgrounds-and-Supports/Paper-Backgrounds

and to B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/seamless-paper/ci/23680/N/3976090297

I'm pretty sure both of these are based in the U.S., but I would bet that there's something similar in the UK!

I also going to start using a nicer, graduated background for final photos.  Its made by Flotone and is a bit more expensive, but looks quite nice as a background for models, especially those that are a bit larger.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/17747-REG/Flotone_GFT409_Graduated_Background_31x43.html

I hope this helps!  Looking forward to your next build!

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

Amazing work, buddy! Your 88 sure is one gorgeous piece of art!

Simply soo-perb! 

Well done!

Lee

Ernest, seing as you dropped in, a quick question. You may recall a while back you mentioned you use photographic backing paper for your backgrounds. As you can see from my pics, I am using two sheets of paper but even these are not really big enough for stuff this size.

What size photo backing paper were you able to get. The only stuff I can find comes in lengths 11m long, which is a bit much. I was wondering if you were able to get anything smaller.

Thanks very much guys.

Don, I hadn't considered a figure, there is a Tamiya DAK Tank crewman that would fit the scene, might have a look into that. The kit did have 4 88mm shells that I was going to use, but I wasn't to keen on those.

The base was pretty simple. Its just a piece of furniture board I got from the local DIY store cut to the right size. I routed the edge, I bought a router just for this and the Darth Vadar figure I have just finished, and its a nice toy, I will defiantly be making more use of that. Once stained and varnished, I masked off and sprayed the desert yellow patch for the DAK badge.

The badge and the 88 were cut out of 6mm MDF with a copping saw, that was a bit fiddly, especially the palm tree. Then finally the desert terrain, this was celluclay mixed with sand to give texture and acrylic paint until I had the right colour and than just laid on, and the stones are pumice and some Talus. And that was it.

Thanks for following along Don.

Steve, thank you, and thanks for all your impute. And your similes, which always make me, mmmm, well, smile.

Ernest, thanks, glad you managed to catch it.

It was a real pleasure to build, as well as a challenge. Its not often I buy a kit and build it so soon. But as soon as I saw this was being released last year, I knew I wanted one. And I am really pleased with it, but I think that's it for scratch building for a little bit, at least until next time.

OH MAN!  I take a couple of afternoon naps and I almost miss the completed 88!!  I even mentioned in another thread that I was trying to keep tabs on this build!  DOH!!!

Great work Bish!!  I love the whole dusty DAK look and the base.  You put in a lot of effort in detailing and painting this big gun and it definitely paid off!!  Nice work on the "88" and DAK symbol....they really add to the presentation! 

Bish

Unlike Don, I haven't been so silent in following your build.

Regardless, this is a thing of beauty, both model and base offset one another as a unified whole.

Well Done! 

Bish,

I've been following this build silently up until now, but really have to congratulate you on your excellent work!  Great job, and I really like the base.  How about a short description of how you made that? 

Would be really nice with a figure or two; are there DAK 1:16 figs available?  And would the scale difference be noticeable? 

Don