Border Models 1/35 German 88mm Flak 36/37 Gun w/6 Anti-Aircraft Artillery Crew Kit

The German “88” was the most famous and feared artillery weapon of World War II.  Krupp company designers, working in Switzerland to avoid post-World War I treaty restrictions, developed the gun in the late 1920s.  The famous “flak” gun got its name from the German word Flugabwehrkanone, meaning aircraft defense cannon.

During the Spanish Civil War, German troops fired guns at oncoming tanks and fortified bunkers with very effective results.  This success in combat led to versions of the 88 mm equipped to engage ground targets that were in view or barrage enemies from long range.  The gun’s high muzzle velocity and heavy projectile made the “88” particularly effective against heavily-armored vehicles.  The weapon was rugged, hard-hitting, and adaptable.

The updated German 88mm FlaK 37 guns added a rather sophisticated (for the time being) fire-control data display unit. This anti-aircraft gun initially was to be used in the defense of the homeland, although 90 FlaK 37s were sold to Finland for defense against Soviet air raids. And nearly 200 of the guns fell into Norwegian hands when the Germans departed that country.

The first thing many of you might notice in this special edition is the metal box or tin that the kit is packaged inside.