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37mm Flak43 L/60
German AA Gun Barrel

ABER Set No. 35 L-10
1:35th Scale
Review by Terry Ashley

ABER have released a while back this set for the 37mm Flak43 AA gun which consists on the aluminium barrel and separate machined brass flash suppressor. The barrel itself is drilled out at the muzzle which can be seen looking through the flash suppressor when attached giving the impression of an actual barrel.

Metal barrel parts
ABER

The flash suppressor is the standout part as it is fully hollowed out back past the collar gas holes with cleanly drilled holes in the flash suppressor and collar. There is some excess brass “flash” inside the larger collar holes which can be cleaned easily with a sharp blade and appropriate sized drill to clean out the inside. This is not meant to actually drill but just to slip the bit in and turn to catch the excess brass, all very easy.

Flash suppressor
ABER

The fit of the flash suppressor to the barrel is excellent without any trimming needed and the flash suppressor matches in size exactly to the 1:35 plans in Panzer Tracts No.12 Flakpanzer and Nuts and Bolts Vol.13 Flakpanzer IV with the barrel length also matching these plans. But if you wanted to get really picky the barrel diameter is fractionally narrower than the plans but we are talking about 0.25mm so is probably not worth worrying about.

The barrel can be used on the applicable Tamiya or Italeri kits with the modifications needed being similar on both kits. This is to simply cut off the kit barrel at the front of the gun, drill a small hole and slip the metal in place, all very easy.

Fitting barrel to Tamiya Flak 43
ABER
Instructions
ABER

Conclusion:
Another superbly detailed barrel with the flash suppressor being the standout feature as well as having the barrel drilled out and is a simple update to add that extra detail to any Flak43 kit.

Highly recommended.

37mm Flak 43 barrel comparison :
There are other 37mm Flak43 barrels available from ARMO, Armorscale, Lion Roar, Modelpoint and Schatton Modellbau and I will have a brief look at those here to see how they compare.

The ABER barrel (35 L-10) is the correct length with fully opened out suppressor and collar holes with the suppressor cone being slightly thinner than the others. The actual barrel is also drilled out giving a better appearance of an actual barrel than the others which have solid barrels and is the better of those available.

The ARMO barrel (35 715) is too short and thin and while the flash suppressor is fully hollowed out with cleanly drilled holes the collar holes are solid with just indentations to represent the holes.

The Armorscale barrel (B35-029) is identical in all respects to the ABER barrel so I'll leave it at that?

The Lion Roar barrel (LB3514) rates second amongst those available being the correct length with fully opened out flash supressor and collar holes but the suppressor cone is slightly thicker than the ABER barrel and the barrel is solid without the hollow look of the ABER barrel.

The Modelpoint barrel (3574) is too short and the flash suppressor is undersized compared to available data. Also while the flash suppressor holes are opened out, those in the neck are solid and precise drilling would be needed to open out.

The Schatton Modellbau barrel (3503) is the correct length and flash suppressor size but the flash suppressor is not fully hollowed out with a hole drilled down the middle and only bevelled at the tip leaving the sides of the suppressor quite thick. The holes are drilled cleanly and you get two barrels in the set with only one in each of the other sets.

Comparison of ABER, Armo, Lion Roar, Modelpoint and Schatton Modellbau barrels
Flak43
ABER (left), Lion Roar, Modelpoint and Schatton Modellbau (right) barrel flash suppressor
showing the thinner ABER suppressor cone and the bevelled inside profile of the
Schatton barrel
ABERLion RoarModelpointSchatton Modellbau

Thanks toAirconnection for the review barrel.

Airconnection carry the full range of ABER update sets and barrels.



Page created June 15, 2006
Updated January 9, 2007

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