FlaK36/37 Gun Barrel Sets
1:35 Scale Metal Barrel Comparison
Review by Terry Ashley
There are now seven metal replacement barrels available for the FlaK36/37 AA gun and all are designed for the Tamiya kits Sd.Kfz.7/2 (kit #35144) and 3.7cm FlaK37 AA Gun (kit #35145), some have been around for a few years while others more recent and that is reflected in some of the details included in the barrels sets.
We will have a brief look at the seven barrels available to see how they compare and what is the best option in terms of detail and features, those compared here are from:
Set #35 L-12The 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. There is some excess brass burs inside the larger collar holes which can be cleaned easily with a sharp blade poked into the holes and the burs just falls away leaving perfectly clean holes.
Dimensionally the barrel length matches the 1:35 plans in Panzer Tracks No.12 Flak Selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer perfectly while the flash suppressor size also matches apart from being just over 1mm longer than indicated.
Image showing flash suppressor with open holes and brass collar
Set #B35-055:This FlaK36/37 barrel from armorscale has parts designed very similar to and is dimensionally the same as the ABER 37mm Flak37 barrel in set #35 L-12 with the only difference being the open holes in the flash suppressor neck are fractionally smaller on the armorscale part.
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. There is some excess brass burs inside the larger collar holes which can be cleaned easily with a sharp blade poked into the holes and the burs just falls away leaving perfectly clean holes.
Dimensionally the barrel length matches the 1:35 plans in Panzer Tracks No.12 Flak Selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer book perfectly while the flash suppressor size also matches apart from being just over 1mm longer than indicated.
AImage showing flash suppressor with open holes and brass collar
Set #BD35023: 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 without any cleanup needed. The only issue with the flash suppressor is the edges of the cone are a little on the thinker side compared to others available.
The barrel doesn't include the collar section and only has a small lip plus the locating pin for fitting to the kit gun receiver, this isn't a problem as you just cut off the kit barrel at the appropriate point.
Dimensionally the barrel length matches the 1:35 plans in Panzer Tracks No.12 Flak Selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer book perfectly while the flash suppressor size also matches apart from being just over 1mm longer than indicated.
Image showing flash suppressor with open holes
Set #LB3513:The flash suppressor is very nicely done and is fully hollowed out back past the collar gas holes with cleanly drilled holes in the flash suppressor without any cleanup needed. The only issue with the flash suppressor is the edges of the cone are a little on the thinker side compared to others available.
The barrel doesn't include the collar section and only has a small lip plus the locating pin for fitting to the kit gun receiver, this isn't a problem as you just cut off the kit barrel at the appropriate point.
Dimensionally the flash suppressor size matches the 1:35 plans in Panzer Tracks No.12 Flak Selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer book perfectly but the barrel length is about 2mm longer than that indicated in the plans which in turn makes the overall length 2mm to long.
Image showing flash suppressor with open holes
Set #3564:The set has the barrel tube that includes the front section of the gun housing and the separate brass flash suppressor with no cleanup needed on either part.
The flash suppressor is fully hollowed out with cleanly drilled holes in the flash suppressor and has the thinnest cone edges in any of the available barrels. Unfortunately the "holes" in the suppressor neck are not opened up and are just indentations which distracts from the final appearance.
The barrel as mentioned also includes the front section of the gun housing with the barrel retaining collars included, this isn't a problem only that you just cut off the kit barrel at the appropriate point including the corresponding section of the plastic gun housing.
Dimensionally the flash suppressor size is okay but is 1mm longer than the 1:35 plans in Panzer Tracks No.12 Flak Selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer and the barrel length is also 1mm longer than indicated in the plans which in turn makes the overall length 2mm to long.
Image showing flash suppressor with open holes
Set #35B55:This FlaK36/37 barrel from RB Model is essentially identical to the armorscale 37mm Flak 36/37 in set #B35-055 which in turn has parts designed very similar to and is dimensionally the same as the ABER 37mm Flak37 barrel in set #35 L-12 with the only difference being the open holes in the flash suppressor neck are fractionally smaller on the armorscale and RB Model parts.
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. There is some excess brass burs inside the larger collar holes which can be cleaned easily with a sharp blade poked into the holes and the burs just falls away leaving perfectly clean holes.
Dimensionally the barrel length matches the 1:35 plans in Panzer Tracks No.12 Flak Selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer book perfectly while the flash suppressor size also matches apart from being just over 1mm longer than indicated.
Image showing flash suppressor with open holes and brass collar
Set #3502:The flash suppressor has the smaller holes in the cone as well as partially opened neck holes but the inside of the cone is not fully hollowed out with the end just countersunk drilled which is really noticeable with this large suppressor cone and distracts considerably from the overall appearance.
The barrel doesn't include the collar section and only has a small lip plus the locating pin for fitting to the kit gun receiver, this isn't a problem as you just cut off the kit barrel at the appropriate point.
Dimensionally the flash suppressor size matches the 1:35 plans in Panzer Tracks No.12 Flak Selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer book perfectly but the barrel length is 1mm longer than that indicated in the plans which in turn makes the overall length 1mm to long..
Image showing flash suppressor with open holes
Of the seven barrels available, three are almost identical in part breakdown and details, those from ABER, armorscale and RB Models with the only difference being the holes in the flash suppressor neck are slightly smaller in the ABER barrel. While all three are 1mm longer than the plans indicate either would be the first choice for the Flak36/37 barrel replacement.
Next would be either the Barrel Depot of Lion Roar barrels and again each has some dimensional differences to the available plans but are let down a little by the thinker flash suppressor cone edges.
The Model Point barrel while it has the thinnest flash suppressor cone edges is let down by the neck holes only being indentations and not fully opened up like the others available.
And finally is the Schatton Modellbau that only has the suppressor neck holes partially opened up but the poor detail on the suppressor cone where it is only partially drilled out is really noticeable and compared to the other barrel sets available not really a viable option.
Overall I would rate the seven barrels as:
- 1. Set #35 L-12
- 1. Set #B35-055
- 1. Set #35B55
Little to pick between these three as they are all but identical in part breakdown and details. - 2. Set #BD35023
- 2. Set #LB3513
Again little to pick between these two as the second option available. - 3. Set#3564
Let down by the suppressor neck holes not being opened out. - 4. Set #3502
Again let down considerably by the only partially opened out suppressor cone and neck holes.
indicate the dimensions as per the 1:35 plans in the
Panzer Tracks No.12 Flak Selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer book.
