PMMS
Voyager Models
88mm Flak 18
Voyager 1:35 Set # PE 35067AF
Review by Terry Ashley
Voyager Models
As well as the update set for the Dragon 88mm Flak36 (kit #6260), Voyager have also released this comprehensive update set designed for the AFV Club 88mm Flak 18 (kit #AF35088) which consists of ten etched frets plus 5cm lengths of .5mm and 1.0mm plastic rod, a 5cm length of 0.3mm steel wire, a 20cm length of string, a small photo film dial face, four resin cable ends and a three page instruction sheet.

The etched frets are of different thickness with fret A being double the thickness for the gun shields to be better represented with the other frets varying in thickness to allow excellent etched relief on items such as the cable reel faces and thinner frets for smaller fittings and storage boxes. Four of the ten frets are in very thin stainless steel for the quadrant scaling and degree indicators on the base pedestal as well as some very fine chain and the different thicknesses allow for excellent scale definition on the parts.

The quality of the etchings is superb with crisp clean detail and relief etching with the usual engraved bending lines with the parts being amongst the very best quality etched sets available today. Many of the parts are very small and care will be needed during handling and assembly and experience working with etched parts would also be helpful.

As with the other the larger parts in the set are for the complete gun shield to replace the plastic kit shield (Actually the same fret as in set PE35060DRA) and this is provided in one large part, but note that the bending line for the side shields is at the front where you bend the shields away from the engraved line and not the usual where the bend line is behind the bend. This is so the engraved bend line represents the small space between the main and side shields once bent and does make the job easier. There are also separate etched bolt heads for the side and main shield with small holes indicating the location of the many bolt heads as well as additional parts for the sight opening door and shield attachments.
Also included are optional shield panels sometimes fitted around the Recuperator Cylinder on some guns used in the ground attach role.

There are also included kill marking stencils for a ship, tank and aircraft that will allow you to airbrush any number of kill markings for the gun you are building.

Separate shield supports that attach to the lower front of the gun cradle and the upper shield support arm attachments are included as well as small hinges to be attached at the appropriate locations on the inside of the shields.

The gun is detailed with etched parts that replace the kit Travers Limit Indicator (kit part B21), the photo film dials and three etched parts for the Fuse Setter Scale (kit part B37, G1) and the fuse setter caps with all these parts requiring some minor modifications to the kit parts and also the saving of some plastic detail to add back with the etched parts but the added detail definition will be worth the effort.

The gun travel lock securing chain is made up of seven very fine link chain sections sandwiched together to form the curved barrel support chain which replaces the kit part E11 and while this is in very fine requiring some careful handling the resulting part is simply superb. A length of flat link chain again with seven sandwiched sections is provided for when the gun is in firing position to keep up the level of detail.

There are numerous smaller fittings and brackets around the gun mount assembly such as leg stake attachments, tool clips, small chains, handles on the fuse setter box and other box hinges and latches. As mentioned there is also the degree scaling for around the top of the pedestal gun mount to add that final detail touch and Voyager again don't bother to replace the kit etched parts for the leg stake fins and etched faces for the Elevation and Azimuth indicators as the kit etched parts are perfectly adequate.

The two carriage bogies are extensively detailed with again virtually every smaller fitting and attachment replaced with etched parts that require the attachment points on the kit bogies to be removed beforehand. This includes the large cable reel support boxes, mounts and reel faces which are especially well done with excellent relief on the etchings and while you are given etched cable drums that you have to bend to the right curve it may be easier to use the plastic kit items if they will be covered by the cables anyway.

All the tool clips and attachments are also replaced with etched parts that require you to remove the kits attachments and brackets as well the etched crew seat with perforations that require the small curves to be added as well as back rests from thin wire.
Other details include a highly detailed brake assembly with levers, attachments and numerous small brackets and thin rod with the end result being of much finer detail definition.
There are also as a bonus resin tow cable shackles and a length of string for the wire cable to use as required.

As a bonus there is a selection of uniform rank and award badges for four gun crew figures to use as required.

The three page instruction sheet has exploded view drawings showing the various sub assemblies but distinguishing the numbered AFV Club kit parts from the numbered etched parts is a little confusing and care will be needed. It may be an idea to go though the sequences using a highlighter to indicate the different parts to make things easier.

Conclusion;
This is another extensively detailed set that will add many finer details to an already excellent kit with only minor modifications required on the kit parts to add the new etched parts with the details on the gun controls, shields, barrel lock chain and cable reels being notable.

Highly Recommended.
The etched frets
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Voyager Models
Instruction Sheets
Voyager Models
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Thanks to my credit card and Hobby Easy for the review set.



Page Created September 25, 2005

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