PMMS
Adlers Nest
20mm FlaK 38
Barrel
Adlers Nest Set #ANM-35001
Review by Terry Ashley
Adlers Nest are a new company from Japan who have released for their first update set of a two part metal 2cm FlaK38 barrel for any of the available kits.
Barrel parts and close-up of flash suppressor
Adlers Nest
Adlers Nest

The barrel consists of an aluminium barrel and separate brass flash suppressor which includes the correct six larger holes around the collar section and the correct four rows of six smaller holes in the suppressor cone. The only minor concern is the flash suppressor is fractionally smaller than the plans and photos would indicate but this is really marginal at best and is only really apparent when comparing directly to other barrels available.

The flash suppressor and barrel length matches in size exactly to the 1:35 plans in Panzer Tracks No.12 Flakpanzer and Nuts and Bolts Vol.13 Flakpanzer IV with the actual measurements being; full length of the gun (housing and visible barrel including flash suppressor) 2252.5mm which equals 64.357mm in 1:35 scale and the visible length of the barrel with flash suppressor is 995mm is 28.429mm (rounded to 28.5mm) in 1:35 scale. The set barrel measures out exactly 28.5mm making it one of the most accurate of those available as it also includes the smaller sized collar holes mentioned above.

The parts are machined very cleanly with no clean-up or other alterations needed to fit the barrel and flash suppressor together before fitting to the target kit.

Assembled barrel
Adlers Nest

While you can use this barrel on any available FlaK38 kit it seems ready made to fit the the Dragon FlaK38 (kit #6288) as all you need do is cut off the plastic barrel, drill a small locating hole and fit the metal barrel, all very quick and easy.

Barrel fitted to Dragon kit 2cm gun
Adlers Nest

Conclusion:
This 2cm barrel from Adlers Nest has the correct length barrel and flash suppressor holes and makes for an excellent barrel. The barrel has very fine details with absolutely no cleanup, nothing could be easier and will add considerable detail to whatever FlaK38 kit you use it on.

Highly recommended.

See a full comparison of available FlaK38 barrels

References:
FlaK382cm FlaK38
Muzzle Reference images
book German 20mm FlaK in WWII
1395-1945
By Werner Müller
Schiffer Military History
ISBN: 0-88740-758-7

Soft cover
47 pages

bookTamiya Photo Album 4
Tamiya Plastic Model Co.

Krupp Protze
Flak30, Flak38

book2cm FlaK 30/38 Sfl
Sd.Kfz.10/4
Wydawnictwo Militaria 172

Adlers Nest sets are available from Rainbow Ten in Japan.


Page Created April 22, 2006
Updated May 14, 2006

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