2cm FlaK38 Barrel Sets
1:35 comparison Review
by Terry Ashley

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Most companies that produce aftermarket barrels seem to have a 2cm FlaK38 barrel of some sort in their inventory as well as additional accessory sets for the 2cm FlaK38 and we will have a brief look at some of those available here.

Note that this comparison only refers to the 2cm FlaK38 barrels as the 2cm KwK38 barrels used on vehicles such as the Sd.Kfz.222, 250/9, Luchs etc. are of slightly different design and aren’t included in this review.

The barrels considered are from ABER, Adlers Nest, ARMO, armorscale, Brach Models, Elefant, Finemodels, Griffon Models, Jordi Rubio, Lionmarc/Passions Models, Lion Roar, ModelPoint, RB Model and Schatton Modellbau.

All the barrels except those from ABER, Adlers Nest, armorscale, Griffon Models, Lionmarc/Passions Models, ModelPoint and RB Model are single piece barrels with the flash suppressor included while the ABER set has the flash suppressor parts as etched items and the Alders Nest, armorscale, Griffon Models, Lionmarc/Passions Models, ModelPoint and RB Model barrels have the flash suppressor as a separate metal part and all the barrels have the flash suppressor hollowed out to different degress.

Only those from ABER, Adlers Nest, armorscale, Griffon Models, Lionmarc/Passions Models, Lion Roar, RB Model and Schatton Modellbau include the small holes in the flash suppressor as on the real barrel while some provide just the barrel proper with others including parts of the gun and all require some modifications to the target kit gun but nothing that is too difficult and can usually be done in a few minutes.

So let’s have a closer look at each barrel before the final comparison chart and barrel ratings.

Additional information in the form of the actual gun dimensions from the FlaK38 Technical Manual show that only the barrels from Adlers Nest, armorscale, Griffon Models, Lionmarc/Passions Models, Lion Roar and RB Model are the correct length. The others all vary to different degrees leaving you with the choice of using them as is or shortening the barrel which will take a bit of work. Those that are longer can fairly easily be shorten by cutting out a section and re-attaching the barrel leaving the correct length such as the ABER and Schatton Modellbau.

The actual barrel measurements are; full length of the gun (housing and visible barrel including flash suppressor) is 2252.5mm which equals 64.357mm in 1:35 scale and the visible length of the barrel with flash suppressor is 995mm being 28.429mm (rounded to 28.5mm) in 1:35 scale.

As mentioned this barrel set includes a few etched parts for the flash suppressor and gun with the barrel as turned metal part.

The flash suppressor is quite small on the 20mm and this means the etched parts requiring bending are quite small and extreme care is needed to achieve a result. The only way to get the circular perforated flash suppressor neck bent is to use a jig such as a drill bit to “roll” the etched part around until the ends join, the same with the flash suppressor where you will need to use a cone “jig” of some sort. The flash suppressor also has the correct six larger rear gas holes and three rows of smaller holes in the suppressor cone.

The only issue is the overall length of the barrel at 30.5mm is 2mm longer than it should be in 1:35 scale with the actual scale length being 28.5mm, but this can be easily modified to the correct length using the same procedure as with the Schatton Modellbau barrel.

These parts are quite difficult to work with due to the size and the end result will depend on your skill and it is suggested that the best method of securing the parts is soldering which a lot of modellers won’t have done before and to have such small parts for the first try is quite daunting but the end result does have good detail definition.

This is the second 2cm barrel from Adlers Nest and is the correct dimensions, has the correctly depicted collar hole with two half length, the correct flash supressor holes as well as the textured barrel changing hand grips for the most accurate barrel released to date.

The barrel is available in standard brass finish (set #ANM35027) and the second in Blue Steel anodised finish (set #ANM35027B) for a very relaistic appearance without painting.

See the full barrel review for more details.

This is just the barrel itself with flash suppressor without any small gas holes with only small indentations to represent the holes in the flash suppressor neck and only requires the kit barrel be cut off to take this replacement

armorscale barrel is the correct length with the flash suppressor having four large holes in the rear collar and four rows of smaller holes in the outer suppressor cone.

Additional information shows that there are versions of the FlaK38 flash suppressor with four rows of smaller holes as depicted in this barrel as well as having eight larger holes in the supressor neck, and therefore this barrel is correct with the smaller suppressor holes.

See the full barrel review for more details.

Again this is just the barrel itself with flash suppressor with no small gas holes and just small indentations to represent the holes in the flash suppressor neck with the retaining flange and only requires the kit barrel be cut off to take this replacement.
This set also contains additional resin and mesh items for the spent shell catcher, see review here for details.

The barrel is a single turned metal part which includes the forward part of the gun but the flash suppressor is solid with no provision for the holes and only requires minor alterations the target kit to fit the barrel.

I have included this barrel as it is marketed as a FlaK38 or Luchs barrel but is noticeably longer than any other in the survey. Additional research has also shown these barrels are actually different and the barrel also has a solid flash suppressor with no provision for the holes.

These barrels are 1.5mm too long, the flash suppressor is too big and is just a solid lump with no pretext of perforations and is not even fully hollowed out, just an indentation at the tip. The two textured hand grips along the tube are represented as raised sections and by today's standards not worth considering.

This 2cm barrel from Griffon Models has the correct length barrel and the six suppressor collar holes correctly have two shorter than the others, bring the only barrel to include this feature. The three rows of six smaller suppressor cone holes are also correct with fitting to the chosen Flak38 very easy.

See full barrel review for more details.

This barrel is the correct length with the correct gas holes in the flash suppressor and neck nicely represented offers the good option along with the Adlers Nest, armorscale and Griffon models barrels.

See the full barrel review for more details.

This barrel again is the correct length with the correctly depicted collar holes with two half length, the correct flash suppressor holes as well as the textured barrel changing hand grips with the only concern being the flash suppressor sizes.

See the full barrel review for more details.

This barrel is very similar to the Elefant barrel being a single turned metal part which includes the forward part of the gun but the flash suppressor is solid with no provision for the holes and only requires minor alterations the target kit to fit the barrel.

The barrel has the turned metal part which includes the forward part of the gun but a separate flash suppressor which is solid with no provision for the holes and again only requires minor alterations the target kit to fit the barrel.

This barrel is the correct length with the flash suppressor having six large holes in the rear collar and three rows of smaller holes in the outer suppressor cone. There is only one half length collar hole instead of the actual two and the barrel lacks the textured hand grip sections

See the full barrel review for more details.

This barrel is machined in one piece and includes the larger holes in the flash suppressor neck as well as the small perforations in the flash suppressor and only requires minor alterations to the target kit to fit. The flash suppressor also has the correct six larger rear gas holes and the three rows of smaller holes in the suppressor cone. The barrel is 2mm longer than it should be but can quite easily be modified to the correct length, see the full barrel review here with more information.

Given that the barrels from Adlers Nest, armorscale, Griffon Models, Lionmarc/Passions Models, Lion Roar and RB Model are the only metal barrels with the correct length they would be the pick OOTB with the Griffon Models and Lionmarc/Passions Models barrels also correctly depicting the two half length collar holes.

The new barrels sets from Adlers Nest and Lionmarc/Passions Models also feature the correct collar holes with two half length, the correct flash suppressor holes as well the textured barrel changing hand grips for very realistic looking barrels and make these two barrels the standout first choice.

The only minor concern with the Adlers Nest and Griffon Models barrels is the flash suppressor is fractionally smaller than the plans and photos would indicate while the Lionmarc/Passions Models flash suppressor is slightly larger but this is really marginal at best and is only really apparent when comparing directly to other barrels available.

As mentioned above the ABER and Schatton Modellbau barrels can easily be modified to the correct length and all have the correct number of holes in the flash suppressor collar and cone.

My pick would be the new Adlers Nest barrel due to the depiction of the collar holes and the hand grip texturing followed closely by the Lionmarc/Passions Models barrel due to the thickness of the flash suppressor cone with the armorscale, Griffon Models, Lion Roar or RB Model barrels being next in line.

The modified ABER or Schatton Modellbau barrels are slightly behind due to the extra work required on the flash suppressor and barrel length. All other barrels are not really worth considering as none have the flash suppressor gas holes as well as being various incorrect lengths.

Just a note on the additional small ridge included on some gun housings (ABER, Griffon Models or Lion Roar). The majority of images available of the 2cm Flak38 show the housing without this ridge but there are a few I have seen that show the ridge which would indicate this variation is possible but I have no further info on this. Therefore the barrels with and without this ridge can be considered okay given photos exist to verify this variation.

To recount and this is only my summation with availability and price of particular brands also being factor in the choice to use. But the final rating on detail and accuracy alone would be;

1. Adlers Nest 2. Lionmarc/Passions Models 3. Griffon Model 4. RB Model 5. Lion Roar 6. armorscale 7. ABER 8. Schatton Modellbau 9-16. The rest not really worth considering by today's standards

Comparison of top rating barrels in order of preference as above.
Note: The barrels are not to scale due to the different perspectives and
distances from the camera lens as the shots have been taken at different times.

Views of all available 2cm barrels showing the various lengths against the actual scale length

2cm FlaK38
Muzzle Reference images

Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind (Sd.Kdz. 161/4), Ostwind & Kugelblitz Nuts & Bolts Vol.25	Flakpanzerkampfwagen IV and other Flakpanzer projects from 1942 to 1945 Panzer Tracks No.12-1	German 20mm FlaK in WWII 1395-1945 Schiffer Military History ISBN: 0-88740-758-7
Halbketten Zugkraftwagen 8t Sd.Kfz.7/1/2 AFV Super Detail Photo Vol.9 Published by Model Art Co.Ltd.	Sd.Kfz.7 in detail Special Museum Line No.36 Wings & Wheels Publications ISBN 80-86416-60-7	Flak Auf Sd.Kfz.7 Part 1 Kagero Photosniper No.9 ISBN: 83-914824-3-X
Flak at War Trojca Publications Waldemar Trojca, Karlheinz Münch ISBN: 83-60041-15-6	Ground Power Magazine #66 - 11/1999 GALILEO Publishing Co.,Ltd. Japan