| Introduction: |
Note that this comparison only refers to the FlaK38 barrels as ongoing research shows the 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 (two sets), ARMO, armorscale, Brach Models, Elefant, Finemodels, Griffon Models, Jordi Rubio, Lion Roar, ModelPoint and Schatton Modellbau.
All the barrels except those from ABER, Adlers Nest (set#ANM-35027), armorscale, Griffon Models and ModelPoint 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 (set#ANM-35001), armorscale, Griffon Models and ModelPoint 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, Lion Roar 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 and Lion Roar 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.
 #35L03 |
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.
 #ANM35001 |
A new company Adlers Nest from Japan have released this 2cm FlaK38 barrel with the flash suppressor having the correct six larger holes in the rear collar but four rows of smaller holes in the outer suppressor cone and the only other issue is the flash suppressor isslighlty on the small size.
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 suppressor holes.
The barrel measures out at the correct length of 28.5mm in 1:35 scale which makes this along with the armorscale, Griffon Models and Lion Roar barrels are only metal barrels available with the correct length OOTB.
See the full barrel review for more details.
| #ANM35027/27B |
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.
 #35708 |
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
 #B35-047 |
armorscale have released their 2cm FlaK38 barrel consisting on separate gun and flash suppressor parts with 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.
The barrel measures out at the correct length of 28.5mm in 1:35 scale which makes this along with the Adlers Nest, Griffon Models and Lion Roar barrels are only metal barrels available with the correct length OOTB.
See the full barrel review for more details.
 Brach
Model #BM-029 |
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.
 #35.351 |
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.
 #MG-12 |
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.
 LB35005 |
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.
 #LB3515 |
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.
 Jordi
Rubio #TG-23 |
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.
 #3560 |
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.
 #3505 |
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.
| Conclusion |
Given that the barrels from Adlers Nest, armorscale, Griffon Models and Lion Roar are the only metal barrels with the correct length they would be the pick OOTB with the Griffon Models barrel also correctly depictiing the two half length collar holes.
The new barrels sets from Adlers Nest (sets #ANM-35027/27B) are the best available to date featuring the correct colloar holes with two half length, the correct flash supressor holes as well the textured barrel changing hand grips for very realsitic looking barrels.
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 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 (set #ANM-354027/27B) due to the depiction of the collar holes and the hand grip texturing followed closely by the Adlers Nest (set #ANM-354001), armorscale, Griffon Models or Lion Roar barrels. 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) but not on those from armorscale and Schatton Modellbau. The majority of images available of the 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.
The ABER barrel is slightly longer while the Schatton barrel has been shortened to the correct length.
Note: The 7 barrels in the right image are not to scale due to the different perspectives and more importantly
the distances from the camera lens as the shots have been taken at different times.
German
20mm FlaK in WWII
Flak
Selbstfahrlafetten and Flakpanzer
Tamiya
Photo Album 4
2cm
FlaK 30/38 Sfl