LionMarc Model Designs

2cm FlaK38 Barrel
LionMarc Model Designs Set No. LM10025
Passion Models Set P35-023
1:35th Scale
Review by Terry Ashley

The Set:

LionMarc Model Designs/Passion Models are the latest to release a replacement metal barrel 2cm Flak 38 barrel that can be used with any available kit included the FlaK 38 which these days is quite a few.

The set consists of the turned brass barrel and front section of the receiver with a separate brass flash suppressor and three small etched brass parts with no cleanup required on any of the parts.

Two part brass barrel/flash suppressor and 3 etched parts
LionMarc Model Designs

Close up of flash suppressor
LionMarc Model Designs

The brass barrel has a small pin for attaching the barrel to the donor gun and the flash suppressor includes four rows of six small holes with the collar section having four larger and two smaller holes. Images available of the actual suppressor collar show six or eight holes around the collar and three or four rows of smaller holes in the suppressor cone making the suppressor features in this set correct for the type depicted.

There is another detail with the collar holes in that two holes are only half the length of the others and this feature is included with this barrel along with the vary small retaining clip provided in etched brass. This requires very careful assembly with the etched clip slipped though the suppressor hole and bent to form the clip, sound straightforward but you will need a good magnifier and fine tweezers for this job.

Also included on the barrel are the two textured hand grip sections for changing the barrel which are seen on all Flak38 barrels for an authentic look.

The flash suppressor and barrel length matches 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 equalling 28.429mm (rounded to 28.5mm) in 1:35 scale. The set barrel measures out exactly 28.5mm making the length accurate but the flash suppressor appears a little oversized and the edges of the suppressor are overly thick compared to photos while the position of the hand grip texturing is a little too far up the barrel.

These issues are only minor apart from the thickness of the suppressor cone and some careful filing will reduce this for a better appearance and if using the barrel on it's own they may not be that noticeable, but you shouldn't mix with others available barrels as they will show up.

Assembled barrel/flash suppressor
LionMarc Model Designs

Fitting the barrel to the Dragon FlaK38 gun from any of the applicable kits such as kit #6220, #6288, #6292, #6293, #6395 or #6469 is quite straight forward as the kit gun is the correct proportions and all that is needed is to cut the barrel/receiver from the Dragon gun, drill a small 1.1mm locating hole and attach the Lionmarc/Passion Models barrel, all very easy.

Fitting barrel to Dragon 2cm FlaK38
LionMarc Model Designs

To fit the barrel to the Tristar FlaK38 gun is just as simple and I have used here the gun from the latest Flak38 kit #35037 as this has the correct gun dimensions. The plastic kit barrel is separate from the receiver but you just remove the end of the receiver , drill a small 1.1mm hole for the metal barrel the same as with the Dragon gun.

Fitting barrel to Tristar 2cm FlaK38.
LionMarc Model Designs

Conclusion:

This 2cm barrel from Lionmarc/Passion Models has the correct length barrel and flash suppressor holes correctly depicted with the two shorter holes as well as the textured hand grip sections for the most realistic appearance with just the size and thickness of the flash suppressor cone sides being a slight concern.

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 8.0/10.

See a full comparison of available FlaK38 barrels which has been updated to include this barrel set.

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