Description
Once the Panther tank design had been finalized, the Luftwaffe & German Army began proposing Flakpanzer variants as early as 1942. Initially, the quadruple 20mm MG 151/20 system was proposed, with a rate of 600–750 rpm and a muzzle velocity of 700 to 785 meters per second. However, this was soon rejected by demands for more modern and powerful weapons to be utilized. Rheinmetall-Borsig then proposed several configurations under the code name ‘Coelian’, with the most popular being armed with a twin 37mm Flak 44 system in May 1944. This weapon fired at a practical rate of 150 rpm, with a muzzle velocity of 770–820 meters per second with an effective firing range up to 4,200 meters. Nevertheless, only an early wooden mock-up was ever produced on a Panther Ausf.D hull in February 1945, due to a lack of available tanks for the conversion because of increasingly heavy Allied strategic bombing. The later version was never produced in any form, but plans were drawn up with a revised turret.
Takom‘s what if Flakpanzer Panther anti aircraft tank can be built as one of two versions, equipped with 2 different turrets. The slopped Coelian tower armed with a twin 37 mm twin, or a what if turret armed with a quadruple 20 mm MG151. The kit consists of 17 gray sprues, a slide moulded upper hull, two turrets, copper cables, and a PE fret. The kit features fine, crisp details, weld marks with clean cast parts, and minimal ejector pin marks. The length and link tracks feature a sag effect which can be achieved with the provided tracks jig. The separately provided guide horns can be easily glued in length and cut out later. All hatches can be built in an open or closed position.
Four marking options are included in the kit with various late war camouflage options.
Takom’s latest Flakpanzer Panther is sure to please late war/what if German WW2 fans. With the inclusion of two towers, the scale modeller can install the second tower on another lower hull resulting in a second AA vehicle.