Dragon 1/35 Sd.Kfz.161/4 2cm Flakpanzer IV “Wirbelwind” | 6540 Dragon

Features:

– Newly tooled 2-directional slide-molded turret for Wirbelwind
– Turret w/realistic weld seams
– Newly tooled interior and furl tank parts for Pz.IV Ausf.H
– Hull newly reproduced w/internal detail
– Turret ring accurately produced
– Newly tooled gun mounting platform
– Two spare-barrel cases included
– Gun-sight cover can be assembled open/closed
– Newly tooled ammo magazines inside turret
– Gun cradle offers great detail definition
– Gun sight and hand wheels w/well-defined detail
– Spent-shell cage made from photo-etched part
– Slide-molded one-piece gun barrel w/hollow muzzle
– 2cm Flakvierling 38 cannon w/ accurate detail
– Cannon can be freely posed at different angles
– Spare antenna included under spare-barrel case
– Air-intake covers have option of injection or photo-etched parts
– Realistic double-layered air intake
– One-piece upper hull; 2-directional slide-molded w/new engine-deck design
– Driver’s and radio operator’s housing w/splash guard
– Hatches w/internal detail
– Spare-track bracket on glacis plate w/photo-etched and plastic option
– Spare-track bracket on lower hull front
– Optional spare rod antenna included
– Injection-molded fenders made to thinnest possible dimensions
– Side fenders w/pattern detail on both top and bottom surfaces
– Spare-wheel rack w/spare wheels on upper hull side
– Two types of side-skirt armor plate w/bolt detail
– Injection-molded OVM w/clasps
– One-piece lower hull made from slide molds
– Hull bottom fully detailed
– 40cm Magic Tracks are detailed in both sides
– Completed MG w/workable ball mount
– Photo-etched parts for engine-deck ventilation grill
– Engine hatches can be assembled open/closed
– Great detail on newly tooled hull rear
– Extendable jack w/separate parts
– Accurately detailed idler adjuster mountings
– Detailed towing-eye brackets w/separate parts
– Road wheels and suspension w/multiple components exhibit crisp detail
– Idler wheels have detailed parts
– Fuel filler flap has open/closed option
– Final-drive housing w/details on both sides
– Separate armored cover for final-drive housing
– Sprocket wheels w/breathtaking detail and multiple delicate parts

A prototype Flakpanzer IV “Wirbelwind” (which translates as “Whirlwind” in English) appeared in May 1944, in response to the ever-growing threat and air superiority of Allied aircraft. The original concept of the Wirbelwind is credited to Karl Wilhelm Krause of the 12th “Hitler Jugend” Panzer Division, who suggested mounting a quadruple-barreled 2cm Flakvierling 38 L/112.5 cannon on a Panzer IV chassis. The Wirbelwind had the four 20mm cannons mounted in an open-topped nine-sided turret. Sources differ as to how many Wirbelwinds were produced – either 87 or 105 between May and September of 1944 – but there were never enough to ward off the marauding Allied fighter-bombers.

Although the 22-tonne Wirbelwind was useful against low-flying aircraft, its 20mm weapon turned out to be less effective than the larger-caliber 37mm cannon used in the newer Ostwind. Operated by a crew of five, the platform could also be used against ground targets.

Dragon’s new and significant kit depicts just such a Wirbelwind, complete with an accurately constructed and eye-catching multi-faceted turret. Although the turret is a complex shape, Dragon was able to slide mold it in just two pieces with integral weld seams in situ, thus ensuring maximum ease of assembly. The busy turret interior is accurately reproduced according to wartime technical manuals, and is the fruit of intense research by the design team. The same highly praised weapon that features in Dragon’s Sd.Kfz.7/1 Halftrack (Item No. 6525) now resides inside this well-crafted turret. The upper hull has also received a new turret ring and gun mounting platform in order to accommodate its new anti-aircraft ordnance. This kit is just brimming with detail, and represents a perfect marriage of Dragon’s 2cm Flakvierling and a Panzer IV hull. This “Wirbelwind” is sure to cause quite a storm of desire amongst modelers!