UM (UniModel) – 558 – Flakpanzer IV “Möbelwagen” 2cm Flakvierling 38

Description:

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a German WWII self propelled anti-aircraft Flakpanzer IV “Möbelwagen“.

The Möbelwagen was constructed using Panzer IV chassis that had sustained damage on the Eastern Front and were subsequently returned to the factory for repairs. These chassis were outfitted with an open-top superstructure to accommodate the gun mount. Surrounding this mount were four hinged 20 mm armored plates.

These plates featured two operational configurations: they could be lowered to enable full 360-degree traverse, facilitating firing at flat or low-level targets, or they could be partially closed, secured together to remain slightly ajar. In this position, they included notches allowing the gun to rotate fully but restricted firing solely at airborne targets. However, both configurations exposed the crew to significant vulnerability.

The fully closed position was reserved for transport purposes, providing the crew with some protection from small arms fire and shrapnel.

Note that kit configuration with the quad 2cm Flakvierling 38 was used only in a first prototype, by 1943 the 2cm Flakvierling 38 was considered insufficient and production models used a single 3.7cm Flak 43 L/89 instead. Kit reuses chassis, tracks and wheels from previous Panzer IV kits by UM and adds parts for the superstructure housing the gun.