German 88mm Flak Gun, Estalingrado, 1942, 1:32, Forces of Valor

German 88mm Flak Gun, Estalingrado, 1942, 1:32, Forces of Valor

Escala, 1:32
Dimensiones en posición de disparo: Longitud 17,80 cm., Anchura 16,50cm., Altura 7,30 cm.
Marca: Forces of Valor
Ref. original: 80013
Pintados y montados de fábrica.
Cañón y escudo en metal.
El conjunto de ruedas se puede separar para colocar el arma en posición de tiro.
Incluye cinco figuras en plástico, munición y otros accesorios.
Alta calidad de acabado y nivel de detalle.

The 88 mm gun (eighty-eight) was a German anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun from World War II. It was widely used by Germany throughout the war, and was one of the most recognized German weapons of the war. Development of the original models led to a wide variety of guns.

The name applies to a series of guns, the first one officially called the 8,8 cm Flak 18, the improved 8,8 cm Flak 36, and later the 8,8 cm Flak 37. Flak is a contraction of German Flugzeugabwehrkanone meaning "anti-aircraft cannon", the original purpose of the eighty-eight. In informal German use, the guns were universally known as the Acht-acht ("eight-eight"), a contraction of Acht-komma-acht Zentimeter ("8,8 cm"). In English language, "flak" became a generic term for ground anti-aircraft fire.

The versatile carriage allowed the eighty-eight to be fired in a limited anti-tank mode when still on wheels,and to be completely emplaced in only two-and-a-half minutes.  Its successful use as an improvised anti-tank gun led to the development of a tank gun based upon it. These related guns served as the main armament of tanks such as the Tiger I: the 8,8 cm KwK 36 with the "KwK" abbreviation standing for KampfwagenKanone ("fighting vehicle cannon").

In addition to these Krupp's designs, Rheinmetall created later a more powerful anti-aircraft gun, the 8,8 cm Flak 41, produced in relatively small numbers. Krupp responded with another prototype of the long-barreled 88 mm gun, which was further developed into the anti-tank and tank destroyer 8.8 cm Pak 43 gun, and turret-mounted 8.8 cm KwK 43 heavy tank gun.

Forces of Valor’s 1:32^nd scale replica of the flak gun comes with four wheels and a tow hook so that it can be attached to the Forces of Valor replica of the Sd. Kfz. 7/1 prime mover with FlaK gun. Both sets of wheels can be removed so that the gun, mounted on a cruciform platform, can be set up in a firing position. Gun elevates and fully traverses. The set includes the five crewmen.