1:72 German 37 mm Flakpanzer IV Ostwind - Accessories Set (for Hasegawa Kits)

German 37 mm Flakpanzer IV Ostwind - accessories set 1:72 (Black Dog)

A cast resin set of accessories for the German 37 mm Flakpanzer IV Ostwind in 1:72 scale from the Czech maker Black Dog. It holds separate parts of equipment, cargo and tarpaulins that are attached to a finished model. The base kit named is the Ostwind from Hasegawa. The set is not a model of the vehicle and cannot be built without the base kit.

The real subject

The Ostwind was a German anti-aircraft tank on the Panzer IV chassis. In an open hexagonal turret it carried the 37 mm Flak 43 automatic cannon, which had greater range and effect than the earlier 2 cm weapons. The open top was needed to vent the fumes and to give the crew room, but it left them unprotected against fire. Only a few dozen were built in 1944 and 1945, and they served to defend armored units against low-level attacks.

Building and painting tips

First rinse the resin parts in lukewarm soapy water to remove the mold release residue. Cut the casting blocks off with a fine-tooth saw rather than snapping them. Sanding is better done under water or with respiratory protection. They are glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue); solvent cement for plastic will not hold on resin. A primer is needed before painting. The parts for 1:72 scale are very small, so it pays to paint them while still on the casting block and cut them off last. The open turret with its ammunition and crew is the most conspicuous part of this machine, so give it the most time.

Who the set is for

• modelers of German anti-aircraft equipment in 1:72 scale
• builders of small dioramas with air defense
• more experienced modelers used to small resin parts

The accessory set is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.