PlasticPanzers.com Forum

Hi Folks,

here's my entry for the AA build, the Cyber Hobby Orange Box Kugelblitz. It's a slightly older kit with new tracks, some figures and two new gun barrels thrown in. I'll try to keep this as simple as possible so that I finally have a chance to finish something in time....

The Kugelblitz was a late-war development armed with twin 30mm MK103 autocannons, each capable of throwing about 400 rounds per minute into the air. These guns were originally developed for fighter aircraft and could bring down heavy bombers like the B-17 with very few hits. The same gun was then adopted for ground use, usually by mounting it in the cradle of the 2cm Flak 38.

The Kugelblitz saw service in the final days of the war, but no in-action photos are known to exist right now. At least one was destroyed in Thuringia in 1945. Parts of the turret and upper hull were recovered on a forested hillside in 1999. In recent years a photo surfaced of what looks like a turretless Kugelblitz in Berlin. The Kugelblitz upper hull was purpose-built to accept a Tiger-sized turret ring and lacks the slanted forward hull roof, which makes it very distinctive among the Panzer IV family.

The kit:







Philipp

Will follow with interest Phil, I've got Accurate Armours resin Kugelblitz turret in the stash somewhere but have not found the will/time to do anything with it!

I think the KISS principle is the best way of getting a GB kit finished!

Nice choice Philipp

I thought the Kugelblitz had only got to wooden prototype turrets?

New barrels and magic tracks are good.

I have ordered turned barrels for mine too.

Great analogy Adam, Kiss the main event item then you will achieve a GB, if it develops afterward all the better.

Lets see if we can do that?

Nice one Philipp

Steve H

Thanks for joining in gents

I should add there is a complete Kugelblitz turret preserved in the collection of the former AA School of the German Bundeswehr, which is quite amazing considering the scarcity of this thing.

Philipp

Cool project. I haven't seen too many of these built. Its been eclipsed by other P46 models.


BTW - this is a MaK donor kit. Check out the sensor sack on this walker. The side vents on the Siren are also specific to this kit.

Thanks Bryan, that's really interesting. At least the turret wouldn't look out of place on one of these, that thing looks absurdly modern for WW2.

Hopefully I'll finally get started on it this evening

Philipp

Looks like a nice kit Philipp. I'll be following along on this one for sure.

Vincent

One of the kooler looking panzer IVs.

Thanks everyone

Here's the current status:





As you can see it needs a little more effort than anticipated. Having putty and plastic sheet at hand is a definite advantage when building this kit. There are highly visible pin marks and joins everwhere...

When I finally get around to finish the hull I'll replace all the tools and equipment with Tamiya parts, but otherwise I hope to avoid any more aftermarket parts.

Philipp

Looks like you are beating this one into submission Philipp

All the more fun for the work you have done

Hopefully it should be easier from here?

Have fun

Steve H