German 12.8cm FLAK 40

Plastic kit for building a 12.8cm FlaK 40

• 1:35 scale
• Dimensions LxW (built): 353.3 x 90.4 mm
• 370+ pieces
• Sd.Ah. 220 included
• includes photo-etched parts and rubber tires
• unbuilt, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The 12.8 cm Flak 40 was the heaviest German anti-aircraft gun deployed in significant numbers during World War II. Developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig, it entered service with heavy anti-aircraft units in 1942. Its immense firepower made it particularly well-suited for defending key cities and industrial facilities.

The gun utilized a 128 × 850 mm R cartridge and fired a high-explosive shell weighing approximately 26 kg. Depending on the ammunition type, the muzzle velocity was around 880 m/s, and the maximum firing altitude was approximately 14,800 meters. The Flak 40 could also be used against ground targets; its high penetrating power made it a threat even to heavily armored vehicles.

A significant drawback was its heavy weight - approximately 12 tonnes in its towed configuration - which limited the gun's mobility.

The Sonderanhänger 220 (special trailer) was designed specifically to transport the heavy Flak 40; it consisted of two coupled trailers, each carrying a section of the gun.

This arrangement allowed the gun to be relocated and deployed in prepared field positions, unlike the stationary Flak 40 installations. However, the gun's immense weight and large dimensions required a powerful heavy prime mover for transport—such as the Sd.Kfz. 9 "Famo."