Wiki says: "Flak is a contraction of German word Flugzeugabwehrkanone meaning "aircraft-defense cannon", the original purpose of the eighty-eight. In English, "flak" became a generic term for ground anti-aircraft fire. In informal German use, the guns were universally known as the Acht-acht ("eight-eight")."
An impressive weapon, it still took an average of 16000 shells for any particular Flak 88 to shoot down a USA daylight bomber. At night, the guns were aided by searchlights and sound detection, but the shell usage was far worse. It was a far better anti-tank weapon, and the only thing in the German arsenal which could stop the new Soviet main battle tanks until the Nazis caught up in tank design.
The overall colour is Tamiya acrylic XF-62 German Grey, with Tamiya acrylic X-10 Gun Metal for the technical end of the gun. Light rust was applied to the lower carriage using PanPastel 380.3 Red Oxide. My mistake was to install the large forward shield which had been invented for army use in land battle due to the immense height of the gun. In anti-aircraft mode the shield was not installed. I bought this kit used at Hobby House in Ottawa on Wednesday morning, 20 July, and finished it by nightfall that day. I have not finished a kit in a day since I was ten years old. It was great! Try it.
