Amusing Model 35A026. Waffentrager AUF E-100. Scale 1:35

Waffentrager AUF E-100. Scale 1:35

AMU35A026 - Amusing Model

This highly detailed model kit does not depict a gun that was ever produced, although it went very close to "into production". It would be more accurate to describe it as a "Paper Panzer" and has been derived from the game "World of Tanks".

This vehicle is completely made up by Wargaming, the people behind the popular "World of Tanks" game and as they have said, "A proposal to mount a large-calibre antiaircraft gun on the chassis of the E-100 tank. The vehicle was to feature either a 128mm or 150mm guns with automatic loading system. However, the design project was never developed".

Although this was never more than a fictional tank, there are photographs of the real E-100 hull (shown as the only hull to be made captured by the allies at the end of WWII) as well as the gun that has been cherrypicked to go onto this (made-up) tank if it ever came to fruition - the 12.8 cm Flakzwilling 40/2, which was also captured by the Americans at the end of the war.

The 12.8 cm FlaK 40 was a German World War II anti-aircraft gun. Although it was not produced in great numbers, it was one of the most effective heavy AA guns of its era. Development of the gun began in 1936, with the contract being awarded to Rheinmetall Borsig. The first prototype gun was delivered for testing in late 1937 and completed testing successfully. The gun weighed nearly 12 tonnes in its firing position, with the result that its barrel had to be removed for transport. Limited service testing showed this was impractical, so in 1938 other solutions were considered.

The eventual solution to using this gun effectively was to simplify the firing platform, based on the assumption it would always be securely bolted into concrete. The total weight of the Flakzwilling twin-gun mount system reached 26.5 tonnes, making it practically impossible to tow cross-country. In the end, this mattered little since, by the time the gun entered production in 1942, it was used in primarily static, defensive applications. There were four twin mounts on the fortified anti-aircraft Zoo Tower, and they were also on other flak towers protecting Berlin, Hamburg, and Vienna. It is claimed that during the Battle of Berlin the guns on the Zoo Tower were used successfully to support ground forces, "where the heavy 128 mm shells obliterated Soviet armour, especially when hitting from the side". The rush to capture the Reichstag led to dozens of tanks being destroyed. Approximately 200 were mounted on railcars, providing limited mobility.

The Model Kit

Inside the packed box, there are sixteen sprues of a tan plastic with the upper and lower hull in one piece each to add to the total. Several of these are the E-100 and Flak 128cm sprues put in together with one from the Lowe for tools for their armoured fighting vehicles.

There is a photo etched brass sprue for grilles. It includes workable tracks, moulding in different colours and suspension that can be posed to suit a diorama terrain. It also includes three different gun barrels - 128mm Falk 40 Barrel, a 128/96mm Squeeze Bore Barrel and a 128mm Extended Barrel.

The Decals are a simple affair, with some numbers and some Balkenkreuze here to cover a few possibilities and visual styles.

The model is impressive in size and because it never existed there is no limitation on "what-if" imaginations for colour schemes and finishes of the Waffentrager.

The box is larger than normal for a 1:35 Scale armour, measuring 385mm x 265mm x 130mm and is chock a block with sprues and parts.

Glue and paint are required to complete this model (not included).