Am I the only one who thinks that there isn't any need for Dragon making 5 more 2cm's, 10 more Tigers or 36 more PzKpfw IV? Wouldn't it be nice if Dragon would come with something completely different? I don't know if it's just me but I skipped at least the last 20 kits which came out. And I'm someone that bought every single Dragon model (some of them twice) in the past just to have the complete collection...

Ingo; Oooo. Chilling! Hey! There's a thread over on Track-link.net all about companies and their choices of which subject to make that you might just like! "One subject per company = socialism"! In this case, DML is releasing something both salient and likely of fairly broad interest to those interested in flak, flak-tracks, German stuff, early-war (WWII) stuff, etc. And to be sure, while only some of us are real 2cm flak fans (me is way guilty of this) - DML is actually reaching into new territory with this kit as it features that core and very very widely-used earlier-war gun, the Flak 30. Until CH released their truncated version last year, no modern Flak 30 kit of any kind has existed- leaving all to fiddle with the elderly Esci item, and the CH kit lacks major things, such as that definitive gun-shield, which are corrected in this kit. So, from where I sit, this kit would appear to be a substantially NEW offering and a new subject in modern form- and no sort of "yet another ho-hum release" of some "oft-kitted subject" - unlike say Tamiya putting up another Elefant or DML another Ferdinand (both of which exist already in nice up-to-date kits), but of course, this is only my opinion So, if you are, like me, a German fan, and want to fill in some fairly long-lasting and salient gaps (both for a SdKfz 10/4 and for the mainstay 2cm Flak 30), this could be a kit to buy. Or not, as one desires! I am glad that the D has done this one. Cheers! Bob

Unfortunately, the early version road wheels are still incorrect according the CAD poster. I wish DML can amend the error before it released in production.

This is definitely one that I was hoping would see a release date sooner rather than later after they had announced the 10/5. It was only a matter of time and will go on my "to buy" list for sure!

I don't see the spent round bag. To me that is what made the 10/4 look so unique. At least they have the ugly ("awsome") flak 30 shields.

I have been asked by Kurtis Tsang to post up this image for him in support of his earlier reply.

Mark; Hi! I am a little unsure - what "spent round bag" are you referring to? The 10/4 mounted the Flak 30 - which, best of my knowledge, did not have any sort of spent-brass bag, unlike the Flak 38, which had a standard framed-net contraption (well-done IMHO in numerous Dragon kits featuring the Flak 38 such as the 10/5 and flak-panzers I and 38(t) and sdkfz 251/17 and the Flak 38 gun itself). But I am wholly prepared to learn I am wrong! A quick search of Flak 30 and sdkfz 10/4 pics has not revealed anything like such, but it's only a modest look at what's out there. I DID find to my surprise that MANY of the "Flak 30" pics on many sites are incorrectly labelled so - Why? I am not sure... It's really easy to tell the Flak 30 and 38 apart - the gun-mounts are very different, as are the sight-mounts, gunner's seat location, gun-shields and the muzzle-brakes. Oh, and that framed-net thing - seen only on the Flak 38! A "good example" of mis-label is to be seen on LINK Actually it is a really nice late-production Flak 38 with Flakvisier-40 sight! Without gun-shields but with its spent-shell net. For comparison, a really clear pic of the real Flak 30 from similar perspective is to be seen on LINK Cheers! Bob

Hey Bob, I shamelessly (and crudely) took some snaps of a Trojca book I have. It seems the mounted flak 30 had a spent round bag that sat rather high. To me this is what makes the flak 30 look so distinct. Especially with some big 'ole round headlamps makes for a cool looking vehicle. Otherwise, the flak 30 IMHO looks rubbish next to the flak 38. Here is it without: Here are some with: I don't think DML is going to include this. I guess it could be scratched, but I think it really rounds out the lines of a flak 30 and looks odd without.

Mark: "But I am wholly prepared to learn I am wrong! A quick search of Flak 30 and sdkfz 10/4 pics has not revealed anything like such, but it's only a modest look at what's out there." Oooo! That's kinda cool, really! Those have to be about the only 4 pics of a Flak 30 with something like this that I have ever seen - and not to be humble about it, I've actually looked at a fair number of books, sites, and pics! But live to learn! The pictured frame and bag look rather more like something a local shop may have built then the standard factory item widely used on the Flak 38. So scratch a frame and bag! It will look awesome! I used some wire and some "bridal vail" fabric mesh to easily scratch a really nice-looking framed-bag for a Flak 38. Simply modeled it after a bag from a Dragon flakpanzer kit. The one in your -30 pics looks somewhat simpler than the -38 bag does - but I am quite unsure as to exactly where and how it attaches (the Flak 38 version bolted onto the ring-shaped frame, which was tapped in a couple of locations for this standard set-up. I'm afraid no such arrangement like this clearly appears from your pics of the -30 version.). And THANKS for posting Mr. Trojka's pics! Bob