Introduction

The 2cm cannon was a staple in all three branches of Nazi Germany's armed forces during WW II. Originally developed for the Kriegsmarine, the gun found versions both the Heer (or "army," and frequently confused with the Wehrmacht, which means "armed forces" and refers to all of the army, navy and air force) and the Luftwaffe. The KwK 30 was the main gun for the Panzer II, and its FLAK 38 version was the AA weapon used by ground forces, mounted either singly or quadrupled in the Vierling array mounted on both the Sd.Kfz.7/1 and Wirbelwind ("Whirlwind"), a turreted version which sat on a Pz. IV chassis.

The Set

Griffon Model has released a set of brass ammo that will work with just about any 2cm gun. While the 2cm round came in a variety of versions (AP, HE, anti-aircraft), the small plastic envelope contains 5 turned-brass complete rounds and 20 shell casings that will augment most every 1/35th situation. The proportions are relatively-correct and to-scale (the full rounds come up slightly short), including the wasp-waisted casing bottom that gives the 2cm its distinctive look. The complete rounds have general shell heads, not anything specialized, and aren't intended to replicate the rounded tips of some ordnance.

Verdict:

The set is an excellent means of dressing up any 2cm set-up, though I doubt there are enough in the package to work well with one of the quad mounts on the recently-released Sd.Kfz.7/1s from Trumpeter and Dragon. Yet unless you possess uncommon scratch-building skills, I can't imagine replicating spent shell casings as accurately, either with brass wire or stretched sprue.