The German eighty-eight is probably the best known, even famous, artillery piece of World War II. It was not one gun, but a series of anti-aircraft guns officially called the 8.8cm Flak 18, 36, or 37. Flak is a German short form of Fliegerabwehrkanone, meaning anti-aircraft gun, the original purpose of the eighty-eight. The Flak 36, which included a two-piece barrel for easier replacement of worn liners and included a new (and heavier) trailer that allowed it to be set up much more quickly, simply dropping the base while still mounted on the wheels. This made it much more useful to the troops during fast moving operations, the basic concept of the blitzkrieg. The eighty-eight was used in two roles, one as a mobile heavy anti-aircraft battery and in a more static role for the defense of Germany. In this later role the guns were arranged into large batteries, directed by a single controller, and were moved only rarely. Changes for the Flak 36 improved mobility at the price of weight.After painstaking research, this all new kit greatly surpasses the detail of kits on the market today and is loaded with extra features. Includes all new tooling, two kinds of gun cradles (each with full internal details), exquisitely detailed traverse wheels, armored viewing cover with open/closed option, fully detailed gun mount, fully functional and highly detailed cruciform legs, slide-molded securing spikes, fully detailed trailer, individual suspension components, workable towing bar that’s detachable, six man gun crew with range finder, metal recuperator, aluminum barrels for Type 18 and Type 36 barrels, brass ammo, two types of ammo boxes (wooden and wicker), photo-etched parts, Cartograf decals for the camouflage paint scheme on gun shield and for various divisional markings, metal chains, and stunning box art by Mr. Ron Volstad.