Tamiya 135th German Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen Full Build

As I continue with my series of 2cm Flakerving anti-aircraft guns, I’m going to get on with this prototype version of the Möbelwagen that uses the 2 cm Flakvierling. During 1942 in the North Africa conflict, the German found how exposed they were to aircraft attacks on their armour. The solution was to mount an anti-aircraft gun on the hulls of a Panzer IV tanks that had been returned to the factories for battle damage repairs. In production, the Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen used the 3.7 flak 43. The only one built with the 2cm flak was a prototype for Adolf Hitler.

Tamiya 135th scale German Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen — Tamiya German Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen.

Hull And Tracks For Tamiya 135th Scale Möbelwagen Plastic Model Kit — Hull And Tracks For Möbelwagen Model.

Sprues For The Tamiya Möbelwagen Flak Gun — Sprues For The Flak Gun.

Wheels And Suspension For The Tamiya Möbelwagen Model Kit — Wheels And Suspension For The Möbelwagen.

Sprues For The Main Part Of The Upper Hull On The Tamiya 135th Möbelwagen Scale Model. — Sprues For The Main Part Of The Upper Hull On The Möbelwagen.

The Crew Members For The Tamiya Möbelwagen Model — The Crew Members For The Möbelwagen.

The Exhaust At The Rear Of The Hull On The Tamiya Mobelwagen Scale Model Plastic Kit — The Exhaust At The Rear Of The Hull On The Mobelwagen.

Return Rollers For The Tamiya Mobelwagen 135th Scale Model — Return Rollers For The Mobelwagen.

The Suspension Has Been Fitted To The Lower Hull On The Tamiya Scale Model — Fitted The Suspension To The Lower Hull.

The Suspension and the return roller are now attached to the lower part of the tanks hull. They are a very nice fit as you would expect from a Tamiya kit.

Fitted The Mudguards To The Upper Hull Of The Möbelwagen Scale Plastic Model Kit — Attached The Mud Guards To The Top Of The Hull.

Some Very Tiny Hooks For The Möbelwagen Scale Model — I Wonder How Many The Carpet Monster Will Claim?!

Small Spring On The Mud Flap Of The Tamiya Mobelwagen Model. — The Details Of The Small Suspension Bar On The Mobelwagen.

The Rear Hull Of The Tamiya Mobelwagen Scale Model — Attaching The Handles To The Back Of Mobelwagen Hull.

Tamiya German Flakpanzer Möbelwagen Plastic Model Details — The Spare Wheel Holders On The Back Of The German Flakpanzer Möbelwagen.

Most of the parts of the hull are completed, now time to make the flak gun and then start on the armour for the gun emplacement on top of the hull.

Building The Base Of The Tamiya Flakerving Model — Building The Base Of The Tamiya Flakvierling Model.

The Mobelwagen Anti Aircrafy Gun Model Is Nearly Completed — Most Of The Anti Aircraft Gun Is Built.

This is the second 2cm flak gun I have built so I’m I have a pretty good handle on how they come together so this part was quite quick.

Most Of The Tamiya Model Anti Aircraft Gun For The German Flakpanzer Möbelwagen Is Nearly Complete — The Model Anti Aircraft Gun For The Flakpanzer Möbelwagen.

The Wheels And Sprockets For The Tamiya 135th Scale Mobelwagen — Wheels, Sprockets And Idlers.

As always a nice peaceful time prepping the wheels, Sprockets and Idlers.

The Tamiya 135th Scale Model Mobelwagen With The Turret Armour Attached — The Mobelwagen With The Turret Armour Attached.

Tamiya Mobelwagen 135th Scale Model With The Turret Armour Open, I Have Filled In The Casting Holes In The Armour. — Mobelwagen With The Turret Armour Open, I Have Filled In The Casting Holes In The Armour.

There were quite a few holes left in the armour plating from the casting process. A little bit of filling and then some fine wet sandpaper has levelled them out.

The Tamiya Mobelwagen Prototype Model Shield Amour Half Up Half Down — I Have Built The Mobelwagen Prototype With One Side Of The Armour Up And One Side Down.

The 2cm Flakerving Gun For The Tamiya 135th Scale Model Mobelwagen Prototype — The Flak Gun Head On, The Gun Barrels Will Be Added After Painting.

The Rear View Of The Tamiya Scale Model 2cm Flakerving Gun For The Mobelwagen Prototype Showing The Seats And Controls — The Rear View Of The 2cm Flakerving Gun For The Mobelwagen Prototype.

That’s the build pretty much done, I have separated the small parts, magazines and the wheels to paint up. As always sticking them to a piece of masking tape to keep them together while painting.

All The Tools And Small Parts For The Modelwagen Prototype Model That Will Need To Be Painted Individually. — All The Tools And Boxes That Will Need To Be Painted Individually.

Sticking The Small Parts To Some Masking Tape To Be Able To Undercoat Them With Airbrush — Stuck All The Small Parts To Some Masking Tape Before Spray Painting.

The Casting Marks In This Plastic Scale Model Kit Could Have Been Done Better — Looking At The Side Panel I Can See That They Could Have Been Filled A Lot Better.

I’m going to try refilling some of these castings marks.

Using Mr Color Paints For The First Time. — That’s The First Coat Of The Mr Color Dark Yellow.

Too Much Retarder When Thinning The Mr Color Paint And It Has Run A Little — First Time Using The Mr Color And I Think I Have Used A Little Too Much Retarder.

So that was the first time using Mr Color. The colour looked awesome but I have either thinned it too much or used too much retarder. So as I am going to need to practice with this brand, I’m going to finish the model with trusty Tamiya paint.

Moblewagen Model Wheels Painted — Wheels All Painted Up And Ready For Fitting.

Wheels and sprockets painted and the and the body resprayed with XF88, it’s looking pretty sweet now.

Wheels Now Fitted On The Tamiya Möbelwagen Scale Model — Wheels Now Fitted On The Möbelwagen.

Now I’m fitting the inside ammo boxes, the finish looks good but I need to a a little bit of weathering to give some depth.

Fitting The Boxes On The Back Of The Tamiya Mobelwagen Model — Fitting The Internal Boxes In The Flatbed.

Close Up Of The Boxes In The Back Of The Scale Model — Close Up Of The Boxes In The Back.

As mentioned this was a prototype that didn’t see action. I can only assume that it was showed to top brass. For that reason, I am only doing a very light weathering. Hopefully, it will give a little bit of depth and look like it has been in the field for a day or so of testing.

So calling this one finished, take a look at the finished Tamiya 135th German Flakpanzer IV Mobelwagen below.