Flakvierling 38 auf PzIV sfl (aka Mobelwagen prototype)

Sometimes weird ideas pop into mind.  This project is intended to be a kit-bash of the old (alte?) Tamiya Mobelwagen with the 20mm Flakvierling 38.  As it turns out, there apparently was a single prototype built in 1943.  While the Mobelwagen concept was approved, for production the 37mm Flak 43 replaced the 20mm Flakvierling.  There are a few pictures of the 20mm Flakvierling armed prototype - but none in combat.  Some sources indicate that the prototype may have been re-armed with a 37mm FlaK and thus probably never saw combat - at least armed with the 20mm Flakvierling.  The prototype will be referred to herein as a "Mobelwagen" even if, perhaps, that term was not used to refer to the prototype, because "20mm Flakvierling 38 auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen IV Selbstfahrlafette" is just too long.

Tamiya has an old kit of the 20mm Flakvierling prototype as well as a newer version of the production 37 FlaK 43 Mobelwagen.  The older version is based on Tamiya's old PzIV hull from the 1970s which has various issues.  The new version uses the updated PzIV hull.

So, the idea is to mate the Tamiya kit with a (somewhat) updated Dragon PzIV hull - specifically, the hull from a spare Cyber-Hobby "Orange Box" Brummbar late kit, which was selected as the donor because of its low cost (and, with a new Tamiya kit coming, a low likelihood of being built as such).

The two hulls are shown below:

Because the fenders in the middle of the Mobelwagen hull lack the tread plate, the fenders need to be retained.  After the initial surgery:

First roadblock - a problem that should have been evident before but is obvious from the overlay is that the Mobelwagen fenders are wider than the DML fenders.  The option of cutting off and relocating inwards the Mobelwagen fenders, while probably the most correct solution, seems to pose significant execution risks of creating gaps, etc., and because there are various attachment points, etc., located on the fender.  Trimming the Mobelwagen fenders is likely problematic because of the rivets located at the edge.  A third option might be to widen/extend the DML fenders - maybe by adding a strip along the outer edge.  This might be the easiest to execute, although technically probably the least correct.

Okay, decided to go with option 1.  Ended up having to fill quite a number of gaps as well.

After replacing dampers with Tristar early dampers and adding sides:

The Tamiya kit FlakVierling partially fitted on a preliminary basis.  Will need replace gun sight and barrels - not sure whether to replace in entirety. 

At left is a partially assembled Flakvierling 38 from the DML Wirbelwind kit (originally from the Sd.Kfz. 7/1) (note round base), while the partially assembled Tamiya Flakvierling 38 is at right.

A little bit of primer just to get a little more unified feel to the build

As can be seen from the above picture, the shields on the AFV Club Flakvierling 38 are much wider than the Tamiya shields and extend well beyond the side walls of the Mobelwagen so the option of using these shields with only minor modifications won't work.  Additionally, the Tamiya Mobelwagen shields will not easily fit perpendicularly with the AFV Club base, so using the AFV Club Flakvierling may be out as an option.

Finally getting to the final configuration.  The kit flakvierling is used with some minor detailing.  Still need to find a replacement gun sight, but that can be added later.  Now it mainly a matter of painting.  Road wheels and tracks (from Tristar) have been painted and are ready for adding.  We'll see if the Tristar tracks hold together without glue.