RetrokiT/Solfig

Canon de 75mm AA Mle.1932

The model is of a 1930s and WW2 era heavy anti-aircraft artillery used by the French Army and the Belgian Army and then captured and used by the German Army after 1940. From my limited references I understand that this was a modern design to replace guns based on the WW1 era Mle 1917. In 1940 a number of these AA cannon were taken into German use as the 7.5-cm Flak M17/32(f) or M17/36(f). Like the German 88mm Flak and Soviet 76mm M1938, the gun was mounted on a folding cruciform mount with bogies (trailers) fore and aft. In the photo above there is a photo of the gun in a museum display set on its trailers, in travel mode. No figures are included. This kit and other RetrokiT models are now produced and sold by the Solfig company.

The model kit consists of over 80 pale yellow cast resin parts on eleven pore plugs. The parts look superbly detailed and cast, among the best. Separating the parts from the pore plugs does not look difficult. At center left are the outriggers (arms) for the cruciform mount and the gun cradle. Above them are two pore plugs with the trailer tires, handwheels and other parts. There are many small and delicate parts so be careful when removing and storing them.

This is the closest thing the model kit has for assembly instructions; I hope the instructions are better with the Solfig release of this kit. There are no multi-step exploded-view drawings typical of many kit makers. At top is one of three line drawings of the completed gun in travel and in firing mode with part numbers and several of the parts. Unfortunately I don't notice part numbers on the parts. Below are black and white photos of the gun. At very bottom is a line drawing showing a mottled camouflage scheme, with a base color I believe would be olive green, but the instructions don't indicate what the other color might be.

Two full pages have a line drawing of the Model 32 gun in travel mode and 26 small black & white photos of the museum specimen. I find the photos a great idea but too small to really help much.

Overall I find the model to be finely crafted and a novel and fresh addition to the many oh-so-common German Flak kits. I am again frustrated that the maker of so good a model would give so little time and effort into making clear multi-step assembly instructions. Because of the poor instructions I recommend this kit for experienced resin modelers only. In my opinion this kit is too expensive and delicate for a novice to use for learning to build resin kits.

References
[1] The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, Chris Bishop (ed.), Orbis Publishing Ltd.,1998 p.150-151. ISBN: 1-58663-762-2
[2] Photo Gallery of WW2 (ww2photos.sa)
[3] Wikipedia

Review sample purchased by the author.

Article Last Updated: 25 February 2012