In this post, I want to showcase my Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind from Warlord Games. Besides a quick review of the kit, I will also add an easy to follow painting tutorial.
History
The Wirbelwind, german for Whirlwind, was a German self-propelled anti-aircraft gun during World War II. It was in service from 1944 until the end of the war in 1945. But due to production problems, only around 100 Wirbelwinds were built.
After losing air superiority, Germany was in need of a more powerful self-propelled anti-aircraft gun as a replacement for the Möbelwagen. To achieve that, a Panzer IV was stripped of his original turret, which was then replaced by an open-topped turret. A quad-barrel 2cm Flackvierling 38 was installed.
While the 2cm shells didn’t prove useful against aircraft, they were devastating against infantry and lightly armored targets. Besides that, the Wirbelwind offered decent cover for his crew against enemy fire.
On the tabletop, the Wirbelwind is a great option against infantry as well. Not to mention the fact, that the Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind from Warlord is a great looking model. So lets take a look at the kit itself.
The kit
The kit by Warlord Games consists of resin and metal parts. As usual, a unit card for Bolt Action, Decals and the markers are also added.
Unfortunately, it is a resin kit. Gluing resing and metal together is always a pain. On top of that, bending on barrels and stuff like that is a common problem too. I really hope, that in the near future that resin and metal kits will be replaced by plastic ones. What’s good about the kit, is the weight of the actual model and the quality of the cast. Overall, the Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind by Warlord is a solid kit.
How to Paint the Flakpanzer IV FROM WARLORD
Stuff you need:
- Priming
In the first step, I primed the Wirbelwind white, using Vallejo Primer. As always I applied the primer with a brush.
- Preparing the kit for weathering effects
To prepare the kit for some rust effects, I painted the whole model with Vallejo Hull Red (985).
- Appling the chipping medium.
In the third step, I applied Vallejo Chipping Medium. I really like this stuff.
- Applying the base color on the Flakpanzer IV
Now I painted the whole tank destroyer using Vallejo Middlestone (882), my go-to color for german armor.
As usual, tracks and the boots of the crewmen were painted using Vallejo Black Grey (862).
The uniforms itself and the cap of the Gunner were painted in Vallejo Field Grey (830). For the skin, I used Vallejo Basic Skin Color (815). - Activating the chipping medium
The chipping medium itself is activated by water. Just use an old toothbrush and gentle remove the base color. To add some more flavor to the model, I applied Vallejo Environment Rust Texture.
- Shading the model
I used Army Painter Quickshade (Dark tone) to shade the model. As usual, I sealed the model before with Army Painter Anti-Shine. This step is optional, but it will improve the flow of the shade.
- Applying Decals
Now the model is almost ready for battle. But before the Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind needs some turret numbers and the Balkenkreuz. As always, the decals from Warlord are rather easy to apply.
- Adding some dirt
I prefer a more rugged look on my vehicles, so I added Vallejo Thick Mud (European Mud) and Vallejo Splash Mud (European Splash Mud) to the model.
- Sealing the whole piece
In the last step, I sealed the whole Wirbelwind using Army Painter Anti-Shine. Thats it, another model ready for the gaming table!
THE FINISHED Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind from Warlord
Verdict
The Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind is a decent kit. I had to say it again, I really would like to have an all plastic kit. Resin is just crap. But besides that, the kit offers a good value for the money.
The tank itself is a must-have in my opinion. It looks great and it offers some serious firepower on the tabletop. Unfortunately, the Wirbelwind isn’t represented in the Chain of Command rule book. But you can find the tank in the Consolidated Arsenal.
That’s it for today guys. If you have any questions or comments, put them in the comments. And as always, happy wargaming!