WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 1 - front view

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 2 - top view

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 3 - side view

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 4 - top view

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 5 - rear view

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 6 - top view

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 7 - side view

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 8 - close-up

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 9 - close-up

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 10 - close-up

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 11 - close-up

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 12 - close-up

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 13 - close-up

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 14 - close-up

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 15 - close-up

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 16 - close-up

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 17 - close-up

WWII prototype anti-aircraft weapons including the Heimdall and 5.5 cm Gerat 58 plastic models in the diorama - photo No. 18 - close-up

Diorama with Prototype Anti-aircraft Vehicles

The diorama was built to a 1:35 scale and features a fictitious scene from the end of WW2.

Plastic models of the Panther tank chassis were used to make the models presented on the diorama. One chassis is from the Meng firm and the other from Das Werk. In both cases metal side shields from Aber were used. In addition, the chassis of the tank used for the gun was covered with Zimmerit from Atak Model. The turret of the self-propelled anti-aircraft gun comes from Custom-Scale resin kit, and the other one was built from Paper Panzer Productions set.

The 5.5 cm Gerat 58 cannon was a prototype of an anti-aircraft weapon. It was made only three copies. They were designed for both land and sea use. The diorama represents two such guns placed on the chassis of the Panther tank.

The second model on the diorama is also a prototype. It is Heimdall, i.e. two devices built into one turret, and the whole thing is also placed on the chassis of the Panther tank. In such a combination, these devices were not used during the war.

However, they were being used separately. The FuG 240 Berlin radar was an airborne interceptor radar introduced into the Luftwaffe at the very end of World War II. About 25 units of this device were in use. The radar in the model is located under the spherical cover at the front of the turret.

The second device from Heimdall set was the KDO 40 rangefinder. In hostilities, it was used in teams together with anti-aircraft searchlights. Its span was 4.2 m (13⅘ ft) in reality. In the model, it is visible in the form of two cylinders sticking out on both sides of the turret.

Sources:

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_55_Gerat58.php
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FuG_240_Berlin
https://www.panzer-bau.de/artillerie-1-35/kommandoger%C3%A4te-der-flakartillerie/

5 Apr 2020

Modeler: Artur Stańczyk

Photographer: Ender

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