History

The Maschinengewehr 08, or lMG 08, was the German Army's standard machine gun in World War I and is an adoption of Hiram S. Maxim's original 1884 Maxim Gun. In WWI the 08 water cooled infantry MG was used as the first model built by the Spandau Arsenal. It was later modified with a fretted gun jacket for use on early German C, E & many W types. It and went into production in 1915. A lower case letter "L" beginning the prefix meant luftgekühlt (air-cooled). The lMG 08s were later used in pairs by the time of the introduction of the Fokker D.III, as fixed and synchronized cowling guns firing through the propeller. These early 7.92mm Spandau Maxims were a bit more beefier in appearance than the LMG 08/15 Luftstreitkräfte standard 7.92mm that followed.

Kit Contents

20 pcs photoetch metal
Instructions one sided plan & exploded view.

One of HGW recent releases is a PE 1:32 version of the aircraft modified "Spandau" Maxim lMG 08 and was origanlly meant for the WNW 1:32 Hansa Brandenburg W.29. But now with the WNW release of the Fok. E.II & E.III kits there is renewed interest. This set can easily modified to the earlier 1915-1916 versions. In all cases disregard the spade grip cocking handle. The original was the older brother to the 08/15 it had a long history even to the early days of WWII.

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