ICM 35724 - 1:35 Tankabwehr 1918

"Tankabwehr 1918" figure set – German anti-tank team in 1:35 scale

ICM 35724 is a figure set depicting a German anti-tank team (Tankabwehr) of 1918 – the final period of the First World War, when British tanks played an increasingly important role on the battlefield. In response to this new threat, specialised units were formed and equipped with the first anti-tank rifles and heavy machine guns. The set is made from a new mould.

The set comprises four figures: the crew of a Mauser Tankgewehr M1918 anti-tank rifle and the crew of an MG 08 heavy machine gun. It includes richly rendered weapons and equipment, allowing an expressive combat vignette to be built.

What's in the box:

• 4 figures of German soldiers from 1918
• Mauser T-Gewehr M1918 anti-tank rifle
• MG 08 heavy machine gun with equipment parts
• Individual soldiers' equipment
• Illustrated assembly instructions with a painting guide

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35724
• Manufacturer: ICM
• Contents: 4 figures with weapons
• Number of parts: 96
• Difficulty level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The figures are intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Each figure is composed of several parts (torso, limbs, head, equipment), allowing natural posing within a scene. It is advisable to paint the smaller elements before assembly and to fit the joints carefully to hide the seam lines. For the best effect it is worth emphasising the uniform and face detail with washes and the dry-brush technique.

To paint the figures you will need the colours of German field uniforms of the First World War – grey-green feldgrau, skin tones and a metallic finish for the weapon parts. The T-Gewehr rifle and the MG 08 machine gun form a characteristic accent of the whole composition.

Tools required:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Plastic cement
• Fine modelling brushes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise uniform and face detail

About the subject – German anti-tank defence 1918:

The debut of British tanks at the Somme in September 1916 confronted the German army with a new kind of threat. In the early period the infantry had no effective weapon capable of piercing the armour of the advancing machines. In 1918 the situation began to change with the introduction of specialised anti-tank armament.

The basis of the new weaponry was the Mauser Tankgewehr M1918 – the world's first anti-tank rifle, single-shot, of 13.2 mm calibre. Although unwieldy and with heavy recoil, it could penetrate the armour of contemporary tanks. The defence was complemented by the MG 08 heavy machine gun, using ammunition with special armour-piercing cores.

Weapon specifications (Mauser T-Gewehr M1918):

• Type: single-shot anti-tank rifle
• Calibre: 13.2 mm
• Weight: approx. 17.7 kg
• Length: approx. 1.68 m
• Service period: 1918, final stage of the First World War

About the manufacturer – ICM:

ICM is a Ukrainian model-kit manufacturer based in Kyiv, active since the 1990s. The company is renowned for a wide range of historical figures, military vehicles, cars and aircraft, developed with great care for the accuracy of poses and equipment. ICM figures feature natural poses and carefully rendered uniforms, making them a valued addition to dioramas and historical scenes.