Tamiya 35009 - 1:35 Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf.F/G

Plastic model kit of the German Panzerkampfwagen II Ausf.F/G light tank in 1:35 scale

The Panzerkampfwagen II was meant to be a stopgap design, yet it became one of the most widely used tanks of the first half of the Second World War. Tamiya 35009 represents the late production Ausf.F with its thicker armour and simplified flat hull front plate carrying the well known dummy driver hatch.

The kit comes from a 1971 mould and belongs to the classic Military Miniature Series. The hull, the running gear with its five large road wheels on leaf spring suspension and the turret with the 2 cm gun and coaxial machine gun are all clearly rendered and easy to assemble. The turret rotates once the model is finished.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, turret and running gear
• Vinyl band tracks
• Five figures, including a crewman leaning out of the turret hatch
• Decal sheet with five marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35009
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Length when built: approx. 137 mm
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This is a kit for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The kit has a simple parts breakdown and the fit typical of Tamiya, so the build progresses quickly. The vinyl band tracks are closed into a loop as shown in the instructions; ordinary polystyrene cement will not bond them, while cyanoacrylate glue works well. It is worth painting the figures separately before fitting them to the vehicle.

For the Eastern Front options German grey (e.g. Tamiya XF-63 German Grey) is recommended, while Afrika Korps vehicles call for a sand yellow (e.g. Tamiya XF-59 Desert Yellow). Applying the decals over a gloss coat helps to avoid silvering, and a final matt varnish suits a military vehicle. A wash and pigments will bring out the running gear and add dust effects.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the vinyl band tracks
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle - Panzerkampfwagen II:

The Panzerkampfwagen II was designed in the mid 1930s as an interim vehicle intended to fill the gap in the Panzer divisions until the Pz.Kpfw. III and IV became available in numbers. Armed with a rapid firing 2 cm gun and a machine gun, it was best suited to reconnaissance and to engaging lightly armoured targets.

Despite its modest capabilities the Pz.Kpfw. II made up a significant part of the German armoured force in Poland in 1939, in France in 1940 and during the first phase of Operation Barbarossa. It also served in North Africa with the 15th and 21st Panzer Divisions. From 1942 it was gradually withdrawn from front line service, while its chassis became the basis for the Marder II and Wespe self-propelled guns.

The Ausf.F, produced from 1941, received thicker frontal armour and a simplified hull front plate. This is the version most often seen in photographs from the Eastern Front and the desert.

Original vehicle specifications (Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf.F):

• Length: 4.81 m
• Width: 2.28 m
• Height: 2.15 m
• Combat weight: approx. 9.5 t
• Crew: 3 (commander/gunner, loader/radio operator, driver)
• Main armament: 2 cm KwK 38 L/55 automatic cannon
• Secondary armament: coaxial 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun
• Engine: Maybach HL 62 TRM petrol engine, approx. 140 hp
• Top speed: approx. 40 km/h on road
• Range: approx. 190-200 km
• Armour: up to 35 mm (hull and turret front)
• Ausf.F production: 1941-1942

About the manufacturer - Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. It began as a timber business and released its first plastic model kit in 1960. Two years later came the 1:35 scale tank that established this scale as the worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds, well thought out kit engineering and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of items covering vehicles, guns and figures from the Second World War and the modern era. Alongside kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.