Tamiya 35020 - 1:35 German Hanomag Sd.Kfz. 251/1

Plastic model kit of the German Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf.C armoured personnel carrier in 1:35 scale

The Sd.Kfz. 251/1 is the most recognisable German half-track - an angular armoured box on a tractor chassis, carrying the Panzergrenadiers right behind the tanks. Tamiya 35020 depicts the Ausf.C, identified by its riveted hull and the flat front plate of the engine compartment.

The kit comes from a 1973 mould and belongs to the Military Miniature Series. The troop compartment is reproduced with seats and benches, and the rear doors can be fitted open to show the interior. Armament consists of a machine gun behind an armoured shield at the front of the compartment and a second gun at the rear.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, troop compartment and running gear
• Detailed troop compartment: seats, benches, rear doors that can be posed open
• Front machine gun with armoured shield and rear machine gun
• Vinyl band tracks
• 5 figures
• Decal sheet for 5 vehicles
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35020
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Length when built: approx. 166 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 build is approachable even for less experienced modellers. Bear in mind that the troop compartment is best painted before the hull is closed up, as access becomes limited afterwards. The vinyl band tracks are closed into a loop as shown in the instructions; polystyrene cement will not bond them, while cyanoacrylate glue works well.

German grey (e.g. Tamiya XF-63 German Grey) suits the European options, while sand yellow (e.g. Tamiya XF-59 Desert Yellow) fits the North African vehicles. Applying decals over a gloss coat reduces silvering, and a matt varnish gives a suitable final finish. A wash will bring out the riveted hull, and pigments help to render dust on the road wheels and tracks.

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 - Sd.Kfz. 251:

The Sd.Kfz. 251 was developed in the second half of the 1930s on the chassis of a medium half-track tractor. Its task was to carry a squad of Panzergrenadiers behind the tanks under the protection of light armour proof against splinters and small arms fire. The vehicle carried a driver, a commander and ten men.

The carrier was built in several structural versions. The Ausf.C, produced from 1940, still had a complex riveted and bolted hull and a flat vertical plate covering the engine with ventilation flaps on the sides. Only the later Ausf.D received a simplified welded body with plain sides.

Dozens of specialised versions were built on the Sd.Kfz. 251, from command and ambulance vehicles through engineer and anti-aircraft conversions to rocket launcher carriers. The basic troop carrier was designated /1 and it is this version that the kit represents.

Original vehicle specifications (Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf.C):

• Length: approx. 5.80 m
• Width: approx. 2.10 m
• Height: approx. 1.75 m (without armament)
• Combat weight: approx. 8.5-9 t
• Crew and troops: 2 + 10
• Armament: two 7.92 mm machine guns (front behind a shield, rear mount)
• Engine: Maybach HL 42 TUKRM petrol engine, approx. 100 hp
• Top speed: approx. 50 km/h on road
• Range: approx. 300 km
• Armour: 6-14.5 mm
• Production: from 1939 to the end of the war, over ten thousand vehicles of all versions

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.