Tamiya 35050 - 1:35 German 8Ton Semi Track 20mm Flakvierling Sd.kfz 7/1

Plastic model kit of the German Sd.Kfz. 7/1 half-track with 2 cm Flakvierling 38 in 1:35 scale

The Sd.Kfz. 7/1 combined a proven eight-tonne artillery tractor with a quadruple anti-aircraft gun. The result was a vehicle that could keep up with an armoured column and open fire on ground attack aircraft at a moment's notice - one of the most feared light anti-aircraft weapons of its day.

Tamiya 35050 comes from a 1975 mould and belongs to the Military Miniature Series. It reproduces the characteristic chassis with its closely spaced road wheels, the folding sides of the cargo platform and the gun mount, which traverses through a full 360 degrees with the sight linked to the movement of the barrels. Five figures in winter uniform allow the model to be set straight into an Eastern Front scene.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for the tractor and the Flakvierling 38 gun
• Vinyl band tracks
• 5 figures in winter uniform
• Fabric part for the tarpaulin
• Movable gun mount: 360 degree traverse, sight linked to the barrels
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35050
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Length when built: approx. 196 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

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

Building the model:

This kit is more involved than a typical classic Tamiya tank - the tractor running gear has a good number of road wheels and the gun itself is made up of many small parts. It is worth taking care to align the four barrels, as they are the first thing the eye catches on the finished model. 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. The fabric part is best left until after the vehicle has been painted.

Dark yellow (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow) suits vehicles from 1943-1945, while German grey (e.g. XF-63 German Grey) fits the earlier period. The winter-clad figures are best painted separately before being placed on the platform. A matt varnish, a wash and pigments will convey a vehicle worked hard in demanding conditions.

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
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes, including fine ones for the figures
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle - Sd.Kfz. 7/1:

The 8-tonne class Sd.Kfz. 7 half-track tractor was developed by Krauss-Maffei in the second half of the 1930s to tow heavy guns, including the famous 88 mm. It combined steered front wheels with a tracked rear running gear, giving good cross country performance while keeping a respectable road speed.

The Sd.Kfz. 7/1 variant was created by mounting a quadruple 2 cm Flakvierling 38 on the cargo platform. The four barrels produced a very high volume of fire, effective against ground attack aircraft coming in low. The sides of the platform folded down to give the crew room to work and a clear field of fire.

Vehicles of this type accompanied armoured and motorised columns on every front, and their importance grew as Allied air superiority increased. The Flakvierling was also used against ground targets, where its fire proved devastating to infantry and soft-skinned vehicles.

Original vehicle specifications (Sd.Kfz. 7/1):

• Length: approx. 6.85 m
• Width: approx. 2.40 m
• Weight: approx. 11.5 t
• Crew: driver plus gun crew (approx. 10)
• Armament: quadruple 2 cm Flakvierling 38
• Rate of fire: very high thanks to the four linked barrels
• Effective ceiling: approx. 2,000 m
• Engine: Maybach petrol engine, approx. 140 hp
• Top speed: approx. 50 km/h on road
• Production: from 1943 on the Sd.Kfz. 7 tractor chassis

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.