Tamiya 35052 - 1:35 Horch Type 1a

Plastic model kit of the German Horch Type 1a field car in 1:35 scale

The Horch 108 Type 1a was a heavy field car with drive to all four wheels, one of the most characteristic support vehicles of the Wehrmacht. It carried gun crews, towed light guns and trailers, and its sturdy frame and V8 engine coped with the mud of the Eastern Front and the sand of North Africa alike.

Tamiya 35052 comes from a 1975 mould and depicts the vehicle with its open body. The windscreen can be folded down onto the bonnet and the canvas top fitted either raised or stowed, giving two different display options. A driver figure and an MG 34 machine gun complete the kit.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for the body, chassis and interior
• Clear parts
• Driver figure
• MG 34 machine gun
• String for the tow rope
• Decal sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35052
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Length when built: 139 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 is simple in layout and has a modest parts count, which makes it a good first wheeled vehicle for a collection. It is worth painting the interior, seats and dashboard before the body goes on, as access is limited afterwards. Masking the clear parts before painting will keep them crisp.

Typical schemes are German grey (e.g. Tamiya XF-63 German Grey) for the early war period and dark yellow (e.g. XF-60 Dark Yellow) for 1943-1945. Applying the decals over a gloss coat helps avoid silvering, and a matt varnish suits the finished vehicle. A wash and pigments will bring out the tyre tread and the dirt on the chassis.

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)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• 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 - Horch 108 Type 1a:

The Horch 108 belonged to the family of heavy standardised field cars developed in the 1930s to unify the Wehrmacht vehicle park. It had four wheel drive, independent suspension and a powerful V8 engine, and some batches also featured a steerable rear axle that improved manoeuvrability in rough terrain.

Vehicles of this type were used above all to carry gun crews and equipment, to tow light anti-tank guns and mortars, and as command and signals cars. The chassis also served as the basis for versions carrying 2 cm anti-aircraft guns.

The design proved robust but expensive and complex to build, so in the second half of the war it was gradually replaced by simpler vehicles. The Horch nevertheless remains one of the most recognisable German cars of 1939-1945 and a frequent subject for dioramas.

Original vehicle specifications (Horch 108 Type 1a):

• Drive: 4x4, steerable rear axle
• Engine: 3.8 litre V8 petrol, approx. 90 hp
• Role: carrying gun crews, towing equipment, platform for anti-aircraft guns
• Armament: 7.92 mm MG 34 machine gun (fitted according to the task)
• Body: open, with canvas top and folding windscreen

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.