Tamiya 35053 - 1:35 Wehrmacht Mounted Infantry Set

Plastic model figures: Wehrmacht Mounted Infantry Set in 1:35 scale

Tamiya 35053 is a small but unusual set: the box contains one horse and two human figures — an officer seated in the saddle and a second officer, on foot, armed with an MP40 submachine gun. The product name might suggest a larger unit, so it is worth stating clearly: this is one horse and two figures, intended above all as a vignette to complement a diorama or a vehicle model.

The rider has been designed with several interpretations of the same scene in mind — three alternative sets of arms are provided: holding the reins, with binoculars and with a pistol. The reins and girth are made by the modeller from the plastic strips supplied, so they drape naturally rather than looking stiff like moulded parts. The tooling dates from 1975.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with the parts for one horse and two human figures
• Mounted officer and an officer on foot with an MP40 submachine gun
• Three alternative sets of arms for the rider: holding the reins, with binoculars, with a pistol
• Plastic strips for making the reins and girth
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35053
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Series: Military Miniature Series
• Contents: 1 horse + 2 human figures
• Tooling: 1975
• Skill level: beginner

Note: The kit does not include cement, paints or modelling tools. The figures are supplied for self-assembly and painting.

Assembly and painting:

The build itself is simple, though the reins and girth call for a moment of care — the plastic strips must be cut and shaped by hand. Dry-fitting them before reaching for the cement helps, and the ends can be tacked down at single points. It is also worth deciding in advance which pair of arms to use, as this defines the character of the whole vignette: observing through binoculars, calmly leading the horse or ready for action.

Figure painting is a skill in its own right, and the horse is a rewarding extra challenge here. A coat looks best painted with a gentle transition of tones — darker in the recesses, lighter along the back and hindquarters; a wash and light dry-brushing help a great deal. German officers' uniforms are usually painted in grey-green (feldgrau), while the harness leather, boots and belt call for leather browns. The instructions provide Tamiya paint codes.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel for cutting the plastic strips
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes, including fine ones for faces and details
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to bring out the horse's coat and the folds of the uniforms
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the soldiers – horses in the Wehrmacht:

Contrary to the image of a fully motorised army, the Wehrmacht relied on horses to an enormous degree throughout the Second World War. More than two and a half million were used in total: they pulled guns, supply wagons and field kitchens, supplied infantry units and carried the wounded. An infantry division had only a limited number of motor vehicles, and horses remained the basis of its mobility.

Horses also carried officers and scouts — especially on the Eastern Front, where the mud of the spring and autumn thaws and the absence of hard-surfaced roads could bring motor columns to a complete standstill. A saddle horse was then not a relic but the most reliable way of reaching the troops.

The vignette in this set — a mounted officer and a second officer standing beside him — depicts a scene typical of command in the field, and fits perfectly into a diorama with a marching column, a supply train or a vehicle halted on a forest track.

Historical background:

• Formation: Wehrmacht, Second World War
• Weapons represented in the kit: MP40 submachine gun (officer on foot), pistol (alternative rider's arms), binoculars (alternative rider's arms)
• The Wehrmacht used more than 2.5 million horses during the war — for transport, artillery and supply
• The German infantry division remained largely horse-drawn; horses provided its mobility
• Saddle horses served officers and scouts, especially on the Eastern Front during the thaw seasons

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The business began in the timber trade, moved on to wooden models in the late 1940s and released its first plastic model kit in 1960. In 1968 it launched the 1:35 Military Miniature Series, to which this figure set also belongs. The brand is known for precise injection moulds and excellent parts fit, which makes its kits a popular choice for beginners and experienced modellers alike. Tamiya figures are valued for their natural poses and clearly rendered uniforms and equipment. Besides plastic kits the company offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. Today Tamiya is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.