Tamiya 35070 - 1:35 M3A2 Half-Track U.S. Armored Personnel Carrier

1:35 plastic model kit of the American M3A2 half-track armoured personnel carrier

Tamiya 35070 depicts the American M3A2 half-track – a member of the family of vehicles that became a symbol of Allied motorised infantry. The model is produced from what was, at the time, brand new tooling dating from 1975.

The kit features a detailed interior with the driver's position and troop benches, plus a number of optional details: the radiator shutters and doors can be built open or closed, and the front wheels are steerable. Clear parts are included, along with a generous set of stowage – jerry cans, blankets, mines and small arms. The real highlight is the nine figures, enough to fill the vehicle with a complete squad.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the body, interior and fittings
• Clear parts
• Detailed interior: driver's position, troop benches
• Radiator shutters and doors buildable open or closed
• Steerable front wheels
• Vinyl band tracks
• Accessories: jerry cans, blankets, mines, small arms
• Nine figures
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35070
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 177 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (detailed interior, many figures and accessories)

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The vehicle itself goes together quickly, but the kit is a generous one – most of the time will go into painting the nine figures and the many accessories. The troop compartment interior remains fully visible, so it is worth painting and weathering it before the upper body parts are fitted. The stowage – blankets, cans, weapons – is best arranged after the interior has been painted, planning the composition so that it looks natural.

Olive drab is the standard colour for American vehicles of the Second World War (e.g. Tamiya XF-62 Olive Drab). A dark brown wash brings out the rivets, benches and interior detail, while pigments on the wheels and tracks add realism. Decals are best applied over a gloss coat to avoid silvering, with a matt varnish as the final finish.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes, including fine ones for figure painting
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate detail and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – the American M2/M3 half-tracks:

The half-track was a compromise that proved surprisingly successful: the wheeled front axle gave easy steering and decent road speed, while the tracked rear provided cross-country mobility. The open-topped troop compartment let the infantry dismount in seconds, though it offered no protection at all against fire from above.

The M2/M3 family was powered by a White 160AX engine of around 147 hp, weighed some 9 tonnes and could carry up to thirteen men. Armament typically consisted of an M2 .50 cal (12.7 mm) heavy machine gun and an M1919 .30 cal (7.62 mm) machine gun.

More than 40,000 were built between 1941 and 1943. They fought in Europe, North Africa and the Pacific, and beyond the personnel carrier role they served as anti-aircraft gun mounts, ambulances, artillery tractors and command vehicles. They were also supplied to Allied armies under Lend-Lease and remained in service around the world long after the war.

Original vehicle specifications (M3 family):

• Length: approx. 6.18 m
• Width: approx. 2.22 m
• Height: approx. 2.26 m
• Weight: approx. 9 t
• Capacity: up to 13 troops
• Armament: M2 .50 cal (12.7 mm) heavy machine gun, M1919 .30 cal (7.62 mm) machine gun
• Powerplant: White 160AX engine, approx. 147 hp
• Running gear: wheeled front axle, tracked rear
• Production: 1941–1943, over 40,000 built
• Theatres: Europe, North Africa, the Pacific

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company started out in the timber trade, but by the late 1940s it was producing wooden models, and in 1960 it released its first plastic model kit. Two years later came a 1:35 tank kit that established the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this M3A2 half-track belongs, runs to hundreds of items and is one of the most comprehensive catalogues of 1:35 military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries today and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.