Tamiya 35071 - 1:35 M577 Command Post

1:35 plastic model kit of the American M577 command post vehicle

Tamiya 35071 depicts the M577 – a command post vehicle built on the M113 carrier chassis and instantly recognisable by its tall, raised compartment, in which staff officers can work standing upright. The model is produced from 1975 tooling and measures 148 mm when assembled.

The heart of the kit is its detailed interior, set up to portray a staff briefing: four officer figures leaning over a table, plus a driver bust. The equipment includes a generator, tent poles and supports, a rolled tarpaulin, grille flooring and antennas – everything that sets a command vehicle apart from an ordinary carrier and makes this model a rewarding diorama subject.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, raised compartment and fittings
• Detailed command compartment interior
• Equipment: generator, tent poles and supports, rolled tarpaulin, grille flooring, antennas
• Vinyl band tracks
• Four officer figures around a briefing table plus a driver bust
• Waterslide decal sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35071
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 148 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (detailed interior, figures)

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

Building the model:

The hull itself is simple to assemble, but it is the interior that defines this kit – it is worth planning the work so that the command compartment, table and equipment are painted before the body is closed up. The officer figures are best painted separately and placed at the end. The antennas and tent poles are delicate, so they are usually fitted last, once painting is complete.

Olive drab is the standard colour for US Army vehicles of the period (e.g. Tamiya XF-62 Olive Drab). The interior is usually kept in lighter shades, which helps it read clearly in a finished diorama. A dark brown wash brings out the detail, and pigments on the tracks and lower hull add realism. Military vehicle models are usually finished with a matt varnish.

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 – M577:

The success of the M113 carrier meant that its chassis became the basis for a whole family of specialist vehicles. The M577 is one of the most distinctive: the troop compartment was replaced by a tall superstructure in which staff officers can stand upright, use map tables and operate communications equipment.

The vehicle carries no fixed armament – its job is work, not fighting. It is equipped with a generator to power the radios and lighting, and with a tent that, when erected at the rear of the vehicle, multiplies the available working area. It was in command posts set up like this that operations at battalion and brigade level were planned.

The M577 entered service in the 1960s and, like the M113 on which it is based, has proved remarkably long-lived. It has been used by the armies of many nations and remains in service today; its silhouette, with the tall superstructure and a forest of antennas, has become a fixture of the modern field headquarters.

Original vehicle specifications (M577):

• Chassis: M113 armoured personnel carrier
• Length: approx. 4.86 m
• Distinctive feature: raised compartment allowing work in a standing position
• Armament: no fixed armament
• Equipment: generator, staff tent, communications equipment
• Role: mobile command post
• Service: from the 1960s to the present day, with many armies worldwide

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 M577 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.