Tamiya 35072 - 1:35 Russian SU-85

1:35 plastic model kit of the Soviet SU-85 tank destroyer

Tamiya 35072 depicts the SU-85 – a self-propelled gun built on the proven T-34 chassis, which in 1943 gave Soviet units a weapon capable of dealing effectively with the new German tanks. The model is produced from 1975 tooling and measures 235 mm when assembled.

The kit captures the vehicle's characteristically low, compact shape, with its sloped front plate and long barrel in a ball mount. The gun is movable. The included accessories – fuel tanks, spare track links, a shovel and a tarpaulin – along with the figure of a tanker leaning out of the hatch, give the model the character of a vehicle in everyday front-line service.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, fighting compartment and fittings
• Movable gun
• Vinyl band tracks
• Accessories: fuel tanks, spare track links, shovel, tarpaulin
• Figure of a tanker leaning out of the hatch
• Waterslide decal sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35072
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 235 mm
• Skill level: beginner

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

Building the model:

This is a straightforward build – the compact hull and vinyl band tracks get the model to the painting stage quickly. The road wheels are best painted before the tracks go on. External stowage, especially the tarpaulin and fuel tanks, is easier to handle if painted separately and added once the hull is painted, which makes it simpler to vary the textures.

Soviet protective green is the recommended base colour (e.g. Tamiya XF-58 Olive Green). The model takes bold weathering well: a dark brown wash in the weld seams and around the hatch, lighter edge highlights, and pigments on the tracks and running gear. 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
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate detail and recesses
• Optional: pigments for mud and dust effects

About the vehicle – SU-85:

The year 1943 confronted the Red Army with a problem: the 76.2 mm gun, adequate at the start of the war, was no longer coping with the armour of the newest German tanks. The answer was the SU-85 self-propelled gun – a T-34 hull without a turret, carrying an 85 mm D-5S gun in a fixed casemate.

Doing away with the turret made it possible to fit a far more powerful barrel into a compact vehicle, one capable of penetrating around 100 mm of armour at 1,000 metres. The vehicle weighed some 29.6 tonnes, carried a crew of four and retained the good mobility of the T-34 on which it was based.

The SU-85 made its combat debut in December 1943 and quickly became a highly regarded tank destroyer. Its career was short, however – once the T-34 received a turret with an 85 mm gun, the SU-85 lost its advantage, and production ended in 1944 in favour of the more powerful SU-100.

Original vehicle specifications (SU-85):

• Chassis: T-34 tank
• Length with gun: approx. 8.15 m
• Combat weight: approx. 29.6 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 85 mm D-5S gun
• Penetration: approx. 100 mm of armour at 1,000 m
• Powerplant: V-2-34 diesel engine, 500 hp
• Combat debut: December 1943
• Production: 1943–1944

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 SU-85 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.