Tamiya 35077 - 1:35 Sturmpanzer IV Brumbar

Plastic model kit of the German Sturmpanzer IV Brummbar assault gun in 1:35 scale

The fighting in Stalingrad showed that artillery supporting the infantry had to move with it and survive fire at close range. The result was the Sturmpanzer IV, known as the Brummbar - a vehicle carrying a short 15 cm StuH 43 howitzer inside a tall, heavily armoured casemate on the chassis of the Panzer IV tank.

Tamiya 35077 comes from a 1976 mould and depicts an early to mid production machine, that is without the ball-mounted machine gun in the front casemate plate, which was introduced only on late production vehicles. The kit captures the casemate with its sloping front plate, the massive howitzer mantlet and the Panzer IV running gear with eight road wheels per side.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, casemate, howitzer and running gear
• Vinyl band tracks
• Two figures
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35077
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Length when built: approx. 169 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 simple shape of the vehicle and the modest parts count make for a quick build, and the parts fit typical of Tamiya helps less experienced modellers. The running gear deserves the most attention - road wheels set evenly in line give the tracks a natural run. The vinyl band tracks are joined with cyanoacrylate glue.

Vehicles of 1943-1945 typically wore dark yellow (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow) as a base, oversprayed with patches of green and red brown. The large flat casemate plates are an inviting surface for shading and for a wash to emphasise the detail. A matt varnish suits the finished model, and pigments can suggest dust and mud on the track guards and running gear.

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)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the vinyl band tracks
• 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 - Sturmpanzer IV Brummbar:

The Sturmpanzer IV grew out of experience of urban fighting on the Eastern Front. The infantry needed a vehicle that could drive up close to a fortified building or bunker, destroy it with a single heavy shell and survive machine gun and anti-tank fire while doing so.

The design used the chassis of the Panzer IV, fitted with an enclosed casemate housing the short 15 cm StuH 43 howitzer. The thick frontal armour gave good protection but added considerable weight and put a strain on the running gear. The large calibre high explosive rounds were highly effective against fortifications, buildings and concentrations of infantry.

Brummbars served with dedicated assault gun battalions and first saw action in 1943, including at the Battle of Kursk. They later fought on the Eastern Front, in Italy and in Western Europe. Successive production batches differed in detail, and late vehicles gained a ball-mounted machine gun in the front casemate plate, improving defence against infantry.

Original vehicle specifications (Sturmpanzer IV):

• Combat weight: approx. 28 t
• Crew: 5
• Main armament: 15 cm StuH 43 howitzer
• Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM petrol, approx. 300 hp
• Chassis: Panzer IV medium tank
• Casemate frontal armour: up to 100 mm
• Top speed: approx. 40 km/h
• Role: infantry fire support, destruction of fortifications, urban combat

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.