Tamiya 35084 - 1:35 US Military Police Set

Plastic model figures: US Military Police Set with motorcycle in 1:35 scale

Tamiya 35084 is a set of two US Military Police figures together with a Harley-Davidson WLA motorcycle. Combining figures and a vehicle, a single box yields a complete vignette — a patrol halted at a junction, an MP directing a column, or a check at a river crossing.

The WLA was one of the most recognisable vehicles of the American army in Europe: simple, rugged and ever-present alongside marching columns. Paired with the MP figures it creates a scene that anchors a diorama's composition and gives it a story. The tooling dates from 1976.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with the parts for two US Military Police figures
• Harley-Davidson WLA motorcycle
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35084
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Series: Military Miniature Series
• Contents: 2 figures + Harley-Davidson WLA motorcycle
• Tooling: 1976
• Skill level: beginner

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

Assembly and painting:

The build is quick and simple: the figures consist of only a few parts, and the motorcycle — though finer — presents no difficulty thanks to Tamiya's usual fit. It is worth carefully cleaning the gate marks from the frame and mudguards, as at this scale any remaining nub shows later. Painting the motorcycle before placing the rider, and adding the MP last, is a convenient sequence.

Figure painting is a skill of its own, but this vignette is a rewarding place to try it. Olive shades (e.g. Tamiya XF-62 Olive Drab) form the base for both the motorcycle and the uniforms, while the hallmark of the Military Police — the white helmet and the MP armband — deserves careful work, as it is the most recognisable detail of the whole scene. A wash brings out uniform folds, while dry-brushing highlights raised areas. The instructions provide Tamiya paint codes.

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)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes, including fine ones for faces and details
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise the motorcycle's details and uniform folds
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the soldiers – US Military Police:

The Military Police were responsible for the things without which an army cannot function: directing the movement of columns, marking routes, securing crossings and junctions, escorting prisoners and keeping order in the rear areas. In the campaign in Western Europe, where supplies travelled hundreds of kilometres of road, the work of the MPs determined the pace of entire divisions.

The MP's recognisable attributes were the white helmet lettered MP and the armband. Motorcycles served for patrolling and carrying orders — fast, agile and free of the traffic jams that clogged the columns.

The Harley-Davidson WLA was derived from the civilian WL model and produced for the military from 1940. Powered by a side-valve V-twin of about 740 cc, easy to operate and repair, it reached American and Allied units in tens of thousands of examples. After the war thousands were sold as surplus — hence the nickname Liberator given to them in a liberated Europe.

Historical background:

• Formation: US Army Military Police, Second World War
• Duties: traffic control, securing routes and crossings, escorting prisoners, keeping order in the rear
• Recognisable insignia: white helmet and MP armband
• Vehicle represented in the kit: Harley-Davidson WLA motorcycle
• Harley-Davidson WLA: side-valve V-twin engine of about 740 cc, produced from 1940, tens of thousands supplied to US and Allied forces

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 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.