Tamiya 35111 - 1:35 German Weapons Set

Tamiya 35111 German Weapons Set in 1:35 scale

A rifle leaning against the side of a vehicle, an MG34 on its tripod at a firing position, ammunition boxes dropped beside a trench – these are the details that make a diorama convincing. The Tamiya 35111 set collects the basic weapons of the German infantry of the Second World War in 1:35 scale.

This is a set of weapons and equipment only – no figures are included. That makes it a source of details for dioramas and vehicle stowage as well as a way to supplement figures from other kits. The parts come from 1979 tooling.

What is in the box:

• Luger P08 and Walther P38 pistols and a flare pistol
• Kar98k rifles in three versions: standard, sniper and with a grenade launcher
• Walther G41 semi-automatic rifle
• MP40 and Bergmann MP35 submachine guns
• MP44/StG44 assault rifle
• PzB 39 anti-tank rifle
• MG34 machine gun with tripod, drum magazines, cases and ammunition boxes
• MG42 machine gun
• Panzerfausts
• Mines: Hafthohlladung and Tellermine
• Stick grenades and crates

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35111
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Type: diorama accessories – weapons and equipment
• Tooling: 1979

Assembly and painting required

The parts have to be removed from the sprues, cleaned up, assembled and painted. Cement, paints and modelling tools are not included in the set and must be obtained separately.

Use in a diorama:

• Vehicle interiors and troop compartments – weapons in racks, on seats or leaning against the sides
• An MG34 firing position on a tripod, with ammunition boxes
• Rifles stacked or leaned against a wall during a halt
• Panzerfausts and mines laid out at an anti-tank position or among rubble
• Re-arming figures from other 1:35 sets
• Captured weapons in Allied scenes as a narrative detail

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby knife and files or sandpaper to clean up the parts
• Polystyrene cement
• Model paints and brushes for the small parts
• Precision modelling tweezers

German infantry weapons of the Second World War:

Throughout the war the backbone of the German soldier armament remained the bolt-action Kar98k rifle in 7.92 mm – simple, accurate and produced in millions, including a sniper version with a telescopic sight and a version with a grenade launcher attachment. It was supplemented by the MP40 submachine gun, issued mainly to squad leaders and vehicle crews, and by the Walther G41 semi-automatic rifle.

The firepower of the squad rested on the general purpose machine gun: first the MG34, later the simpler and faster-firing MG42. Both could be used on a bipod as a squad weapon or on a tripod in a fixed position. A genuine novelty was the MP44, also known as the StG44 – the first widely issued assault rifle chambered for an intermediate cartridge, a design that set the direction of infantry weapon development for decades.

Anti-tank weapons formed a separate group. The PzB 39 anti-tank rifle quickly proved helpless against thicker armour and was replaced by shaped-charge weapons and mines: the magnetically attached Hafthohlladung, the Tellermine plate mine and the cheap, effective single-use Panzerfaust, which by the end of the war had become the symbol of infantry anti-tank combat. The stick grenade, easy to throw over a distance and carried in wooden crates, completed the picture.

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya is a Japanese company based in Shizuoka, active since 1946 – first as a timber business and, from the 1960s, as a manufacturer of plastic scale models. The brand built its reputation on precise tooling, good parts fit and clear instructions, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike.

The 1:35 Military Miniature Series, to which this set belongs, covers military vehicles, figures and diorama accessories. A shared scale and consistent style make it easy to combine parts from different Tamiya sets in one scene.