Tamiya 35121 - 1:35 US Weapons set

Tamiya 35121 US Weapons Set in 1:35 scale

Rifles leaning against the side of a half-track, a bazooka resting on an ammunition box, a Browning M2 on its mount – the Tamiya 35121 set supplies the details that tell the story of a scene. It collects the weapons of the American infantry of the Second World War in 1:35 scale, together with ammunition and part of the personal equipment.

This is a set of weapons and equipment only – no figures are included. The parts come from 1981 tooling and match Tamiya vehicles and figures in the 1:35 range.

What is in the box:

• Colt M1911A1 pistol and a revolver
• M1 Garand rifle
• M1903A4 sniper rifle
• M1 carbine – also with bayonet and with grenade launcher
• M2 carbine
• Thompson M1A1 and M3 submachine guns
• BAR M1918A2 automatic rifle
• Browning M1919A6 machine gun
• Browning M2 .50 cal heavy machine gun with spare barrel, ammunition box and belt
• M1 bazooka launcher
• M18 57 mm recoilless rifle with ammunition
• M2A1-7 flamethrower
• 60 mm M2 mortar with rounds
• Ammunition boxes and belts, pouches and a gas mask

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35121
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Type: diorama accessories – weapons and equipment
• Tooling: 1981

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:

• Stowage for the interior of a half-track, jeep or truck
• A firing position with a Browning M1919A6 or an M2 .50 cal machine gun
• A support section: 60 mm mortar, bazooka and M18 recoilless rifle at a defensive position
• Weapons and ammunition boxes laid out around figures in a halt scene
• Re-arming and adding gear to figures from other 1:35 sets

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

US infantry weapons of the Second World War:

What set the American soldier apart from other armies above all was the M1 Garand – the first semi-automatic rifle issued as standard to an entire infantry force. It gave a markedly higher practical rate of fire than the bolt-action rifles of the enemy. It was supplemented by the light M1 carbine, issued to crew-served weapon teams, drivers and paratroopers, by its automatic M2 version and by the M1903A4 sniper rifle with a telescopic sight.

Squad firepower rested on the BAR M1918A2 automatic rifle and on submachine guns – the classic Thompson and the cheap, stamped M3, popularly known as the grease gun. Support came from the Browning machine guns: the general purpose M1919A6 with a stock and bipod, and the M2 .50 cal heavy machine gun mounted on vehicles and tripods, used against both ground and air targets.

Against vehicles and fortifications the infantry used the M1 bazooka – the first widely fielded shoulder-fired rocket launcher – the M18 57 mm recoilless rifle and the M2 flamethrower, employed in assaults on bunkers and fortified positions, especially in the Pacific. The light 60 mm M2 mortar was the basic company-level support weapon, able to engage the enemy with high-angle fire beyond the gunner line of sight.

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.