Tamiya 35125 - 1:35 M151A2 w/Tow Missile

Plastic model kit of the American M151A2 with TOW missile launcher in 1:35 scale

Pairing a light utility vehicle with a TOW anti-tank guided missile launcher gave American units a weapon able to destroy tanks at long range — and to shift position in moments. Tamiya 35125 reproduces this combination in 1:35 scale from tooling dating to 1983.

The kit includes the launcher with the M220 system and its sight, mounted on the body of the M151A2, together with a tripod that allows the launcher to be set up on the ground beside the vehicle — an interesting option for a diorama. A radio set and jerry cans are also provided, and the windscreen can be built either upright or folded down over the bonnet.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with body, chassis and interior parts
• Launcher with the M220 system and sight
• Tripod for setting the launcher up on the ground
• Radio set and jerry cans
• Windscreen that can be built raised or folded
• Driver figure
• Waterslide decal sheet for three options: 2nd Infantry Division (Korea), 82nd Airborne Division (Fort Bragg), USMC
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35125
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 98 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 kit is small and quick to build, but the TOW launcher with its sight is a sub-assembly made up of fine parts — it is worth putting it together and painting it separately before fitting it to the vehicle. Decide early whether the windscreen is to be raised or folded. The tripod opens up the option of a scene with the launcher dismounted and set up in a firing position.

For painting we suggest Olive Drab (e.g. Tamiya XF-62) or the multi-colour camouflage of the chosen option. Applying the decals over a gloss coat helps avoid silvering, and a matt varnish makes a good final coat. A wash brings out the interior and launcher detail, while pigments can suggest dust on the wheels and chassis.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out detail
• Optional: weathering pigments for dust and mud

About the vehicle – M151A2 with TOW launcher:

The BGM-71 TOW is a wire-guided anti-tank missile that entered US Army service in the early 1970s. The operator guided the missile to the target by keeping it in the sight, with commands passed along thin wires unspooling in flight. The M220 system replaced the obsolete 106 mm recoilless rifles in service, offering far greater range and accuracy.

Mounting the launcher on the light M151A2 combined firepower with mobility — the vehicle could move quickly into position, fire and withdraw before the enemy could respond. When needed, the launcher could be dismounted and set up on its tripod in a ground firing position.

Original specifications (BGM-71 TOW / M151A2):

• Type: light utility vehicle with anti-tank guided missile launcher
• Armament: M220 system firing BGM-71 TOW missiles
• Guidance: wire-guided, semi-automatic (the operator keeps the target in the sight)
• Replaced: 106 mm recoilless rifles
• Chassis: M151A2 — four-cylinder engine, approx. 2.3 l, 71 hp
• The launcher can be dismounted and set up on a tripod
• Service: from the 1970s and throughout the Cold War

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 and made wooden models, releasing its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960. Two years later came the 1:35 tank that established the world standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise tooling and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of releases covering vehicles, artillery and figures. Tamiya instructions are clear and well illustrated, with painting guides referenced to the company's own paint range. Besides kits, Tamiya offers a full range of accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.