Tamiya 35161 - 1:35 M42 Duster

1:35 plastic model kit of the American M42 Duster self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

The M42 Duster had two careers: designed to engage aircraft, it became famous in Vietnam as a devastating source of fire support against ground targets. Tamiya 35161 reproduces it in 1:35 scale – the kit comes from a 1970s mould and the current release includes three figures.

The heart of the kit is the open-topped turret with its twin 40 mm Bofors guns and a detailed interior showing the crew positions. The hull is based on the M41 light tank, and belt-type tracks shorten the running gear assembly. The decal sheet covers three schemes from three different armies, so you can build an American, Japanese or German vehicle.

What’s in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, turret and armament parts
• Open-topped turret with detailed interior
• Belt-type tracks
• Three crew figures
• Waterslide decal sheet for 3 marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35161
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: 180 mm
• Skill level: beginner

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

Building the model:

This is a classic, straightforward kit with good parts fit, well suited to modellers taking their first steps in armour. The belt-type tracks close up the running gear quickly, and most of your attention is best spent on the open turret – its interior stays visible on the finished model, so it is worth painting and detailing it before the guns go in.

The US option is finished in a uniform olive drab (e.g. Tamiya XF-62 Olive Drab); the Japan Self-Defense Force and Bundeswehr vehicles wore different, darker colours, and the instructions give paint codes for each scheme. Applying decals over a gloss coat is recommended to reduce silvering, and a matt varnish – typical for military vehicles – makes a good final finish. A wash and pigments will help suggest dust and service wear.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in a range of sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – M42 Duster:

The M42 Duster was developed in the early 1950s as a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun on the chassis of the M41 Walker Bulldog light tank. Its open, rotating turret carried twin 40 mm Bofors automatic cannon – effective against piston-engined and early jet aircraft, but quickly outpaced by faster jets and missiles.

The Duster found a second life in Vietnam. With little air threat to counter, the vehicles were switched to ground roles: convoy escort, base defence and infantry fire support. The rate of fire and hitting power of the twin Bofors made the M42 highly valued by the troops it accompanied on the roads and in fire bases.

The vehicle also served abroad, including with the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Bundeswehr, and in some armies it remained in service for decades after being withdrawn from front-line use in the United States.

Original vehicle specifications (M42 Duster):

• Length: approx. 6.36 m
• Width: approx. 3.23 m
• Height: approx. 2.85 m
• Combat weight: approx. 22.5 t
• Crew: 6
• Main armament: twin 40 mm Bofors automatic cannon
• Powerplant: Continental AOS-895-3 engine, approx. 500 hp
• Top speed: approx. 72 km/h (road)
• Range: approx. 160 km
• Chassis: M41 Walker Bulldog light tank
• Production: 1950s, approx. 3,700 built

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 company originally traded in timber and moved on to wooden models in the late 1940s. Its first plastic model kit appeared in 1960, and two years later came its first 1:35 tank – the scale that, thanks to Tamiya, became the worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds, outstanding parts fit and clear instructions, 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 from around the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling 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.