Tamiya 35177 - 1:35 German 38cm Assault Mortar Sturmtiger

1:35 plastic model kit of the German 38 cm Sturmtiger heavy assault mortar

A short, thick 38 cm launcher protruding from an armoured superstructure on a Tiger I chassis – the Sturmtiger looks like nothing else built during the Second World War. Tamiya 35177 reproduces it in 1:35 scale, from an all-new 1994 mould.

The kit focuses on what makes the original so distinctive: the massive launcher, the movable loading crane on the rear wall of the superstructure and the ammunition – four 38 cm rounds and an ammunition rack are included. The launcher elevation mechanism is assembled with metal screws, and the tracks are built up from individual links, allowing their run to be reproduced faithfully.

What’s in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, superstructure and launcher parts
• Individual-link tracks
• Movable loading crane
• Four 38 cm rounds and an ammunition rack
• Metal screws for the launcher elevation mechanism
• One tank crew figure
• Waterslide decal sheet for 2 marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35177
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: approx. 180 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (individual-link tracks)

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

Building the model:

The parts fit is very good, and the individual-link tracks call for the most patience – it helps to assemble them in sections and to give them a natural sag over the return rollers. Painting the hull and suspension before the upper plate goes on is worth considering, as access between the wheels becomes limited later. The movable loading crane and the rounds on their rack almost invite an ammunition-loading scene – the image most associated with this vehicle.

The base colour is dark yellow (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow), with patches of dark green (XF-61 Dark Green) and red brown (XF-64 Red Brown); the instructions give paint codes for both options. Applying decals over a gloss coat is recommended to reduce silvering, and a matt varnish suits the final finish. To take the level of detail further you may want to consider the Tamiya 35179 photo-etched set – a standalone product, sold separately and not included in this kit.

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
• A small screwdriver for the metal screws
• Brushes in a range of sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to accentuate details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and rubble effects

About the vehicle – Sturmtiger:

The Sturmtiger grew out of the experience of urban fighting, where German infantry needed a weapon capable of destroying fortified buildings with a single shot. An armoured superstructure was built on the chassis of the Tiger I heavy tank, housing a 38 cm RW 61 rocket launcher derived from a naval depth-charge projector.

The projectile weighed around 350 kilograms and could flatten a building or collapse a fortified position with one hit. The price was high: the heavy ammunition required a loading crane, the rate of fire was very low and only a small number of rounds could be carried. The vehicle was suited to one task – destroying stationary targets at short range.

Only 18 were built, converted from Tiger I hulls. Sturmtigers were used during the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising and in the fighting on the Western Front in the closing stages of the war. Their rarity and unmistakable outline make them one of the best-known oddities of German military engineering.

Original vehicle specifications (Sturmtiger):

• Length: approx. 6.28 m
• Width: approx. 3.57 m
• Combat weight: approx. 65 t
• Crew: 5
• Main armament: 38 cm RW 61 rocket launcher
• Ammunition: projectile weighing approx. 350 kg
• Powerplant: Maybach HL230 petrol engine, 700 hp
• Chassis: Tiger I heavy tank
• Role: destruction of fortifications and urban structures
• Production: only 18 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.