Tamiya 35184 - 1:35 German Machine Gun Crew

Plastic figure kit: German Machine Gun Crew in 1:35 scale

Tamiya 35184 is a set of five figures depicting a German machine gun section moving up to a firing position. The composition tells a complete story: an NCO with an MP40 submachine gun leads the group, three soldiers carry ammunition boxes and the heavy Lafette tripod, and the gunner shoulders an MG42.

The kit includes both machine guns used by the Wehrmacht — the MG42 and the MG34 — along with the tripod, shelter capes and ammunition boxes. The uniforms follow the 1943 pattern. The tooling dates from 1994 and the kit belongs to the Military Miniature Series.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for five figures
• MG42 and MG34 machine guns
• Lafette tripod
• MP40 submachine gun
• Ammunition boxes and shelter capes
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35184
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Series: Military Miniature Series
• Number of figures: 5
• Tooling: 1994
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: This kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The figures are supplied for self-assembly and painting.

Assembly and painting:

Assembly is simple — the figures consist of few parts and the fit is typical of Tamiya, so even beginners should have no trouble. It is worth carefully removing the gate marks and smoothing the mould seam lines before painting. Many modellers paint the torso, head and hands separately, and finish the weapons and equipment before attaching them to the figures.

Field grey is the natural starting point for the 1943 pattern uniforms (for example Tamiya XF-65 Field Grey), with khaki tones on the webbing and black on the leather straps. A wash in the folds of the cloth and a light dry-brush on the raised edges give a clear sense of depth on figures caught in motion. The instructions give Tamiya paint codes.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (for example Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes in various sizes, including fine ones for faces and details
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to bring out uniform folds and facial features
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the soldiers – German machine gun sections:

In the German infantry of the Second World War it was the machine gun, not the rifle, that formed the backbone of the squad. The other soldiers protected the gun team and kept it supplied with ammunition, and the whole tactical doctrine of the squad was built around the MG position. A section typically comprised a gunner, an ammunition bearer and assistants carrying boxes and spare barrels.

The MG34, introduced in 1934, was the first true general-purpose machine gun: it could serve as a light weapon on a bipod and as a heavy weapon on the Lafette tripod. Its successor, the MG42 of 1942, became famous for a very high rate of fire of around 1200 rounds per minute and for the distinctive sound that Allied soldiers nicknamed Hitler saw. It was also simpler and cheaper to produce, although the MG34 remained in service to the end of the war, not least as vehicle armament.

The Lafette 34 tripod turned the machine gun into a long-range support weapon: with its recoil-absorbing mechanism and optical sight it allowed accurate fire at considerable distances. It was heavy, however, and required a dedicated soldier to carry it — something the composition of these figures illustrates well.

Historical background:

• Formation: German infantry machine gun sections, Second World War
• Weapons: MG34 and MG42 (7.92 mm), MP40 submachine gun
• MG42 rate of fire: around 1200 rounds per minute
• The Lafette 34 tripod enabled accurate fire at long range
• Uniforms: 1943 pattern field uniforms, shelter capes

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 business initially traded in timber and produced wooden models from the late 1940s, releasing its first plastic model kit in 1960. In 1968 it launched the 1:35 Military Miniature Series, which grew to hundreds of items and established the standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds and very good parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. Tamiya figures are valued for their natural poses and clearly rendered uniforms and equipment. Besides plastic kits, the company offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. Tamiya is present in dozens of countries today and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.