Tamiya 35186 - 1:35 German Fuel Drum

Tamiya 35186 German Fuel Drum Set for 1:35 dioramas

The Tamiya 35186 set is a ready-made fuel and water supply for a whole diorama: 6 steel drums of 200 litres and 16 jerry cans of 20 litres, together with two hand pumps and two pipes (stands) that let you show a refuelling scene in progress rather than just a static stack of containers.

The cans carry embossed Wasser and Kraftstoff markings, which makes it possible to tell water containers from fuel containers. Two of the drum lids are moulded without a cap – that is where the pump is meant to go. The parts come from 1995 tooling and match Tamiya vehicles and figures in 1:35 scale.

What is in the box:

• 6 drums of 200 litres
• 16 jerry cans of 20 litres with embossed Wasser and Kraftstoff markings
• 2 pipes (stands)
• 2 hand pumps
• Two drum lids without a cap – prepared for fitting a pump

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35186
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Type: diorama accessories
• Tooling: 1995

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:

• A field refuelling point – a drum with the pump fitted and cans standing around it
• A fuel dump at a supply unit or field workshop
• Cargo for a truck, trailer or railway wagon
• Vehicle stowage – cans mounted on fenders and racks
• Telling water and fuel cans apart thanks to the embossed markings, for a convincing supply depot

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby knife and files or sandpaper to clean up the parts
• Polystyrene cement
• Model paints, brushes or an airbrush; washes and pigments work well on drums to bring out wear
• Precision modelling tweezers

Drums and cans – fuel for the armoured units:

Armoured campaigns were decided not only by the guns of the tanks but also by whether the fuel arrived on time. The basic transport unit was a steel drum of roughly 200 litres, rolled along the ground, loaded onto trucks and wagons and stacked in field dumps. Fuel was drawn from it with a hand pump screwed into the opening in the lid – exactly the kind supplied in this set.

The 20 litre standard can, introduced into Wehrmacht service in 1936, completed the system and is regarded as the benchmark design of its kind. Its three handles allowed one man to carry two cans and to pass them along a chain. Fuel and water containers were marked differently so that their contents could not be confused in the field, and the embossed Kraftstoff and Wasser lettering made the purpose of each can unmistakable.

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.