Tamiya 35188 - 1:35 German Tank Ammo-Loading Crew

Plastic figure kit: German Tank Ammo-Loading Crew in 1:35 scale

Tamiya 35188 depicts a scene that followed every engagement: restocking a tank with ammunition. The four figures are posed at work — two in field uniforms, two in tanker overalls — passing and receiving rounds.

The strength of the set lies in its ammunition. Tamiya included rounds for four different vehicles: 75 mm armour-piercing shells for the Panther, 88 mm armour-piercing for the King Tiger, 75 mm armour-piercing for the long-barrelled Pz.IV and 88 mm high-explosive for the Tiger I. The figures can therefore be combined with a wide range of 1:35 German tanks. The tooling dates from 1995.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for four figures
• 75 mm armour-piercing rounds (Panther)
• 88 mm armour-piercing rounds (King Tiger)
• 75 mm armour-piercing rounds for the long-barrelled Pz.IV
• 88 mm high-explosive rounds (Tiger I)
• 4 ammunition boxes
• Panther spare road wheels
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35188
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Series: Military Miniature Series
• Number of figures: 4
• Tooling: 1995
• 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 accessible — a low parts count and very good fit make this a suitable set for a first venture into figures. The poses relate to one another, so it is worth dry-fitting the figures and the rounds before deciding on their final arrangement on a diorama or on the tank itself.

The tanker overalls call for the characteristic black of the German armoured forces; black lightened with a little grey (for example Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black mixed with XF-63 German Grey) avoids a flat, lifeless finish. The field uniforms are painted in field grey (for example XF-65 Field Grey). The rounds are a good opportunity to work with metallic shades and coloured identification bands. 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 ammunition details
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the soldiers – German tank crews resupplying ammunition:

Ammunition was as critical to a tank as fuel. A Panther carried around 80 rounds of 75 mm ammunition, a Tiger I around 90 rounds of 88 mm and a King Tiger a little over 80 — after heavy fighting the racks had to be refilled before the vehicle could return to the line. Ammunition was brought forward by trucks and half-tracked supply vehicles, then passed into the tank through the hatches, hand to hand.

The work was heavy and time-consuming: a single 88 mm fixed round weighed over 20 kilograms, and loading a full complement could take the crew and their helpers a good hour. That is why tanks were surrounded not only by crewmen in overalls but also by soldiers in ordinary field uniforms — exactly as this set portrays.

The different rounds included reflect the realities of combat: armour-piercing shells were used against enemy tanks, while high-explosive rounds dealt with infantry positions, fortifications and soft targets. Crews tried to keep a sensible balance of both types in the racks.

Historical background:

• Formation: German armoured forces (Panzerwaffe), Second World War
• Ammunition: 75 mm and 88 mm armour-piercing and high-explosive rounds
• Vehicles: Panther, Tiger I, King Tiger, long-barrelled Pz.IV
• An 88 mm fixed round weighed over 20 kg — loading required many hands
• Use of the kit: resupply dioramas and scenes alongside 1:35 German tanks

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.