Tamiya 35195 - 1:35 Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf.D

Plastic model kit of the German Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf.D armoured personnel carrier in 1:35 scale

The Sd.Kfz. 251, universally known as the "Hanomag", was the vehicle that made German armoured tactics work — it carried the panzergrenadiers behind the tanks and shielded them with armour and machine gun fire. Tamiya 35195 depicts the Ausf.D, the final and most numerous variant, recognisable by its simplified welded hull with smooth, sloped rear sides.

The kit dates from 1995 and offers the clear parts breakdown and reliable fit typical of Tamiya. The troop compartment is rendered in simplified form, with seats and a radio set, allowing the model to be displayed with the rear doors open or with figures aboard. Armament comprises an MG42 machine gun and a Panzerfaust.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, running gear and equipment parts
• One-piece vinyl band tracks
• Simplified troop compartment interior: seats and radio set
• MG42 machine gun and Panzerfaust
• Four figures
• Waterslide decal sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35195
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 170 mm
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: the kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model requires assembly.

Building the model:

This is an accessible kit, also suitable for modellers new to armour. The hull and running gear are built from a modest number of large, well-fitting parts, and the vinyl band tracks remove the most time-consuming stage of the build. It is worth taking care over the alignment of the interleaved road wheels, as this determines how the tracks sit.

For painting, the typical German late-war colours are recommended: Dunkelgelb dark yellow (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow) with patches of green (XF-58 Olive Green) and brown (XF-64 Red Brown). Interior and stowage details respond well to a wash, and a matt varnish makes a suitable final coat. Pigments for dust and mud on the tracks and lower hull add to the realism.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf.D:

The Sd.Kfz. 251 was a medium half-track armoured personnel carrier developed in the second half of the 1930s to keep pace with tanks across country while protecting its infantry passengers from shell splinters and small-arms fire. Powered by a 100 hp Maybach HL42 TUKRM engine and weighing around 9 tonnes, it carried a crew of two plus ten infantrymen.

The Ausf.D, introduced in 1943, was the answer to the need for faster, simpler production. The many folded plates of earlier versions gave way to a straightforward welded hull with smooth rear sides and integrated stowage bins. As a result, the Ausf.D became the most numerous variant of the entire Sd.Kfz. 251 family.

The 251/1 was the basic panzergrenadier carrier, armed with a machine gun above the driver's compartment. Vehicles of this type accompanied German armoured divisions on every front, from France to the Eastern Front, and became one of the most recognisable symbols of Blitzkrieg warfare.

Original vehicle specifications (Sd.Kfz. 251 Ausf.D):

• Combat weight: approx. 9 t
• Crew: 2 plus 10 infantrymen
• Armament: 7.92 mm machine gun (MG42 in the kit), plus Panzerfaust
• Powerplant: Maybach HL42 TUKRM petrol engine, 100 hp
• Running gear: half-track, steered front axle
• Hull: welded, simplified for production (Ausf.D)
• Production: from 1943; the Ausf.D was the most numerous version of the Sd.Kfz. 251 family

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. It began in the timber trade and wooden models, releasing its first plastic model kit in 1960. Two years later came a 1:35 tank kit that established the scale as the worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for exceptionally precise tooling and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. The Military Miniature Series, to which this Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf.D belongs, runs to hundreds of releases and is one of the most comprehensive catalogues of 1:35 military vehicles anywhere. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of paints, cements, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.