Tamiya 35256 - 1:35 German Assault Infantry

Plastic figure kit: German Assault Infantry in 1:35 scale

Tamiya 35256 is a set of five figures of German soldiers in winter equipment, depicted during an assault. The group includes a commander in a canvas greatcoat armed with a P38 pistol and a grenade, an NCO with an MP40 submachine gun, riflemen and an MG34 machine gun team.

The kit uses tooling created in 2002, so the details of the winter clothing, the folds of the heavy cloth and the equipment are crisply rendered. It makes a good cast for a diorama of the Eastern Front or of winter fighting in the West.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for five figures in winter equipment
• P38 pistol
• MP40 submachine gun
• MG34 machine gun
• Grenade
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35256
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Series: Military Miniature Series
• Number of figures: 5
• Tooling: new tooling from 2002
• 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 and quick. The newer tooling means finer seam lines and well-hidden joints, so preparing the figures for painting takes little time. Even so, it is worth spending a moment smoothing the seams, particularly on the greatcoat and sleeves.

Winter clothing offers rewarding painting opportunities: coats and jackets came in shades of grey, white and grey-green, usually soiled and worn after weeks of use. White broken with grey (for example Tamiya XF-2 Flat White toned down with a little XF-63 German Grey) and field grey (XF-65 Field Grey) on the uniform showing beneath the outer garments make a good starting point. A strong wash in the folds is particularly effective on light fabrics. 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 the folds of the winter clothing
• Optional: pigments for mud and snow effects

About the soldiers – German infantry in winter conditions:

The winter of 1941 on the Eastern Front was a painful lesson for the Wehrmacht: the army had marched into the Soviet Union without proper winter equipment, counting on a swift campaign. Frostbite put tens of thousands of soldiers out of action. In the years that followed a complete system of winter clothing was introduced — padded reversible jackets and trousers with a white camouflage side, greatcoats, hoods and helmet covers.

Assault infantry operated in small groups built around the firepower of the machine gun and submachine guns. The MG34 was a general-purpose weapon served by a trained team, while the MP40 was the submachine gun of NCOs and squad leaders, valued in close combat. The Walther P38 pistol, introduced in 1938 as the successor to the Luger P08, was the standard officers sidearm.

Winter fighting posed challenges beyond the enemy himself: weapons jammed as lubricants froze, vehicles bogged down in drifts and simply moving in heavy clothing sapped a soldiers strength. That character comes through in the poses of these figures — weighed down, focused, laden with equipment.

Historical background:

• Formation: German assault infantry, winter fighting of the Second World War
• Weapons: MG34 (7.92 mm), MP40 (9 mm), Walther P38 pistol, grenades
• Winter equipment: padded greatcoats and jackets, helmet covers, protective clothing
• The winter of 1941 on the Eastern Front forced the introduction of systematic winter clothing
• Use of the kit: winter dioramas and a complement to 1:35 German vehicle models

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.