Tamiya 35265 - 1:35 M113 A2 Desert Version

Plastic model kit of the US M113A2 armoured personnel carrier, desert version, in 1:35 scale

The M113 impresses not with its silhouette or armament but with its numbers: tens of thousands built and service with dozens of armies, continuously since the 1960s. Tamiya 35265 depicts the M113A2 in desert finish, a 2003 release based on 1974 tooling.

What sets this boxing apart are two new sprues totalling 121 parts — rucksacks, jerry cans and boxes — which allow the carrier to be shown as a heavily loaded vehicle in real field service. Two figures (a commander and a driver half-figure) and a dog complete the box. The model does not feature an interior.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull and running gear parts
• Two new stowage sprues (121 parts): rucksacks, jerry cans, boxes
• Vinyl band tracks
• Two figures: commander and driver half-figure
• Dog figure
• Waterslide decal sheet for four marking options (Iraq 2003, Bosnia 1996)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35265
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 139 mm
• Skill level: beginner

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

Building the model:

The simple, boxy hull is made up of a small number of large parts, and the vinyl band tracks close out the running gear quickly — a kit that can be safely recommended to anyone starting out with armour. The most enjoyable part is arranging the stowage; it is worth painting the rucksacks, jerry cans and boxes separately before they go aboard.

For painting, a light desert tone is recommended (e.g. Tamiya XF-57 Buff or XF-59 Desert Yellow) for the Iraqi options, or NATO green camouflage for the Bosnian vehicle. Applying decals over a gloss coat helps to avoid decal silvering, with a matt varnish as the final finish. A wash brings out the rivets and welds of the aluminium hull, while pigments on the tracks and lower hull capture the ever-present desert dust.

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)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for desert dust effects

About the vehicle – M113A2:

The M113 entered service in the 1960s as a light armoured personnel carrier with an aluminium hull — a solution that cut weight substantially while retaining protection against splinters and small-arms fire. Its modest weight of around 11 tonnes allowed air transport and the crossing of water obstacles.

The M113A2 was an upgraded variant with an improved cooling system and suspension. Power comes from a GM 6V53 diesel of around 212 hp. A crew of two carries eleven infantrymen, who dismount through a large rear ramp.

Its simplicity made the M113 the basis for dozens of specialised variants, from command and ambulance vehicles to mortar carriers. Carriers of this type served in Vietnam, in both Gulf wars, in Iraq and on peacekeeping missions in the Balkans, and remain in front-line service with many armies today.

Original vehicle specifications (M113A2):

• Combat weight: approx. 11 t
• Crew: 2 plus 11 infantrymen
• Hull: aluminium
• Powerplant: GM 6V53 diesel, approx. 212 hp
• A2 features: improved cooling system and suspension
• Service: from the 1960s; one of the most widely produced armoured personnel carriers in the world

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. Tamiya regularly refreshes older tooling with new stowage sprues and figures, bringing classic kits back to the market in attractive, better-equipped boxings. Alongside plastic kits the company offers a full range of paints, cements, tools and brushes. It is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.