Tamiya 35270 - 1:35 Sd.Kfz. 222 Leichter Panzerspahwagen 4x4

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German Sd.Kfz.222 (4x4) armoured car

Tamiya 35270 reproduces the Sd.Kfz.222 – one of the most recognisable German armoured cars of WWII. This light 4x4 vehicle, with its welded angular hull, carried an open turret with a 20 mm cannon and a machine gun, shielded by mesh that protected the three-man crew from grenades and shrapnel. Its good off-road mobility made it a valuable reconnaissance vehicle.

The model captures the sharp, angular shapes of the vehicle along with its equipment details. The 20 mm cannon is fitted with a turned aluminium barrel for sharper detail, and the turret mesh covers are reproduced using photo-etched parts. The included jerry cans and drums help enrich the scene.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with the hull and open turret
• 20 mm cannon with a turned aluminium barrel
• Photo-etched parts (including the turret mesh cover)
• Jerry cans and drums for diorama use
• One crew figure
• Decal sheet for three marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35270
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 134 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (photo-etched parts)

Note: This kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The model is approachable thanks to excellent part fit, although fitting the photo-etched mesh covers calls for care and cyanoacrylate glue. The open turret invites painting the interior and cannon before the structure is closed up.

Paint colours are chosen according to the option: yellow-brown Afrika Korps shades for the African schemes, or German grey (Panzergrau) for the Eastern Front option. The instructions give paint codes for the three marking options. Military vehicles are usually finished with a matt varnish, and the detail benefits from a wash.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Polystyrene cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched and metal parts
• Brushes of various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Optionally: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Sd.Kfz.222:

The Sd.Kfz.222 belonged to the family of Leichter Panzerspähwagen light armoured cars produced in Germany from the second half of the 1930s. Its angular welded armour sat on a four-wheel-drive chassis with independent suspension and optional all-wheel steering, and the open turret was armed with a 20 mm automatic cannon and a coaxial machine gun. The distinctive folding mesh covers over the turret protected the crew from grenades thrown inside.

These vehicles were used by the reconnaissance battalions of the Panzer divisions. In Western Europe, with its dense road network, they performed very well, but on the Eastern Front and in North Africa their limited cross-country ability became apparent. Even so, the Sd.Kfz.222 served on most fronts during the middle period of the war, used for reconnaissance and offensive operations.

Original specifications (Sd.Kfz.222):

• Length: approx. 4.80 m
• Width: approx. 1.95 m
• Height: approx. 2.00 m
• Combat weight: approx. 4.8 t
• Crew: 3
• Main armament: 20 mm automatic cannon
• Secondary armament: 7.92 mm MG34 machine gun
• Powerplant: Horch petrol engine, approx. 75 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 80 km/h (road)
• Range: approx. 300 km
• Armour: 5–14.5 mm

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. The company initially traded in timber, but from the late 1940s it produced wooden models, and in 1960 it launched its first plastic assembly kit. Two years later it introduced its iconic 1:35 scale tank, which set the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is renowned for exceptionally precise injection moulds and excellent part fit, which is why its kits are favoured by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this model belongs, comprises hundreds of items and is considered one of the most comprehensive 1:35 catalogues of military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling supplies: paints, glues, tools and brushes.