Tamiya 35286 - 1:35 Sd.Kfz.222 North Africa

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German Sd.Kfz.222 armoured car “North Africa”

Tamiya 35286 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 open turret allows the interior to be displayed, and the 20 mm cannon is fitted with a metal barrel for sharper detail. The turret mesh covers are reproduced using photo-etched parts.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with the hull and open turret
• 20 mm cannon with a metal barrel
• Photo-etched parts for the turret mesh covers
• DKW NZ350 motorcycle
• Hull-mounted tool box, headlight and antenna options
• Three figures: commander and radio operator (in the turret) and a motorcycle rider (with optional facial expressions and poses)
• Decal sheet for three marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35286
• 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.

For a desert finish, the palette typical of Afrika Korps vehicles is recommended: a yellow-brown base with grey and brown details. 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 parts
• Brushes of various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash and, optionally, pigments for a desert dust effect

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, 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, in desert conditions the Afrika Korps used the Sd.Kfz.222 for reconnaissance and offensive operations, often together with motorcycles.

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. Since 1960, when it introduced its first plastic kit, the brand has steadily built a reputation based on exceptionally precise injection moulds and excellent part fit. As a result, 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.