Tamiya 35290 - 1:35 Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf.N

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf.N (Sd.Kfz.141/2)

Tamiya 35290 reproduces the Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf.N – the final production variant of the German Panzer III tank. Unlike earlier versions with anti-tank guns, the Ausf.N was armed with a short-barrelled 75 mm gun taken from early Panzer IVs, turning it into an infantry support vehicle.

The model captures the features of this variant, and the short-barrelled 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 gun is fitted with a breech and a choice of two mantlet types. The kit comes with a turned aluminium barrel and photo-etched parts as standard, raising the level of detail on the finished model.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, turret and fittings
• Short-barrelled 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 gun with breech and two mantlet types
• Turned aluminium barrel
• Photo-etched parts that raise the level of detail
• Smoke dischargers
• Vinyl belt tracks
• One crew figure (with optional headphones or signal pistol)
• Decal sheet for three marking options (including one from North Africa)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35290
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 159 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (photo-etched parts, aluminium barrel)

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

Building the model:

Thanks to excellent part fit, the model is approachable even for less experienced builders, and the turned aluminium barrel gives exceptional detail sharpness straight out of the box. Fitting the small photo-etched parts calls for care and cyanoacrylate glue.

Paint colours are chosen according to the option: yellow-brown shades typical of the Afrika Korps for the desert scheme, or greys and dark yellow with patches for the European 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 and barrel
• Brushes of various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash and, optionally, pigments for a dust effect

About the vehicle – Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf.N:

The Panzerkampfwagen III was one of the principal German medium tanks of the first half of WWII, valued for its reliability. However, the design limitations of the chassis prevented the fitting of a stronger long-barrelled anti-tank gun, so as more modern Allied tanks appeared its combat value as a front-line tank diminished.

In response, the final variant, the Ausf.N, was rearmed with a short-barrelled 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 gun – taken from early Panzer IVs, which were by then receiving more powerful guns. This allowed the Ausf.N to serve as an infantry support vehicle. From the spring of 1943, some vehicles were supplemented with Schürzen anti-shaped-charge skirts.

The Ausf.N was often assigned to independent panzer battalions, where it escorted the heavy Tiger tanks. Around 700 examples of this variant were built in total, partly by converting earlier versions.

Original specifications (Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf.N):

• Length: approx. 5.56 m
• Width: approx. 2.95 m
• Height: approx. 2.50 m
• Combat weight: approx. 23 t
• Crew: 5
• Main armament: short-barrelled 75 mm KwK 37 L/24 gun
• Secondary armament: two 7.92 mm MG34 machine guns
• Powerplant: Maybach HL 120 TRM petrol engine, approx. 300 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 40 km/h
• Range: approx. 155 km
• Armour: up to approx. 50–70 mm (with appliqué)
• Production: 1942–1943, approx. 700 examples

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.