Tamiya 35291 - 1:35 German 3ton 4x2 Cargo Truck

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German 3-ton 4x2 cargo truck (Opel Blitz)

Tamiya 35291 reproduces the German 3-ton 4x2 cargo truck, widely known as the Opel Blitz – one of the most commonly used transport vehicles of the Wehrmacht. Thanks to its reliability and large payload relative to its size, the vehicle filled roles ranging from fuel tanker and ambulance to radio truck and general supply transport.

The model is made from all-new tooling, with care for accurate detail. Among other features, the characteristic forward slant of the frame – designed to balance the cargo's weight – is faithfully reproduced. For the first time in a military model, Tamiya included window masks to make painting easier.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues and a sprue of clear parts
• Rubber tyres
• Yellow paper masking sheet for the windows
• Cargo set: fuel drums and jerry cans
• Two figures: driver and passenger (with separate arms for different poses)
• Decal sheet for four marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35291
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 174 mm
• Skill level: beginner

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 to build thanks to its well-thought-out engineering and the excellent part fit typical of Tamiya. The included window masks make it much easier to paint the cab cleanly. The contents of the cargo bed – drums and jerry cans – can be arranged freely, leaving space or filling it entirely.

Paint colours are chosen according to the option: greys (Dunkelgrau) for early-war units or yellow-brown for the African version. Military vehicles are usually finished with a matt varnish, and the chassis and bed details benefit 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)
• Brushes of various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise detail
• Optionally: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – German 3-ton 4x2 cargo truck (Opel Blitz):

During WWII the German army used a wide range of wheeled vehicles as part of its strategy of fast mechanised warfare. One of the most widely used was the 3-ton 4x2 vehicle known as the Opel Blitz, whose design dates back to the mid-1930s.

Powered by a reliable six-cylinder petrol engine, the vehicle could carry a payload disproportionately large for its size. Its versatility meant it served as a fuel tanker, ambulance, radio truck and general transport vehicle.

This truck served from the 1930s right up to the end of the war on every front, making it a rewarding subject to combine with a wide range of 1:35 scale vehicles and figures.

Original specifications (German 3-ton 4x2 cargo truck):

• Length: approx. 6.0 m
• Width: approx. 2.27 m
• Height: approx. 2.18 m
• Payload: approx. 3 t
• Powerplant: six-cylinder petrol engine, approx. 68–75 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 85 km/h
• Range: approx. 320 km
• Production: from the mid-1930s

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.