Tamiya 35294 - 1:35 Italian Self-Propelled Gun Semovente M40

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the Italian Semovente M40 da 75/18 self-propelled gun

Tamiya 35294 reproduces the Semovente M40 da 75/18 – an Italian self-propelled gun built on the chassis of the M13/40 medium tank. The vehicle was created to fill a role similar to the German Sturmgeschütz: to provide infantry with strong fire support and to engage enemy fortifications and vehicles.

The model captures the vehicle's characteristic low silhouette with the 75 mm L/18 howitzer mounted in a fixed superstructure. The kit is enhanced with a turned metal barrel and photo-etched parts, and the included stowage boxes and external equipment help give the model a realistic look.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, superstructure and fittings
• 75 mm L/18 howitzer with a turned metal barrel
• Photo-etched parts
• Individual link tracks
• Stowage boxes and external equipment
• Italian crew figures
• Decal sheet for three marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35294
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 143 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (photo-etched parts, individual link tracks)

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

Building the model:

Thanks to good part fit, the model is approachable even for less experienced builders, although the individual link tracks and small photo-etched parts require patience and cyanoacrylate glue. The turned metal barrel gives clear detail sharpness straight out of the box.

For a desert finish, the palette typical of Italian vehicles in North Africa is recommended: sand yellow with green and brown depending on the chosen option. The instructions give paint codes for the three schemes. 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 – Semovente M40 da 75/18:

The Semovente da 75/18 was created at the initiative of the Italian army, which needed a fire-support vehicle with greater hitting power than standard tanks. The chassis of the M13/40 medium tank was used, carrying a 75 mm L/18 howitzer in a fixed, low superstructure, dispensing with a rotating turret.

The vehicle proved one of the most successful Italian armoured designs of WWII. On the North African front it worked well both as infantry support and – thanks to armour-piercing ammunition – in engaging Allied tanks. Its low silhouette aided concealment and ambush tactics.

Original specifications (Semovente M40 da 75/18):

• Length: approx. 4.92 m
• Width: approx. 2.2 m
• Height: approx. 1.85 m
• Combat weight: approx. 13 t
• Crew: 3
• Main armament: 75 mm L/18 howitzer
• Secondary armament: 8 mm Breda machine gun
• Powerplant: SPA V8 diesel engine, approx. 125 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 32 km/h
• Range: approx. 200 km
• Armour: up to approx. 50 mm (front)

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.