Tamiya 35335 - 1:35 Nashorn Sd.Kfz.164 8.8cm Pak 43/1

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German Nashorn Sd.Kfz.164 tank destroyer

Tamiya 35335 reproduces the Nashorn (Sd.Kfz.164) – a German tank destroyer armed with the powerful long-barrelled 8.8 cm PaK 43/1 L/71 gun, capable of engaging Allied armoured vehicles at long range. The gun was mounted in an open-top superstructure on a special Geschützwagen III/IV chassis, combining components of the Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks.

The model is made from new tooling, capturing the vehicle's characteristic tall shape with its exposed fighting compartment and the long barrel extending far beyond the hull. The four figures bring the composition to life and make it easy to build a genre scene.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull and open-top superstructure
• 8.8 cm PaK 43/1 L/71 gun
• Geschützwagen III/IV chassis
• Mixed tracks (individual links and longer lengths)
• Four figures
• Decal sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35335
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 240 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (mixed tracks, open fighting compartment)

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

Building the model:

Thanks to the excellent part fit typical of Tamiya, the model is approachable even for less experienced builders. The open fighting compartment invites painting the interior and gun before final assembly. The figures are best painted separately before being placed on the vehicle and in the scene.

For painting, a camouflage combining dark yellow with patches of olive green and red brown is recommended, matching the chosen marking option. Military vehicles are usually finished with a matt varnish, and the detail and recesses benefit from a wash and dry-brushing.

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 and recesses
• Optionally: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Nashorn Sd.Kfz.164:

The Nashorn (German for “rhinoceros”) is a German tank destroyer developed as a carrier for a heavy anti-tank gun. It used a special Geschützwagen III/IV chassis, combining components of the Panzer III and Panzer IV tanks, on which the long-barrelled 8.8 cm PaK 43/1 L/71 gun was mounted in an open, lightly armoured superstructure.

Thanks to its powerful gun, the Nashorn could destroy practically any Allied tank at long range before coming within range of their fire itself. The vehicle's weakness was its tall, lightly armoured, open fighting compartment, which made it vulnerable to fire at close range. The Nashorns entered service in 1943 and fought on the Eastern and Western Fronts until the end of the war, proving most effective as a long-range defensive and offensive weapon.

Original specifications (Nashorn Sd.Kfz.164):

• Length with gun: approx. 8.44 m
• Width: approx. 2.95 m
• Height: approx. 2.65 m
• Combat weight: approx. 24 t
• Crew: 4–5
• Main armament: 8.8 cm PaK 43/1 L/71 gun
• Secondary armament: machine gun
• Powerplant: Maybach HL 120 petrol engine, approx. 265 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 40 km/h
• Chassis: Geschützwagen III/IV

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.