Tamiya 35343 - 1:35 German Africa Corps Luftwaffe Artillery Crew Set

1:35 scale plastic figure set of German Africa Corps Luftwaffe artillery crew

Tamiya 35343 is a set of eight figures depicting the Luftwaffe artillery crew of the German Africa Corps, which fought in North Africa during WWII. The soldiers are shown in varied, natural poses typical of a gun crew, allowing a dynamic artillery-position scene to be built.

Among the figures are an officer giving orders, an NCO in shorts, and soldiers carrying shells and operating a rangefinder. The uniforms are reproduced in the tropical version characteristic of operations in desert conditions.

What's in the box:

• 8 Africa Corps Luftwaffe artillery crew figures
• Varied poses, including an officer giving orders, an NCO in shorts, soldiers with shells and a rangefinder
• Equipment for the figures
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Set specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35343
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Contents: 8 figures with equipment

Note: This set does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The figures are intended for self-assembly.

Building the set:

Each figure is made up of several parts that fit together easily thanks to good engineering. The individual parts, especially the faces and equipment, are best painted before final assembly. It is worth planning the arrangement of the figures around the position in advance so that the scene forms a coherent composition. The set pairs perfectly with German 1:35 scale guns and vehicles.

For painting German tropical uniforms, a khaki and sand base shade works well, complemented by leather, metal and detail tones. The uniform folds and small parts 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)
• Figure brushes (fine sizes)
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise uniform folds and detail

About the figures – Africa Corps Luftwaffe artillery crew:

During the fighting in North Africa, the German air force (Luftwaffe) operated, among other things, ground-based anti-aircraft and artillery guns, which were also used to engage ground targets, including armoured vehicles. Soldiers fighting in desert conditions were equipped with light, tropical uniforms, often supplemented with shorts and characteristic headgear.

The figures in this set let you recreate a typical gun-crew scene and pair perfectly with German guns and North African theatre dioramas. The varied poses, including an officer giving orders and soldiers at a rangefinder, make it easy to build a dynamic, story-telling composition.

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka. The brand is renowned for exceptionally precise injection moulds and excellent part fit, which also applies to the figures in the Military Miniature Series, valued for their realistic poses and careful reproduction of uniforms. Tamiya figures are popular in dioramas, and the precision of their moulding makes them easy to paint for beginners and advanced modellers alike. Alongside figures and plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling supplies: paints, glues, tools and brushes.