Tamiya 35344 - 1:35 Somua S35 French Medium Tank

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the French Somua S35 medium tank with one figure

Tamiya 35344 reproduces the Somua S35 – a French cavalry tank developed in the mid-1930s. Its construction made extensive use of cast metal parts to improve production efficiency, and the bolted cast hull was a design ahead of its time. The vehicle was armed with a 47 mm gun and powered by a 190 hp V8 petrol engine, allowing it to reach about 40 km/h.

The model is made from new tooling, capturing the characteristic rounded shape of the cast hull and turret. The leaf-sprung suspension with four bogies, each holding two wheels, is carefully reproduced. A tank crewman figure is included.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with the cast hull and turret
• 47 mm SA 35 gun
• One-man turret
• Leaf-sprung suspension with four bogies (two wheels each)
• Mixed tracks (individual links and longer lengths)
• Tank crewman figure
• Decal sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35344
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 153 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (mixed tracks)

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 mixed tracks combine quick assembly of longer lengths on the straight runs with individual links on the curves. The figure is best painted separately before being placed on the vehicle.

For painting, the typical French multi-colour 1939–1940 camouflage or German colours (for the captured variant) are 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 – Somua S35:

The Somua S35 was among the first French tanks designed as a cavalry vehicle, in contrast to the earlier doctrine that largely restricted tanks to an infantry-support role. Its cast hull with armour up to 56 mm thick gave excellent protection from contemporary German guns, and its 47 mm gun effectively penetrated the armour of German tanks. Powered by a V8 engine, the vehicle had well-balanced performance.

Around 430 examples were built between 1936 and 1940. During the fighting in Belgium and northern France in 1940, the Somua S35 proved a formidable opponent for the German forces and was regarded by many as the best tank available to France at the start of WWII. After the fall of France, many examples were taken over by the Germans, and some vehicles returned to service after the liberation of the country in 1944.

Original specifications (Somua S35):

• Length: approx. 5.38 m
• Width: approx. 2.12 m
• Height: approx. 2.62 m
• Combat weight: approx. 19.5 t
• Crew: 3
• Main armament: 47 mm SA 35 gun
• Secondary armament: 7.5 mm machine gun
• Powerplant: V8 petrol engine, approx. 190 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 40 km/h
• Armour: cast, up to 56 mm
• Production: 1936–1940, approx. 430 examples

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation to japońska firma modelarska założona w 1946 roku przez Yoshio Tamiyę w mieście Shizuoka, uznawanym za centrum japońskiego przemysłu modelarskiego. Początkowo przedsiębiorstwo zajmowało się handlem drewnem, jednak już od końca lat 40. produkowało drewniane modele, a w 1960 roku wprowadziło na rynek swój pierwszy model plastikowy do sklejania. Dwa lata później zadebiutował kultowy czołg w skali 1:35, który na całym świecie wyznaczył standard skali dla modelarstwa militarnego. Marka słynie z wyjątkowo precyzyjnych form wtryskowych i doskonałego spasowania elementów, dzięki czemu jej zestawy chętnie wybierają zarówno początkujący, jak i doświadczeni modelarze. Seria Military Miniature Series, do której należy ten model, liczy setki pozycji i jest uznawana za jeden z najbardziej kompleksowych katalogów pojazdów militarnych w skali 1:35 na świecie. Oprócz modeli plastikowych Tamiya oferuje pełną gamę akcesoriów modelarskich: farby, kleje, narzędzia i pędzle.