Tamiya 35353 - 1:35 Strumpanzer IV Brummbar Late Production

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär assault gun (late production)

The Sturmpanzer IV, nicknamed Brummbär, is one of the most distinctive German fire-support vehicles of the Second World War. A short 15 cm StuH 43 howitzer was mounted in a heavily armoured casemate on the Panzer IV chassis, intended to destroy fortifications and buildings at close range.

Tamiya 35353 is based on new tooling from 2017 and depicts the late production version built from 1944. It is distinguished by the simplified, lowered superstructure, the ball-mounted MG34 machine gun in the front plate and the commander's cupola. The model is based on the Panzer IV Ausf.J hull and reproduces the mixed road wheels — rubber-tyred and all-steel — typical of the late war period.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, superstructure, howitzer and running gear
• Band tracks in two cemented sections
• String to represent the tow cable
• Waterslide decal sheet
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35353
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: approx. 169 mm
• Skill level: beginner

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

Assembly:

The build is straightforward and predictable — the superstructure consists of a few large, well-fitting plates, and the band tracks are cemented from two sections, which greatly speeds up the running gear. It is worth taking care over the alignment of the ball-mounted MG34 and the commander's cupola, as they clearly define the late production silhouette.

German dark yellow (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow) makes a good base, with green and brown patches depending on the scheme chosen from the instructions, which include the manufacturer's paint codes. Washes emphasise the weld seams and armour edges, and pigments can suggest the dust and brick debris typical of urban fighting. A matt varnish suits the finished model. Modellers who wish to reproduce a zimmerit coating can use the Tamiya 12673 zimmerit sheet — an accessory sold separately and not included in this kit.

Tools required:

• Sprue cutters
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out detail
• Optional: pigments for dust and rubble effects

About the vehicle – Sturmpanzer IV Brummbär:

Experience in the fighting at Stalingrad showed that infantry needed a heavily armoured vehicle capable of demolishing a fortified building with a single shot. The answer was the Sturmpanzer IV — the proven Panzer IV chassis with a 15 cm StuH 43 howitzer in a fixed superstructure, firing a heavy high-explosive shell.

The thick frontal armour allowed the vehicle to approach its target closely, but it also placed a heavy load on the chassis, which affected the durability of the running gear. Brummbär vehicles were assigned to assault gun battalions and used in Italy, on the Eastern Front and in the fighting in the West.

The late production version, built from 1944, featured a redesigned, lowered superstructure with simpler shapes, a commander's cupola taken from assault guns and a ball-mounted MG34 machine gun in the front plate, improving defence against enemy infantry. These vehicles were built on Panzer IV Ausf.J hulls.

Original vehicle specifications (Sturmpanzer IV, late production):

• Length: approx. 5.93 m
• Crew: 5
• Main armament: 15 cm StuH 43 howitzer
• Secondary armament: ball-mounted MG34 machine gun in the front plate
• Chassis: Panzer IV Ausf.J
• Superstructure: fixed, box-shaped, lowered (late production)
• Role: infantry fire support, destruction of fortifications and buildings
• Late production: from 1944

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company began in the timber trade and wooden products, releasing its first plastic model kit in 1960. Two years later came its first 1:35 scale tank — a scale that, thanks to Tamiya, became the worldwide standard for armour modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds, well-thought-out kit engineering and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, comprises hundreds of releases covering vehicles, guns and figures from around the world. Tamiya instructions are clear, richly illustrated and include paint codes from the company's own range. Alongside model kits, Tamiya offers a full range of accessories: paints, cements, putties, tools and brushes. Today the company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.