Tamiya 35357 - 1:35 German Assault Pioneer Team & Goliath Set

1:35 scale plastic kit: German assault pioneer team and two Goliath vehicles

The Goliath is one of the most unusual machines of the Second World War — a small tracked vehicle, guided by cable, that carried an explosive charge to its target. Tamiya 35357 combines two complete Goliath models with figures of the assault pioneer team operating them, providing everything needed for a clear, story-telling scene.

Released in 2018, the kit depicts the Sd.Kfz.302 version with electric drive. The cable drum at the rear of the vehicle is reproduced, and the supplied wire allows the control cable running from the Goliath to the operator to be represented. The figures show an operator with the control box, a commander with binoculars and a rifleman in a prone pose — a set-up that captures a typical tactical situation.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for two complete Goliath Sd.Kfz.302 vehicles
• 3 German soldier figures: operator with control box, commander with binoculars, prone rifleman
• Link-and-length tracks (individual links and longer runs)
• Wire to represent the control cable
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35357
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Length of a single assembled Goliath: approx. 43 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (small parts, link-and-length tracks)

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

Assembly:

The vehicles are small, so some of the parts are tiny — precision tweezers and a sharp blade are useful. The link-and-length tracks are made up of individual links and longer runs; given the size of the Goliath it pays to work calmly and fit the links in stages. The supplied wire lets you run the control cable from the drum at the rear of the vehicle to the control box in the operator's hands, which brings the whole scene to life.

Colours typical of Wehrmacht vehicles are a good choice — depending on the period and scene, this may be German grey (e.g. Tamiya XF-63 German Grey) or dark yellow (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow). The figures respond well to washes and light dry-brushing to bring out uniform folds and equipment. A matt varnish suits the finished models.

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)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes, including fine ones for the figures
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out detail and uniform folds
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Goliath Sd.Kfz.302:

The Goliath was developed to destroy fortifications, obstacles and enemy vehicles without exposing engineers to fire. It was a small, single-use tracked vehicle guided by cable from an operator in cover. Once it reached its target the charge was detonated, destroying the Goliath along with it.

The Sd.Kfz.302 version used electric drive — two battery-powered motors. The vehicle carried around 60 kg of explosives and was steered by a cable unwound from a drum at the rear of the hull. Its limitations were short range, low speed and the vulnerability of the cable to being cut.

Goliaths were issued to engineer and armoured units and were used on the Eastern Front, in Italy, in Normandy and during the suppression of the Warsaw Uprising. The later Sd.Kfz.303 version received a petrol engine, which was cheaper to build and offered greater range.

Original vehicle specifications (Goliath Sd.Kfz.302):

• Length: approx. 1.5 m
• Powerplant: electric (battery-powered motors)
• Guidance: by cable, unwound from a drum inside the hull
• Payload: approx. 60 kg of explosives
• Role: destruction of fortifications, obstacles and vehicles
• Nature: single-use vehicle, destroyed when the charge detonated

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.