Tamiya 35363 - 1:35 M3A1 Scout Car

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the American M3A1 Scout Car

The M3A1 Scout Car was a light, open-bodied armoured car with four-wheel drive, designed for reconnaissance, liaison duties and carrying small groups of soldiers. A large proportion of the vehicles built went to the Soviet Union, where they served with Red Army reconnaissance units.

Tamiya 35363 is based on new tooling from 2018 and depicts the vehicle in Soviet service. It reproduces the open interior of the crew compartment, the characteristic skate rail along which the weapons were moved, and the front roller that helped the vehicle cross obstacles. Five Soviet soldier figures allow a complete scene to be built straight away.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the body, interior and chassis
• Plastic wheels
• 5 Soviet soldier figures
• Waterslide decal sheet (the instructions include markings for the 82nd Reconnaissance Battalion)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Catalogue number: 35363
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: approx. 161 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 model is simple to build but rewarding to finish — the open body leaves the interior fully visible. It is worth painting and washing the crew compartment, seats and stowage before the skate rail with its weapons is fitted. The figures are best positioned once the interior has been painted.

For a Soviet finish, the protective green of the Red Army is a good choice (e.g. Tamiya XF-58 Olive Green). The instructions give the manufacturer's paint codes for the marking options on the decal sheet. Dust and mud on the wheels and lower body are easily suggested with pigments, and a light wash brings out rivets and detail. A matt varnish suits the finished model.

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
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – M3A1 Scout Car:

The M3A1 Scout Car was a light 4×4 armoured car with an open-topped body and relatively thin armour, intended mainly to protect against small-arms fire and splinters. Its armament — a heavy machine gun and 7.62 mm machine guns — was mounted on a skate rail running around the crew compartment, allowing the weapons to be moved quickly to any direction.

The vehicle was built in very large numbers, with over 20,000 produced. It was used for reconnaissance, patrolling, liaison duties, towing light guns and carrying troops. Its simple construction and good cross-country ability made it a versatile machine.

Around 3,300 vehicles were delivered to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease. In the Red Army the M3A1 served chiefly with reconnaissance battalions, as well as in staff and liaison roles. Its silhouette became a familiar sight in Soviet motorised columns in the final phase of the war.

Original vehicle specifications (M3A1 Scout Car):

• Length: approx. 5.62 m
• Drive: 4×4
• Body: open-topped, armoured
• Armament: heavy machine gun and 7.62 mm machine guns on a skate rail
• Production: over 20,000 vehicles
• Deliveries to the USSR: approx. 3,300 under Lend-Lease
• Roles: reconnaissance, patrolling, liaison duties

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.