Tamiya 35369 - 1:35 Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf.E/F

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German light tank Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) Ausf.E/F

The Panzer 38(t) began life as the Czech LT vz.38 light tank; after the occupation of Czechoslovakia it entered German service and became a mainstay of the light divisions in the early years of the war. Tamiya 35369 depicts the Ausf.E/F version, produced from November 1940 and distinguished by armour thickened to 50 mm. The kit is based on new tooling from 2019.

The riveted hull, the turret and the running gear with its large road wheels are all finely reproduced. The gun sight is linked to the gun, so it moves together with it. The engine deck grille is supplied as photo-etched parts, and stowage boxes and jerry cans can be fitted to the fenders. The tracks are of the link-and-length type — longer runs for the straight sections and individual links around the curves.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, turret and equipment
• Photo-etched parts (engine deck grille)
• Link-and-length tracks
• Fender stowage boxes and jerry cans
• Commander figure
• Decal sheet for two marking options (Eastern Front, 1941)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35369
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model size: approx. 132 × 62 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (link-and-length tracks, photo-etched parts)

Note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This kit is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The kit is small and sensibly engineered, and the parts fit typical of Tamiya makes it manageable for less experienced modellers too. The link-and-length tracks and the photo-etched engine grille need the most care — the latter is best fixed with cyanoacrylate glue and handled with precision tweezers. Small fender fittings are easier to paint before they are glued in place.

For both 1941 Eastern Front options we suggest the dark Panzergrau base (e.g. Tamiya XF-63 German Grey); the instructions give Tamiya paint codes for both schemes. Applying decals over a gloss coat helps avoid silvering, and a matt varnish makes a suitable final finish. A wash will emphasise the rivets and armour plate joints, while pigments reproduce dust and mud on the running gear.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched parts
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Panzerkampfwagen 38(t):

The LT vz.38 was a successful Czech light tank that never saw service with the Czechoslovak army — after the occupation in 1939 the Germans took over its production. As the Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) it went to the panzer divisions, where it was valued for its reliability and ease of maintenance, even though its armament was modest by the standards of the later war years.

The tank carried a 3.7 cm KwK 38(t) L/47.8 gun and two 7.92 mm machine guns. It was powered by a Praga EPA engine of about 125 hp, weighed some 9.85 tonnes and had a crew of four. Panzer 38(t)s fought in France and the Balkans and, above all, in Operation Barbarossa, where they made up a significant part of the strength of several panzer divisions.

The Ausf.E/F version, built from November 1940, received thicker frontal armour of up to 50 mm — a direct response to the experience of the French campaign. Once the 38(t) was outclassed as a tank, its chassis went on to serve as the basis for a whole family of tank destroyers and self-propelled guns.

Original vehicle specifications (Panzer 38(t) Ausf.E/F):

• Length: approx. 4.6 m
• Width: approx. 2.1 m
• Height: approx. 2.4 m
• Combat weight: approx. 9.85 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 3.7 cm KwK 38(t) L/47.8 gun
• Secondary armament: two 7.92 mm machine guns
• Engine: Praga EPA, approx. 125 hp
• Armour: up to 50 mm (Ausf.E/F, from November 1940)
• Service: Operation Barbarossa (1941), among others

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The business began in timber and wooden models, and in 1960 it released its first injection-moulded plastic kit. Two years later came the 1:35 tank that established the scale as a worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for precise moulds and outstanding parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of releases and is one of the most comprehensive catalogues of 1:35 military vehicles anywhere. Alongside kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. Today the company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.