Tamiya 35371 - 1:35 German Infantry Set Mid WWII

Plastic figure kit: German Infantry Set (Mid-WWII) in 1:35 scale

Tamiya 35371 depicts five Wehrmacht soldiers from around 1941–1943 — a period when German infantry still wore the 1936 and 1940 pattern uniforms and the fighting in the East was growing ever harsher. The poses tell the story of a battle in a town or among ruins: an NCO scans the ground through binoculars, a rifleman rests his foot on rubble, one soldier carries ammunition boxes, another bends over a grenade crate and a gunner readies his machine gun.

The kit uses new tooling from 2020, evident in the fine detail of the equipment and the natural fall of the cloth. It is completed by ammunition boxes, binoculars, a grenade crate and a decal sheet with Wehrmacht insignia.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for five figures
• Weapons: Kar98k rifles, MG34 machine gun, MP40 submachine gun
• Ammunition boxes
• Binoculars
• Grenade crate
• Decal sheet with Wehrmacht insignia
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35371
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Series: Military Miniature Series
• Number of figures: 5
• Tooling: new tooling from 2020
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: This kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The figures are supplied for self-assembly and painting.

Assembly and painting:

The new tooling gives very good fit and subtle seam lines, so preparing the figures for painting is quick and the build is accessible to beginners. The rifleman leaning on rubble looks best on a diorama with a section of wall or debris, so it is worth planning the base while dry-fitting.

The 1936/1940 pattern uniforms are painted in field grey (for example Tamiya XF-65 Field Grey), with darker accents on the equipment and black on the leather straps and ammunition pouches. Insignia decals are best applied over a gloss coat, which prevents silvering, with a matt varnish over the top. The instructions give Tamiya paint codes.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (for example Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Fine modelling tweezers for small parts and decals
• Brushes in various sizes, including fine ones for faces and details
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for the decals and matt varnish for the final finish
• A wash to bring out uniform folds and facial features

About the soldiers – Wehrmacht infantry in the middle years of the war:

The backbone of the German infantryman armament remained the Mauser Kar98k bolt-action rifle in 7.92 mm — accurate and reliable, but requiring the bolt to be worked after every shot. Squad firepower was built around the MG34 machine gun, while the MP40 was issued mainly to NCOs and squad leaders. This structure persisted throughout the middle years of the war.

The 1936 pattern field uniform, and then its simplified 1940 version, was cut from field grey cloth with a darker collar and accompanied the German soldier from the Polish campaign through the years of fighting in Russia. Successive modifications were driven mainly by the need to save material and simplify production; decorative features gradually disappeared and the quality of the cloth declined.

The years 1941–1943 saw the Wehrmacht fighting on several fronts at once, with the infantry rather than the armour increasingly holding the line. The battles were fought in towns, villages and ruins — precisely the setting suggested by the poses of these figures.

Historical background:

• Formation: Wehrmacht infantry, middle period of the Second World War (approx. 1941–1943)
• Weapons: Mauser Kar98k rifle (7.92 mm), MG34 machine gun, MP40 submachine gun
• Uniforms: 1936 and 1940 pattern field uniforms in field grey
• Equipment: ammunition boxes, grenade crates, binoculars
• Use of the kit: urban combat dioramas and a complement to 1:35 German vehicle models

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 initially traded in timber and produced wooden models from the late 1940s, releasing its first plastic model kit in 1960. In 1968 it launched the 1:35 Military Miniature Series, which grew to hundreds of items and established the standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds and very good parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. Tamiya figures are valued for their natural poses and clearly rendered uniforms and equipment. Besides plastic kits, the company offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. Tamiya is present in dozens of countries today and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.