Tamiya 35377 - 1:35 German Sd.Kfz.2 Kettenkraftrad Mid-Production

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German Sd.Kfz.2 Kettenkraftrad (mid-production)

The NSU HK101 Kettenkrad combined a motorcycle front wheel with a tracked chassis — an odd-looking idea that proved highly practical in the mud of the Eastern Front and the sands of North Africa. Tamiya 35377 depicts the mid-production version of 1943–1944, from tooling created in 2021.

The model stands out for its detailed engine and transmission — the engine cover can be built open to display the powerplant. The engine grilles are supplied as photo-etched parts, and the manufacturer includes a jig to make bending them easier. The Sd.Anh.1 trailer, with its tarpaulin reproduced, is part of the kit. Three figures depict the driver plus a machine gunner and an ammunition carrier; the driver comes with a choice of two heads and two right arms, and the other two can be given either a helmet or a field cap.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the vehicle, engine and transmission
• Sd.Anh.1 trailer with a reproduced tarpaulin
• Photo-etched parts (engine grilles)
• Bending jig for the photo-etched parts
• Link-and-length tracks
• Three figures: driver (choice of two heads and two right arms), machine gunner and ammunition carrier (helmet or field cap)
• Decal sheet (including instrument dials), two painting schemes
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35377
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: approx. 139 mm with the trailer
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (small parts, photo-etched parts, link-and-length tracks)

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

Building the model:

This is a small model with a high density of detail — plenty of tiny parts, miniature tracks and photo-etched components. The supplied bending jig makes preparing the engine grilles much easier; we suggest fixing them with cyanoacrylate glue and precision tweezers. If you plan to leave the engine cover open, it is worth painting the engine and transmission before closing everything up.

For painting we suggest the colours typical of German vehicles of the period — dark Panzergrau (e.g. Tamiya XF-63 German Grey) or Dunkelgelb (Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow), depending on the chosen scheme; Tamiya paint codes are given in the instructions. Applying the instrument dial decals over a gloss coat helps avoid silvering, and a matt varnish makes a suitable final finish. A wash brings out the fine detail, while pigments reproduce mud on the tracks.

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 – NSU HK101 Kettenkrad:

The Kettenkrad was originally designed as a light tractor for airborne troops — small enough to fit inside the fuselage of a Ju 52 transport, yet able to tow a gun or a supply trailer. It combined a tracked chassis with a motorcycle front wheel and motorcycle handlebars.

It was powered by a four-cylinder 1.5-litre Opel engine of about 36 hp. Weighing around 1.5 tonnes, it carried a driver and two passengers seated facing backwards. More than 8,000 were built.

In practice the Kettenkrad was used wherever cross-country mobility mattered: as a light gun tractor, a liaison vehicle, an aircraft tug on airfields and a cable-laying vehicle. The mid-production version depicted here was built in 1943–1944.

Original vehicle specifications (NSU HK101 Kettenkrad):

• Weight: approx. 1.5 t
• Crew: driver and two passengers
• Engine: four-cylinder 1.5-litre Opel, approx. 36 hp
• Design: the smallest German half-track vehicle
• Production: over 8,000 vehicles
• Version: mid-production (1943–1944)

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.