Tamiya 35388 - 1:35 Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf.B Sd.Kfz.101

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German light tank Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf.B (Sd.Kfz.101)

The Panzer I was conceived as a training vehicle on which Germany's new tank crews could learn their trade. War overturned those plans — the small, machine-gun-armed tank went to the front line and fought from Spain to the Eastern Front. Tamiya 35388 depicts the Ausf.B version from new tooling released in December 2024.

The kit offers link-and-length tracks with pre-bent links, which makes reproducing the sag of the upper run far easier. The exhaust guard is supplied as a photo-etched part, and the manufacturer includes a template to help bend it. Clear lenses and optional tail lights are also provided. The commander bust can be built with a choice of two heads.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, turret and equipment
• Photo-etched parts (exhaust guard) with a bending template
• Link-and-length tracks with pre-bent links reproducing the sag
• Clear parts (lenses), optional tail lights
• Commander bust with a choice of two heads
• Decal sheet for three marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35388
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: approx. 123 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (link-and-length tracks, photo-etched part)

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

Building the model:

This is a small model, but a very carefully engineered one. The pre-bent track links greatly simplify what is usually the trickiest stage of the build. We suggest shaping the exhaust guard on the supplied template and fixing it with cyanoacrylate glue and precision tweezers. The clear lenses are best protected before painting.

All three marking options are finished in Panzergrau (e.g. Tamiya XF-63 German Grey), so the difference comes down to markings and finish — Tamiya paint codes are given in the instructions. Applying decals over a gloss coat helps avoid silvering, and a matt varnish makes a suitable final finish. The uniform dark grey base is a rewarding canvas for colour modulation, a wash and light dry-brushing; pigments reproduce dust and mud.

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 I Ausf.B:

The Panzer I was designed in the 1930s as a cheap training vehicle on which the emerging armoured force could practise tactics and handling. Its armament consisted of just two 7.92 mm MG13 machine guns, and its armour protected only against small-arms fire.

The Ausf.B version, built between 1935 and 1937 to a total of 675 vehicles, was powered by a Maybach NL 38 TR engine of about 100 hp. The 5.8-tonne tank was operated by a crew of two.

Despite its obvious limitations the Panzer I went into combat: in Spain, in Poland in September 1939, in France in 1940, in the Balkans, in North Africa and on the Eastern Front. The experience gained with it had an enormous influence on the development of the German armoured forces.

Original vehicle specifications (Panzer I Ausf.B):

• Length: approx. 4.4 m
• Width: approx. 2.06 m
• Height: approx. 1.7 m
• Combat weight: approx. 5.8 t
• Crew: 2
• Armament: two 7.92 mm MG13 machine guns
• Engine: Maybach NL 38 TR, approx. 100 hp
• Production: 675 vehicles (1935–1937)
• Service: Spain, Poland, France, the Balkans, Africa, the Eastern Front

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.