In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
German Afrika Korps Infantry
Military Miniatures series
Kit no. MM-108
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
Copyright 1971
Kit no. MM-108
By Ray Mehlberger
Out of production
Copyright 1971
HISTORY:
The Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK .) was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II.
First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of their African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943.
The unit's best known commander was Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.
SPECIFICATIONS;
Active: 21 February 1941 – 13 May 1943
Country: Germany
Branch: Army
Type: Expeditionary force
Size: Corps
Garrison/HQ: Tripoli, Italian Libya
Colors: Yellow, brown
Engagements: World War II North African Campaign, Sonnenblume, Siege of Tobruk, Battle of Gazala, Battleaxe, 2nd Battle of El Alamein, Tunisia Campaign
Commanders: Erwin Rommel, Ludwig Crüwell, Ritter von Thoma, Walther Nehring
The Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK .) was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II.
First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of their African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943.
The unit's best known commander was Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.
SPECIFICATIONS;
Active: 21 February 1941 – 13 May 1943
Country: Germany
Branch: Army
Type: Expeditionary force
Size: Corps
Garrison/HQ: Tripoli, Italian Libya
Colors: Yellow, brown
Engagements: World War II North African Campaign, Sonnenblume, Siege of Tobruk, Battle of Gazala, Battleaxe, 2nd Battle of El Alamein, Tunisia Campaign
Commanders: Erwin Rommel, Ludwig Crüwell, Ritter von Thoma, Walther Nehring
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in an shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows 4 infantry-men posed against one of Tamiya's signature all-white backgrounds, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
All the men are advancing at a run. They all wear tan uniforms and steel helmets, with their sleeves rolled up.
The lead man has his left arm raised, beckoning the other 3 men forward. He has a MP40 submachine gun in his right hand, a ammo pouch for it and a gas mask canister on his belt, with a potato masher type grenade tucked under the belt. He wears a pair of binoculars strung around his neck and a pair of goggles on his helmet.
He wears long jodphur tan pants and high laced shoes.
The man behind him is carrying a MP40 submachine gun. He wears shorts and low shoes.
The first man behind these two men is carrying a 98K carbine in his right hand and a ammo case in his left hand. He too wears shorts and high laced shoes.
The last man holds a 98K carbine in both hands.
One side panel has 3 color box arts of other AFV kits that Tamiya manufactures: a German schwimmwagen, a British 6 pounder anti-tank gun and a German kubelwagen.
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka City, Japan.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in an shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts or the decal sheet will find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows 4 infantry-men posed against one of Tamiya's signature all-white backgrounds, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
All the men are advancing at a run. They all wear tan uniforms and steel helmets, with their sleeves rolled up.
The lead man has his left arm raised, beckoning the other 3 men forward. He has a MP40 submachine gun in his right hand, a ammo pouch for it and a gas mask canister on his belt, with a potato masher type grenade tucked under the belt. He wears a pair of binoculars strung around his neck and a pair of goggles on his helmet.
He wears long jodphur tan pants and high laced shoes.
The man behind him is carrying a MP40 submachine gun. He wears shorts and low shoes.
The first man behind these two men is carrying a 98K carbine in his right hand and a ammo case in his left hand. He too wears shorts and high laced shoes.
The last man holds a 98K carbine in both hands.
One side panel has 3 color box arts of other AFV kits that Tamiya manufactures: a German schwimmwagen, a British 6 pounder anti-tank gun and a German kubelwagen.
No kit numbers for these 3 is shown. I assume they are all to 1/35th scale. Kit was made in Japan.
The other side panel has illustrations of 10 uniform shoulder insignias.
Inside one of the end flaps is a a color illustration of a 7.92 mm MG34 machine gun, a Schmeisser MP40 submachine gun and a Mauser 98K 7.92 mm carbine.
Inside the other end flap is illustrations of 3 German iron cross medals.
The bottom of the box has color illustrations of: a pith helmet and it's insignias, a breast eagle with swastika, a steel helmet and it's insignias, a cloth side cap and peaked field cap, 3 Afrika Korps arm bands, shoulder and sleeve insignias, 4 figures, all in tan uniforms with brown shoulder straps and belts.
The first figure is an officer. He is wearing a pith helmet, a pair of binoculars strung around his neck, a map case and pistol holster on his belt, high laced shoes and jodhpur pants.
The second figure has his sleeves rolled up and wears a steel helmet, shorts, dark socks over low shoes, and he carries a 98K carbine. He has a potato masher type grenade tucked under his belt.
The third figure is dressed the same as the second figure and also carries a 98K carbine. He has a shovel in it's carrying case on his belt.
The fourth figure has long sleeves and a soft billed cap with goggles strung over it , a ammo pouch on his belt, low shoes and he is armed with a MP40 submachine gun.
The second figure has his sleeves rolled up and wears a steel helmet, shorts, dark socks over low shoes, and he carries a 98K carbine. He has a potato masher type grenade tucked under his belt.
The third figure is dressed the same as the second figure and also carries a 98K carbine. He has a shovel in it's carrying case on his belt.
The fourth figure has long sleeves and a soft billed cap with goggles strung over it , a ammo pouch on his belt, low shoes and he is armed with a MP40 submachine gun.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 2 tan parts trees in a sealed clear cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet, printed on both sides in 5 1/2" x 6" format.
The face side shows a black and white photo of the four figures in a Africa diorama, with a kubelwagen and a Pz.Kpfw. III, over Japanese text and Tamiya's street address in Shizuoka City, Japan.
The reverse side of the instructions has assembly steps for the 4 figures.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Tamiya !
The first tan tree holds: the figures, 4 canteens, 2 bayonets in the scabbards, a pair of binoculars, a machine gun bipod (19 parts) One figure is gone off the tree. I assembled him many years ago and have no idea what I did with him ?
This kit holds 2 tan parts trees in a sealed clear cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consists of a single-sheet, printed on both sides in 5 1/2" x 6" format.
The face side shows a black and white photo of the four figures in a Africa diorama, with a kubelwagen and a Pz.Kpfw. III, over Japanese text and Tamiya's street address in Shizuoka City, Japan.
The reverse side of the instructions has assembly steps for the 4 figures.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Tamiya !
The first tan tree holds: the figures, 4 canteens, 2 bayonets in the scabbards, a pair of binoculars, a machine gun bipod (19 parts) One figure is gone off the tree. I assembled him many years ago and have no idea what I did with him ?
The second tan tree holds: 4 steel helmets, 1 pith helmet, 2 MG40's, a MG34, 4 base plates for the figures, a 98k carbine, a pistol holster, 2 canteens, 3 ammo cases, 3 gas mask canisters, 2 canvas pouches, 2 ammo containers etc. (30 parts)
There are no decals included in the kit. It would have been nice to have had some with uniform insignia on it.
Recommended.
Recommended.