Tamiya 35393 1/35 German Schwimmwagen Type 166 (Wide Wheel Version).

The Schwimmwagen Type 166 was one of the most distinctive light military vehicles of the Second World War, and at the same time one of the most unusual designs to enter German service. It combined the features of a light off-road car and a small amphibious vehicle, allowing it to handle not only roads and rough terrain, but also water obstacles with surprising effectiveness.

This kit represents the wide wheel version, which offered even better off-road performance. It is a very appealing modelling subject: compact in size, full of distinctive details, and with great potential for a striking vignette or diorama – from the Eastern Front and Western Europe to scenes involving reconnaissance troops, engineers and Fallschirmjäger paratroopers.

About the Model

This is a plastic model assembly kit in 1/35 scale.

Length: 113 mm
Width: 42 mm

★ The hull with its characteristic boat-shaped underside is faithfully reproduced, providing both realism and an enjoyable assembly process.
★ The suspension and engine are rendered with a high level of detail.
★ The 200 mm wide tires are recreated as multi-part assemblies, allowing a more accurate representation of their shape and tread pattern.
★ Parts are included to equip the vehicle with an MG34 machine gun and its mounting.
★ The model can be built with the windshield folded down and covered with canvas.
★ Additional equipment parts include a Kar98k rifle and a Panzerfaust anti-tank weapon.
★ The compact four-man interior is carefully detailed.
★ Separate parts are provided for various hull and exterior details, including the shovel, oar and other equipment.
★ The rear engine cover can be left open to display the 4-cylinder engine inside.
★ The rear propeller is accurately reproduced and can be repositioned after assembly.
★ The kit includes driver and tanker officer figures, perfect for adding life to the model or a small diorama.
★ Decals are included for vehicle markings and license plates for Army vehicles (4 options) and Luftwaffe vehicles (2 options).
★ Additional decals are also included for weapons, insignia and smaller details.
★ Mesh is provided for the engine compartment intakes and outlets.

Historical Background

The Volkswagen Schwimmwagen Type 166 was one of the most practical and versatile light vehicles used by German forces during the Second World War. Developed from Volkswagen-based light utility vehicles, it quickly proved highly useful wherever a standard military car was limited by terrain or water obstacles.

Its greatest strength was its ability to operate both on land and in water. Thanks to its watertight, boat-shaped hull and fold-down rear propeller, the vehicle could travel not only across roads and rough ground, but also across rivers, canals and flooded terrain. Powered by an air-cooled 1,130 cc 4-cylinder engine producing 25 hp, it could reach around 80 km/h on land and approximately 10 km/h in the water, which was impressive for such a small vehicle.

The version fitted with wider wheels was even more capable off-road. Improved traction on mud, sand and poor road surfaces made it especially useful to reconnaissance units, engineers, liaison troops and formations operating in difficult terrain. Some vehicles were also equipped with the MG34, further increasing their battlefield usefulness.

From the end of 1942 to the autumn of 1944, around 14,000 Schwimmwagens were produced. They served in a wide variety of roles and theatres of war, appearing on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, as well as in units such as Fallschirmjäger, engineers and support formations. That remarkable adaptability made the Schwimmwagen one of the most recognisable and effective German light vehicles of the war.

For modellers, it is a particularly rewarding subject because it works equally well in many different settings: reconnaissance scenes, transport columns, river crossing dioramas, HQ support vehicles or late-war vignettes. Its compact size means that even a simple base can turn it into a very eye-catching miniature.

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