One of the newest releases from venerable Tamiya is this wide-wheel version of the Schwimmwagen Type 166, which incorporates parts from their previous release (kit 224) back in 1998. The new release includes new sprues C and V which include the wide-wheel parts, new figures, and new weapons. As with any Tamiya kit, the engineering is perfect, which makes this kit ideal for modelers of nearly any skill level, and it is therefore highly recommended.

Upon opening the box, you will find four sprues molded in Tamiya’s tan plastic, a separate lower body, a mesh screen, clear acetate, and decals. Also included are a ten-page instruction sheet, a Tech Tips sheet, and Background Information. The Background Information includes Development, Design, and Production and Deployment information as well as a line drawing for nomenclature and Painting instructions with color drawings for an all yellow and a yellow, green, and brown vehicle.

Comparing this to the 1998 release of the Schwimmwagen Type 166, sprue A has been shortened to remove the old wheels, and sprue B was unchanged. A new sprue C is included with the new wheels, weapons, an oar, a crossbar for small arms, and a windshield with a cover installed on it. A new sprue V includes new figures for a driver and tank commander as well as accessories for them.

Construction of the Schwimmwagen was smooth and Tamiya incorporated the use of tabs specific to the front and rear wheels as well as “L” and “R” markings on the inner wheels to aid in correct placement. The tires themselves consist of five segments for the treads that fit around the wheel and sidewall of the tires, with the joints being along the tread pattern so that they disappear. The engine detail is very good in my opinion, and the propeller is made to be moveable from the stowed and deployed positions. I left the seats out in step 4 to prevent them from receiving overspray when I added the camouflage green and brown colors. The decals settled without issue over a gloss finish using Micro Set and Micro Sol.

Construction of the figures was also smooth with no issues noted. I found it easier to leave the steering wheel off until I was ready to install the driver in the vehicle. I have a reference book on camouflage uniforms and opted to replicate a summer pattern for the tank commander’s jacket along with his black trousers. I did find that the decals for the figures needed a little extra help settling down and I used Tamiya Super Strong decal solvent for this.

My main paints for this kit were Tamiya XF-88 (Dark Yellow 2), XF-89 (Dark Green 2), and XF-90 (Red Brown 2) along with and AK True Colors Marker for Rubber Black. The figures were painted with Vallejo German Field Gray and Waffen-SS Camouflage paint sets along with AK Quick Paint Combo for Painting Skin Tones and German Black Uniform sets. I finished using Alclad Aqua Gloss before applying the decals and sealing them before doing some light weathering with Vallejo pigments and AK mud splashes.

My hits for this kit include the standard Tamiya engineering with everything fitting as it should and not requiring the use of any fillers. The details molded into the canvas for the windshield cover and folded roof are great, as is the detail of the new figures. The decals are provided for six different vehicles and include uniform items for the figures. I had no misses for this kit.

In conclusion, Tamiya has released another great kit, and I highly recommend it to any modeler with experience building kits with some small parts. Everything just fits together as you would want a kit to do, and the figures are some of the best that I have seen in injection molded plastic from any manufacturer. My thanks to Tamiya for providing this review kit to the IPMS-USA Review Corps, and for them allowing me the opportunity to assess it. I also want to thank all who take the time to read these comments.