1/35 German Schutzenpanzer Puma

The Schützenpanzer Puma is a modern German tracked infantry fighting vehicle, developed as the successor to the older Marder model in service with the Bundeswehr. It is one of the current leaders in the infantry fighting vehicle category — emphasising a balance between mobility, crew protection and firepower. A distinctive feature is its modular armour, which allows the level of protection to be tailored to the mission, and its armament, centred on an automatic cannon in the turret supplemented by a machine gun. The Puma was designed with the modern battlefield in mind, combining protection against various types of threats with the need to transport and protect dismounted infantry. For modellers, the Puma is attractive as a representative of the Bundeswehr’s contemporary technology, with a distinctive, technically impressive appearance.

The Das Werk 1:35 scale kit is a glue-up model that focuses on faithfully capturing the typical features of the original vehicle. The German ‘hedgehog’ rubber roof armour and the bar armour – which are among the vehicle’s most visually striking details – are reproduced realistically. The tracks are designed as workable single track links, allowing them to be assembled with realistic sag and contour. The kit also includes clear parts and photo-etched (PE) parts for fine detailing. The versatility of the build is enhanced by the option to assemble the crew hatches in either an open or closed position, as well as the turret machine gun (MG) compartment in either an open or closed configuration. Decals with variants for the Bundeswehr are included for the finish.

The 1:35 scale is the most common for military ground vehicles and allows for detailed rendering of surfaces and accessories. For a contemporary vehicle such as the Puma, a cleaner, modern colour scheme is usually applied, complemented by subtle operational weathering depending on the chosen environment and mission. The kit does not contain the paints or adhesives required for assembly.