August 05, 2026

Preview: Tamiya's new 1/35th scale RSO/01 German Tractor in time for the US nats...

Tamiya's new 1/35th scale kit is to be released at the US nats – the RSO/01 German Tractor Post-Spring 1943. We have a look at the built test kit & its features in our preview...



Preview: Tamiya's new 1/35th scale

RSO/01 German Tractor
Post-Spring 1943
From Tamiya
Product No #394
1/35th Scale
Plastic injection-moulded kit.
Length 126 mm, overall width 64 mm.
Price: TBA
The kit is due for release 5th August.
The subject: Raupenschlepper OST RSO/01. 1943 Production
The acronym RSO stands for “Raupenschlepper Ost", which translates as “Caterpillar Tractor East". The terrible muddy and icy conditions experienced on the Eastern Front convinced Germany of the need for a highly mobile, tracked vehicle. Steyr proposed the RSO, and it immediately became a popular vehicle thanks to its mobility and reliability.

The cover girl of this boxing is seen here, with the same markings and those heavier tracks in the rails on either side of the tray. All of the period images here contain the marking choices from this boxing.
In all, about 23,000 RSO vehicles were produced by a range of manufacturers. The original version had a pressed-steel cab and a typical truck-style cargo bed at the rear. It was powered by a Steyr 85-hp V8 engine that offered a top speed of 30 km/h.

You will notice the very wide snow/mud tracks used on this machine.
Initially designed as a prime mover and artillery supply vehicle, the RSO eventually adapted to a wide range of roles. Upon its arrival on the Eastern Front, combat units repurposed it for general transportation duties, leveraging its reliability, ease of maintenance, and versatility to excel in various terrains. Its unique "slack-track" system, consisting of four road wheels per side in a single line, proved particularly effective in handling the challenging mud season and Russian winter conditions, which often crippled other vehicles. This was due to the absence of return rollers, which eliminated the risk of mud or snow freezing between the wheels of more complex suspension systems found in German half-track vehicles like the SdKfz 7.

Again in heavy mud, this late-model RSO is seen towing a large 21 cm mortar.
The RSO underwent several design iterations, starting with the RSO/01, which featured a pressed-steel cab with a truck-like configuration. Subsequent models, RSO/02 and RSO/03, adopted a simpler, soft-top, slab-sided metal cab. All versions boasted wooden, drop-side cargo beds typical of light trucks from that era. Initially powered by a Steyr 3.5L V8 petrol engine, the RSO/03 was later upgraded to a Deutz air-cooled diesel engine. Approximately 23,000 RSO units of all versions were produced.

Interestingly, this RSO is seen running without its engine grille cover. This, plus the simple yellow colour, may denote it is from a Southern European theatre.

The kit:
The big news coming out of Indiana this week is a massive surprise from the bosses at Shizuoka. Tamiya has chosen the opening day of the 2026 IPMS/USA National Convention to pull the curtains back on a brand-new tooling of a German soft-skin classic. Say hello to the 1/35 scale RaupenSchlepper Ost (RSO/01) Production Type.
Tamiya’s new kit specifically captures the mid-production variants built from the spring of 1943 onward. These versions featured a cabin floor raised by 30mm to prevent the wide winter tracks from chewing up the bodywork, alongside options for deleted exhaust silencers. True to form, Tamiya has engineered this kit to offer maximum detail with their signature builder-friendly approach. 
The distinctive, beautifully rounded pressed-steel cabin is captured in clean, slide-moulded precision. Modellers will also love the versatility in the cargo bed. You can build it fully enclosed with a realistically textured canvas cover or show off the raw engineering with just the bare canvas frame skeleton exposed. Track assembly looks to be a breeze too. Instead of individual links, Tamiya supplies link-and-length tracks with long straight runs as single pieces. You also get a driver figure, high-quality window masks, and markings for two vehicles, including a hard-working veteran from the Eastern Front in 1944.

Kit Features & Specifications
- The kit is in 1/35th scale – Dimensions: 126 mm overall length, 64 mm overall width.
- It faithfully depicts the post-Spring 1943 production variant based on extensive research of surviving museum vehicles.
- Realistically reproduced rounded cabin showcases the unique press-moulded steel plate geometry.
- Cargo Bed Options: Can be built in two configurations—with the full canvas cover extended or with only the naked canvas frame remaining. 
- Track Engineering: Smart partial-link tracks featuring single-piece straight sections for quick and aligned assembly
- Crew Included: one highly detailed driver figure sitting at the controls.
- Marking Options: Includes premium waterslide decals for two distinct vehicles, featuring an Eastern Front 1944 scheme.
- The kit includes pre-cut adhesive mask stickers for effortless painting of the cab windows and window frames.

This kit is due to be released at the US nats today (5th august) You can see more of Tamiya's kits on the Tamiya USA website