Kit Review: cyberr-hobby.com 1/35 scale Kit No. 55 (Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No. 6623); Jagdpanzer IV L/70 (V) Command Version November 44 Production - Smart Kit; 849 parts (619 in grey styrene, 200 =93Magic Track=94 links, 18 clear styrene, 12 etched brass); retail price estimated at US$52.50
Advantages: near totally new kit of this popular subject; very nicely executed
Disadvantages: basically a re-release of kit No. 6397 with a new antenna; still comes with =93Magic Track=94 links
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German and Pzkw. IV fans
DML=92s botique affiliate cyber-hobby.com has now released the command version of the Jagdpanzer IV/70 (V) as a separate kit. I am somewhat puzzled as to why as all it appears to do is add one =93crow=92s foot=94 command antenna and some odd bits from a Pzkw. IV to the original base kit (No. 6397 from August 2009). One sprue of skirts has been removed and two more added (one antenna and one Pzkw. IV kit sprue). The =93crow=92s foot=94 does now come with an etched brass head vice the older one-piece plastic one, but considering its fragility I am not sure if that is a plus or minus.
As such, I return to my original review of that kit. The model provides a large number of options. Foremost among them is the use of either an early (single cylindrical) or late (twin pipes) Ausf. J rear hull and exhaust. But this kit dropped the post-December 1944)tow hitch and replaces it with the Pzkw. IV one. Three different options for return rollers and eight three-piece steel-rim wheels are also provided for the suspension, as well as modified bogie mounts and a totally new lower hull pan.
No engine detail is provided, but a firewall is included as the radio sets mount against it (and they are provided). Engine deck details are similar to those used on previous Panzer IV =93Smart Kit=94 offerings.
The complete L/70 gun is provided with a slide-molded gun barrel in one piece, which at least on the review sample did not have sink mark one on it. However, other than the big gun and the radios there is no interior to speak of within the casemate.
While all skirts and applique armor protection are provided, given the two marking options in the kit only those on the rear of the upper hull are used; these are DML=92s =93Razor Edge=94 styrene vice etched nicke= l and thus provide an easier assembly task.
The kit comes with =93Magic Track=94 single link vice the handier DS Plastic one-piece runs, but in this case without the skirts the tracks will have to have some sag in them so the choice may not be so bad.
Technical assistance is credited to Notger Schlegendal, Tom Cockle and Gary Edmundson.
Only two different finishing options are covered and a small sheet of Cartograf decals is provided for them: Unidentified Unit, Germany 1945 (tri-color, black 201); and Stu.Art.Brig. 210, Germany 1945 (whitewash over sand brown, red L01).
Overall this is a nice model, but it would seem to have been a simpler option to include the extra antenna and =933-in-1" or other choices in the original kit.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell