Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/35 scale =9139-=9145 Series Kit No. 668=
9; Pz.Kpfw. IV L/70 (A) - Smart Kit; 1,359 parts (960 in grey styrene, 216 = Magic Link track links, 167 etched brass, 10 clear styrene, 6 steel mesh sc= reens); pre-order price US$59.95 via Dragon USA OnlineAdvantages: nice, new kit of this popular tank destroyer; fine details abou= nd
Disadvantages: a large number of very, very tiny parts; assembly of the mes= h shields will call for either soldering or very delicate ACC work
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommended: for Panzer IV and late war German fans
As the war on the Eastern Front progressed, by 1944 it was obvious to the = Germans that the Soviets were now starting to pull ahead in combat vehicle = capabilities and the new T-34-85 and IS-2 tanks could easily pick off Pzkw.= III and Pzkw. IV tanks before they could get into a good shooting position= . As a result, and with the loss of many other chassis, conversions were ma= de to the venerable Panzer IV chassis to upgun them to the powerful L/70 7.=
5 cm KwK 42 gun. But since the Pzkw. III chassis could not mount it and the= Pzkw. IV could not use it in a turret, a switch was made to turretless ass= ault gun mountings.=20Two versions were produced: the (A) model from Alkett, which simply mounte= d a casemate on top of a standard Pzkw. IV Ausf. H/J chassis, and the (V) m= odel from Vomag with a completely new upper hull and bow that was ballistic= ally better designed. The Germans produced 278 (A) models and 930 (V) model= s between August 1944 and March 1945. The vehicles were either used like gu= n tanks or as tank destroyers, based on the task at hand. While the (V) mod= els found their way into the Western Front, most of the (A) models went to = the East.
While the Panzer IV/70 (V) model has been done several times, the (A) mode= l has not been as common. After a long wait, DML has now released its new (= A) kit and from net chatter it is eagerly anticipated.=20
Using many parts from previous Panzer IV series kits, the model adds more = than 345 styrene parts (some from the earlier A-O kit) and a new set of bot= h etched brass and six steel mesh screens. The latter are nicely done and s= uitably fine to match the scale of the model, but require a large number of= brass parts to be bent and formed to be attached to the screens. While all= of the framework is styrene, all of the mounts are brass attached to styre= ne through the screens.=20
The model offers a number of options, most importantly the eight complete = solid steel bogie wheels for the front two suspension bogies on each side. = Four spare wheels are included from either regular or steel wheels (modeler= =92s option). Each steel wheel consists of an inner and outer half with the= rim trapped between them.=20
The hull assembles as with most other Panzer IV kits but the base fittings= for the screens are mounted on the fenders provided. While the earlier mod= el exhaust comes in the kit, it clearly mandates the use of the Ausf. J twi= n stacks.=20
The tracks are called out by color (dark =3D left, light =3D right) and 99= links per side are called for, leaving 9 extras for each side. A run of si= x (from the Q sprue are to be fitted to the glacis plate, but after taking = pains to show how it is done DML doesn=92t show them again =96 only the fol= ding travel lock is shown. Apparently there is enough room to clear the tra= cks, but DML=92s draftsman appears to have ignored them from Step 7 onward.= =20
While the main gun is complete, there is no interior to speak of inside th= e casemate once it is assembled.=20
Technical assistance was provided by Notger Schlegtendal, Tom Cockle and G= ary Edmundson.=20
Seven finishing options are offered, two with the screens and five without= (thankfully for those modelers who do not wish to combat the screens!): Un= identified Unit, Eastern Front 1945 (tricolor stripes with black crosses, s= creens); Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1945 (tricolor patches, black cro= sses, screens); Unidentified Unit, Hungary 1945 (tricolor blotch scheme, sa= nd lower hull, no screens); Unidentified Unit, Eastern Front 1945 (sand ove= rall, black 454, no screens); Unidentified Unit, Bohemia, 1945 (sand with g= reen and brown blotches, black 611, no screens); Unidentified Unit, Germany= 1945 (=93ambush=94 scheme, blue 111, no screens); and Unidentified Unit, W= estern Front, 1944 (=93circus=94 paint scheme, black crosses, no screens). = A small sheet of Cartograf decals is provided for the markings.=20
Overall, this is an impressive if challenging kit. For the ultra-detailers= , about 60 extra bolt heads and 20 casting numbers are included on the spru= es for extra detail added.=20
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.=20
Cookie Sewell