Panzer Iv/70 a Zwischenlãƒâ¶sung Sd Kfz 162/1 Dml 1/35 Rjm Cd Review
Panzer IV/70 (A) Sd.Kfz.162/1
Tristar 1:35 Scale Kit No. 35048
Review by Terry Ashley
Introduction:
Tristar continues their line of Panzer Four kits with this new kit of the Panzer IV/lxx (A) which is arguably 1 of the more than exotic of product Panzers but was basically an acting pattern with only 278 built before the introduction of the more streamlined Panzer Four/70 (V) with both using the seven.5cm KwK42 50/seventy gun.
The Kit:
This consists of 830 parts in light beige plastic with a farther 288 individual track links in the same plastic, five in clear plastic, 87 etched parts on two frets, 128 parts in blackness vinyl plus a large sheet of woven metal mesh for the side Schürzen mesh panels. Also included is a printed template for cutting the Schürzen to the right size plus the usual decal sheet and 10 page fold out instruction sail.
Articulate parts
As y'all might await much of the kit lower hull/running gear is from the recent Sturmpanzer IV kit (35038) with new parts or the superstructure and gun with alternating road wheel parts for the standard and steel dish route wheels used on the front bogies as well as the bonus inclusion of the figures and equipment from the previously released German Panzer Grenadiers Set up Vol.2 (kit #35005).
Many of the sub-assemblies such every bit the superstructure and rear engine deck are in multiple parts which while allowing expert detail definition and the pick of open access panels/hatches will patently require boosted assembly time over kits with less parts breakdown.
The standard of moulding is very good overall with well-baked details although some moulding seams are quite pronounced and there is some very fine flash on a more than than a few parts plus some mating surfaces will need to exist smoothed out for a ameliorate fit as some of the older parts need a little more cleanup.
Dimensionally the kit measures upwardly very well with available information and the 1:35 plans in bachelor references such as Panzer Tracts and the recent Model Art AFV Profile 1 Jagdpanzer L/70 "Lang" in all areas including hull, superstructure, running gear and barrel length.
Lower Hull:
The lower hull tub with this kit is a "standard" tub with interior consisting of just the rear engine compartment bulkhead forth with underside panel and bolt details with all other parts separate.
These include the long suspension channels either side of the underside but these volition need the mating surfaces cleaned as in that location is a little flash present on mine. The return roller and suspension crash-land terminate mountings are likewise separate and the left side fuel filler covers are in two parts allowing these to be shown open if you wish.
The forepart hull includes the additional armour panels added to the vehicles to which is added the front tow shackle mountings made upward of 4 parts each.
The rear plate is too separate with boosted separate parts for the idler mountings, cardinal fillet, tow shackles and separate port covers and side mounted lifting hooks. The kit includes the later Panzer IV way vertical exhaust pipes with flame dampeners just the earlier large horizontal muffler and rear plate parts are still included in the kit although not mentioned in the instructions obviously should you lot wish to build a different configuration?
The running gear has a number of alternate parts from the previous Panzer IV kits leaving some for the spares box and you have to be careful to apply right parts for this kit as indicated in the instructions.
The drive sprockets are in the usual two halves with squeamish bolt head detail effectually the rims on both sides of both sprockets and good spoke detail and the concluding drive housings also take first-class details with split parts for the armoured covers with everything plumbing fixtures together without any problems.
The road wheels feature excellent rib detail on the wheels with the small weld beads around the outer rim and take the carve up vinyl rubber tyres with the full sidewall embossing of "Continental" and tyre information for fantabulous representations. The only issue here is you lot have to employ a very sharp blade to cut the vinyl tyres from the runners and there will be the resulting cut scar which is quite hard to eliminate with this medium.
At that place are alternate hub caps provided and you should use those as indicated in the instructions with different hub caps used on the standard and steel wheels so take intendance.
The idler wheels are the bandage rib style for the 4/seventy(A) that feature first-class detail included cast effect on the cardinal hubs and the return rollers are besides the cast type without safe wheels located in four positions, this configuration in conjunction with the flame exhausts does exists in period photos along with versions with tube idlers and return rollers in just the three positions.
The kit includes the "normal" type pause bogies only but catamenia photos don't bear witness any discernable compression of the front bogies despite the additional weight towards the forepart of these vehicles.
Assembly of the bogie units is very quick and straightforward with the spring unit being glued into the primary axle mount and the appropriate end cap added. The main axle mountain and leap is so slipped into the mounting and over the larger locating pin with the smaller inner axle mounting slipped over the smaller locating pin. The outer smaller axle mountain is and so glued with a small dab of gum to the inner axle mount and the round bogie cap is fastened and it'due south all done allowing the suspension to articulate after assembly if you lot want to animate this for a diorama setting.
The assembled bogies fit neatly to the hull sides forth with the crash-land stops and as mentioned yous should get out off the idler beam until fitting the tracks to ensure proper rail tension.
The glacis has separate brake and transmission inspection hatches with the correct open up intakes on the brake covers and while you can prove these open there is not interior unless you add you own from any of the bachelor resin sets, there is also etched brackets for the spare track rack.
The big travel lock is provided plus the 2 small mounting brackets attached to the forepart of the glacis, the travel lock is shown fitting into holes in the Saükopf sides only it should actually locate at the Saükopf/barrel junction.
The fenders are full length with dissever mud guard front and dorsum sections with boosted side sections at the front end with minor plastic "springs" added at the guard bring together. The upper tread plate pattern is quite subtle but okay while there is no particular on the undersides of the fenders with indentations in the lower hull tub to properly seat the fenders when fastened. Added to the fenders is the Bosch caput calorie-free in iv parts for a nicely detailed detail.
Tracks:
The individual link track included in the kit is the lightweight 40cm track with solid guide horns and there are as well separate ice cleats to apply as required. The links are handed and numbered differently (part 1 and 2) on the sprues and so accept intendance not to mix the links. Detail on the links is nicely done with well-divers cast link item with just a very small amount of flash on the links in my kit and what little at that place is can easily be removed with a sharp #eleven blade.
Each link has two sprue attachment burs that demand removing and are not workable beingness designed to just glue together to form the track runs.
Engine Deck:
This is quite an elaborate multi-role assembly with the upper deck having cut-outs for the engine access doors and additional divide parts for the deck sides, intake louvers and rear plate as well as the doors with carve up louvers.
The two doors have louvers included with additional inner louver panels to give the overlap of the louvers as they should be also as the coolant admission cover existence in two carve up parts forth with separate locks and take hold of handle on the right door and you tin can hands show the doors open up if you wished to add a resin interior.
Added to the rear deck are the multi-function jack and other pioneer tools that are unremarkably carried on the fenders with all having moulded on tool clips other than the jack which has the two clips as separate parts.
Superstructure:
The big superstructure is another multi-part assembly made up of vi chief parts for the front and driver'due south plate, sides, rear and top plates with boosted parts for the hatches, driver's visor and rear wall details. The front end plate has the driver's visor with ii outer and one inner office while the rear wall has the ventilator dome.
All the panels accept the big interlocking notches with subtle weld texturing although this could do with roughing upward to improve the appearance with test fitting not showing any problems.
The roof has divide Commander's and Loader's hatch but for some reason Tristar take the Loader's hatch opening sideways when information technology should actually open up to the rear the same equally the Commander's hatch. If showing the hatch open you will have to reposition the two inner hinges (parts F-53, F-54) accordingly.
Other items include the periscopes in articulate plastic, the sight periscope, grenade launcher with outer comprehend and dissever bolted guides for the sliding sight aperture opening besides every bit an etched part for the comprehend itself.
The large outer gun mantlet has a fairly sizable mould seam around the middle to be removed and yous may want to add some surface texturing as the mantlet has a polish finish, the outer Saükopf is also smooth with just a weld seam forth the centre line and this to practise with added texturing.
The kit includes the total multi-office gun breech and mounting that included the breech with sliding breech cake, command wheels side guards and detailed main sight with the gun assembly plumbing equipment into the forward mounting to let the small degree of travers of the bodily gun.
The long barrel is moulded on one piece with hollowed out cage that includes rifling although this is fleck chunky plus the fine mould seam to exist removed with the barrel fitting though the Saükopf , mantlet and into the gun mounting.
The separate side Schürzen mesh skirts are provided as commercial aluminium weave mesh in a single large sail with printed templates to cut the skirts for each side, as the mesh is quite thick this may have a fleck of endeavor to get the edges direct. At that place are thin etched strips to add together along the cutting edges although these are not called out in the instructions plus the mesh weave isn't really that of the actual mesh skirts as well equally being over-scale just as I haven't fully assembled the skirts the jury is out on the final appearance one time on the kit?
These are fastened to the hull sides by fashion of a long top plastic rod with thinly moulded mounting brackets plus etched panels for the front of the Schürzen and small plastic and etched brackets to prune the skirts to the side mountings.
Figures:
Included with the kit are the 4 Panzer Grenadier figures from the previously released set High german Panzer Grenadiers Vol.2 (kit #35005) with the detail on the uniforms and faces/easily very well done for plastic figures and will get together easily with it basically your selection of painting equally 3 wear the reversible wintertime parkas.
The pick of weapons and personal gear is too excellent with nicely detailed weapons that include 3 10 Kar98 rifles with separate breech bolt, three x MP40, two x MP44, two x G-43 rifles and a unmarried MG 43 with tripod stand up and a couple of ammo tins. The figures can be used in any diorama situation with the vehicle or anywhere you similar really.
Decals:
The small decal sheet merely has balkenkreuz and vehicle numbers for three vehicles, 2 German and i captured in Russian markings.
- Fuhrer Begleit Brigade, Ardennes offensive 1944
- 23 Panzer Division, Hejmakser, Hungary, 1945
- Reddish Army operated, Vienna, Austria, 1945
Instructions:
The large foldout instruction canvass has detailed exploded view drawings of the associates sequences and due to the number of parts some are quite busy and you will have written report these carefully earlier proceeding.
But if care is taken at that place shouldn't be any problems and it also appears that Tristar take fixed the numerous instruction bloopers from the Sturmpanzer IV kit.
Conclusion:
Overall this is very nicely done kit of the Panzer Iv/lxx (A) with good detail on the parts and is dimensionally accurate but the number of parts means this is not an overnight build.
The multi-role superstructure and engine decks will crave additional assembly plain simply resulting particular is worth the extra effort. There are few detail problems such equally the travel lock and Loader's hatch that aren't hard to set up and the inclusion of the different track is too a nice bonus.
The side side Schürzen mesh skirts are somewhat out of scale but overall the kit should build into an attractive model without too manu problems.
Rating 8/10
The Sprues:
Click on thumbnails for larger view
Sprue detail images
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References:
Thanks to Tristar Models for the review kit.
Source: https://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/tristar/tri35048.html
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