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DML
6360 Pz.Kpfw IV Ausf. F2 (G)
1/35 injection plastic kit with decals and photo etch
After encounter the Russian T-34 and KV-1 on the Eastern Front, the
German army assigned high priority to up-gunning existing German armour.
For the Panzer IV this saw the longer 75mm barrel, being fitted to the
existing turret in early 1942. This new version was known as the Ausf
F2, and later re-designated as the Ausf G. The first few months production
of the Ausf F2 (G) were equipped with the 7.5cm Kw.K 40 L/43 tank gun,
Notek headlamp, and did not have shurzen (side skirts) fitted.
This Panzer IV represents one of the early to mid 1942 production vehicles,
which were made when it was officially known as the Ausf F2. This kit
essentially is an all new model which combines Dragonˇ¦s current high
level of tooling, and the Smart Kit format. While the kit shares the
same high level of crispness and accuracy as the recent Dragon releases
of the short barreled Panzer IVˇ¦s the tooling for all major parts, other
than the Magic Tracks, is new and due to the Smart Kit format will be
quicker to assemble. The few injection marks are placed so that they
are hidden on the finished kit. Clean up of this kitˇ¦s part should be
very quick.
The optional photo etch includes the flaps for the side plate engine
vents, baffles below the engine deck hatches, tail reflector, detail
on the rear convoy light, turret mounted vane and a pair of fender supports.
Clear plastic parts are provided for the driverˇ¦s and radio operatorˇ¦s
forward and side vision blocks, turret side vision ports and the cupola
vision ports.
The19 steps gatefold instructions are clearly laid out and since this
kit has few options are very straightforward. An accompanying small
booklet highlights some of the kitˇ¦s features.
HULL
The lower hull is a new one-piece tub, which has a number of changes
from recent Panzer IV releases that are in keeping with the Smart Kit
format. Slide-molding has been used to provide detail on the bottom
and sides such as weld beams, counter sunk holes and screw heads. The
drive housing is now assembled from only for parts and the return idler
mounts are cast on the hull tub. Separate parts are provided for small
detail such as the rear idler mount, rear plate, track tension adjustors,
bump stops, tow hooks, and towing pintle. This pintle has three design
options and no doubt the spare options will be useful for older Panzer
IV family kits. The main exhaust is a detailed multi-part assembly with
some slide-molding, a hollowed outlet, and hidden detail such as the
exhaust pipe.
The side fenders have an impressive anti-skid pattern on the upper surface
and underside and separate front and rear fenders. The holes for the
tools are predrilled and the bottom of many of the brackets are crisply
cast onto the fenders, which combined with the sharply defined tools
(which have the brackets and clamps cast on) will deliver modelers impressive
results. The jack is built from five parts and has separate brackets.
The tow cable, which goes on the hull rear, is made from twisted wire
with plastic end eyes.
The new upper hull is based on a single piece, which has excellent detail
for the turret race, screw heads with slots, countersunk holes and rain
guards. Both hatches on the engine deck can be modeled open, although
you will need to supply your own Maybach HL 120 engine (several are
available). The baffles underneath the hatches are photo etch and there
is a choice of radiator caps. In a first for 1/35, Dragon has supplied
a choice of two designs for the side air intake vents. These vents are
sharply defined in plastic and easy to fit. A part fits where the firewall
separating the engine from the fighting compartment was, but it appears
structural as it is not detailed.
The forward armour and rear hull plate are well done with attention
to detail such as the fine bolt heads and the counter sunk screw holes
near the brake access hatches. The optional spare tracks on the front
have positioning tabs and have been tooled so that there will be no
visible injection marks. The driverˇ¦s and radio operatorˇ¦s hatches can
be left open and the forward MG34 has a workable ball mount and internal
detail.
The new road wheels have the tyre and rim as one piece (two units per
bogy) and have separate hub-caps (correct profile) with small screw
heads finely reproduced. The bogies mountings are built from four parts.
The road wheels and return rollers now feature the Continenta(U) brand
name an pressure markings on the sidewalls. Four extras road wheel pairs
are included and could be attached to the Panzer as spares. For example
the Panzer with the LAH decal option had three spare wheels fitted to
the left fender in what appears to be a field modification.
The tracks are Magic Tracks where each link comes loose, and for most
modelers will require no clean up, although each link has two small
injector marks. These links are the 40cm wide type with open guide horns
and no chevrons on the outer faces, a type that was common on the Ausf.
F2. The tracks are asymmetric in that there is a separate set for each
side to reflect the way the track pins were fitted. Each side is separately
packed and has its own shade of grey.
TURRET
The newly tooled turret is based around a 3-directional slide molded
shell, which has detail such as the countersunk holes finely reproduced.
The hatches and ports have internal detail and can be modelled open
and clear plastic is used for vision blocks. The commander's cupola
has internal detail with five vision blocks and the lock mechanism on
the split hatch, while the commanderˇ¦s seat is also included. The toothed
turret ring is integrated onto the turretˇ¦s base. As expected the turret
roof has separate parts for the varying handles, commanderˇ¦s sight,
covers etc, while on the turret rear there is the rear stowage bin and
two-part lifting hooks, which are quite impressive.
The 7.5cm KwK40 L/43 gun is impressive with a slide molded barrel tub
and a multi-part single baffle muzzle break as seen on early production
Ausf F2. A choice of gun sleeves with differing screw head patterns,
based on photographic research, is included. The mantlet comes with
the choice of a slide-molded MG34 in its protective sleeve or an empty
sleeve. Inside the turret the there is the gun breech with a choice
of blocks. Absent interior detail such as the spent shell catcher and
turret floor could be sourced from other Dragon kits if you wished to
add this super detailing.
DECALS
The medium sized decal sheet by Cartograf has markings for seven Ausf
F2, each of which is supported by five profiles on the instruction sheet
and a color side profile on the box. The Panzer IV are from:
* Panzer Regiment 36, 14 Panzer Division, in Russia 1942 (box art)
* Panzer Abteilung 204, 22 Panzer Division, in Russia 1942 (turret number
billboard white 924; grey with dark yellow).
* Panzer Regiment 29, 12 Panzer Division, in Russia 1942 (turret number
small 613; all grey).
* Panzer Abteilung 1 of LAH, in France 1942 1942 (turret number white
outline 316; all grey).
* Panzer Regiment 8, 15 Panzer Division, in Tunisa 1942 (turret number
8; all dark yellow).
* Panzer Regiment 15, 11 Panzer Division, in Russia 1942 (turret number
12; all grey).
* An unidentified unit on the Eastern Front in 1943 with turret number
black 421 and painted grey with dark yellow bands.
RECOMMENDATION
Dragonˇ¦s Panzer IV Ausf F2 (G) should prove to be a very popular kit.
The combination of the sharp and well researched detail with the Smart
Kit format should make for a very rewarding modeling project. This kit
can be equally build out of the box or used as the basis for super-detailing
project. Highly recommended.
- Neville Lord
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