Around 1970, Monogram Models released a “Panzer IV” kit in 1/32nd scale. There was no mention on the box top as to what version (Ausführung) it was, simply that it was a Panzer IV “with 75mm gun”. As military vehicle historians dug deeper into the history of German military vehicles from the Second World War period, they learned that the Panzer IV, for example, was produced in a series of “Ausführung”, or versions: Ausf. A, Ausf. B etc. Eventually, model firms figured this out too so that by the early/ mid-1970’s, Italeri was producing kits such as their “German Tank Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf (H)” while Tamiya had their “Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. H”.

The Panzer IV series of medium tanks was the only German tank to see continuous production throughout the Second World War. As battlefield conditions changed for the Germans during the war, so too did the Panzer IV: thicker armor, more powerful main guns, the introduction of spaced “schurzen” turret and hull armor plates. The modeler has been fairly well served over the years when it comes to Panzer IV kits in all the main scales. In 1/35th scale, Tamiya, Italeri, Dragon, Gunze Sangyo, Zvezda and Academy themselves have all done various versions of the Panzer IV in their catalogs. Academy, in fact, did a couple of Panzer IV Ausf H’s way back in 1984. The kit under review in this article has NOTHING in common with the 1984 releases. Not only is it from 100% brand new tooling compared to the 1984 versions, but it comes with zimmerit in the form of waterslide decals!

(No preamble this time; only building reports. )

The remaining item I tackled here was the seat itself. The Eduard set 32 920 included in the big Ed set has a very well-done P-51 seat, complete with the aft stiffener, and some other little details. It is pretty well self-explanatory how to fold it all into place. The seat requires some gap-filling superglue to properly assemble, as there is little surface on which to have the glue “Grab” the other parts, and hold together while under handling. Once these are complete, the armor plate is cemented into place.