Dragon 1/35 PzKpfw IV ausf D w 7.5cm KwK 40 L/43

The Panzer IV was the workhorse of Wehrmacht armored units, with more than 8500 produced from 1937 to 1945. The Ausf. D formed the first main production run, with 229 manufactured in 1939-40. The original Panzer IV D was fitted with a short-barreled 7.5cm KwK 37 L/24 gun, but the performance of this infantry support weapon was rapidly outclassed. To make the tank more relevant, a number of IV Ds were later updated and up-gunned with a longer 7.5cm KwK40, the same potent cannon that was fitted to the Ausf. F and G.

This is one of Dragon's superlative armor kits, brimming with detail and well over 500 parts. As you can see from the parts layout diagram, there are a considerable number of bits that will make their way into your spares box. Allow me to quote from Dragon on this kit's many features:

Turret:
- New turret roof rendered w/delicate details
- New turret side-skirt armor produced to scale thickness
- Newly tooled one-piece 3 directional silde-molded turret for Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.D
- Side-Skirt door can be positioned open/closed
- Realistically detailed side-skirt armor brackets
- Includes hollowed out undercut on turret bottom
- 5 directional slide-molded commander's cupola authenticall recreates structural details
- Incorporates toothed turret ring in turret interior

Gun:
- Complete gun assembly w/full detail
- Finely detailed 7.5cm Kw.K.40 L/43 gun
- Rifling inside gun barrel is finely reproduced
- Detailed gun muzzle brake
- Gun sleeve w/delicate weld and bolt detail made from 3-directional slide molds
- Mantlet view port can be modeled open/closed
- Mantlet w/aerial deflector for long gun barrel is new
- Mantlet guard can be removed and gun unloaded as on the real vehicle

Upper Hull:
- Brand new additional armor for driver's and radio operator's panel
- Driver's and radio operator's hatches w/interior detail and external rubber bump stops
- Driver's interior periscope assembly in fine detail
- Newly tooled spare-wheel rack w/spare wheels on upper hull side
- Newly tooled cleaning rod
- New spare-track bracket on frontal glacis plate
- Realistic double-layered air intake
- Air-intake covers have option of injection or photo-etched parts
- New OVM arrangement on fenders
- Newly tooled side fenders w/tread pattern on both sides
- Fans and coupling modeled in several parts to provide interior detail
- Engine hatches can be assembled open/closed
- Photo-etched parts for engine-deck exhaust grill

Lower Hull, suspension, wheels:
- Detailed chassis formed from multiple parts w/bolt detail
- New additional armor on frontal hull
- Fine detail newly tooled rear hull
- 40cm Magic Tracks
- Delicate detailed sprocket and idler
- Separate armored cover for final-drive housing
- Realistic suspension w/multiple components
- Transmission system w/excellent detail

The kit has markings for three tanks. One is the box art tank from an unidentified unit on the Eastern Front in 1944. The other two are in overall panzer yellow. One is from NSKK in 1943 wyhile the other is from 26 PzDiv in Italy during 1944.

Another superlative armor kit from the armor kings at Dragon. If you have never built one of these highly detailed kits, you are in for a treat. This one is going off to the wilds of Indiana for a full build article so stay tuned.

January 2009

Thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. Get yours today at your local shop or on-line retailer.