Kit Review: Dragon Models Limited 1/72 Scale Armor
Pro Series Kit No. 7307; Jagdpanzer IV/70 Early Production;163 parts (137 in grey styrene,
21 etched brass, 2 DS plastic track runs, 1turned aluminum gun barrel); price estimated at
US $13.98
Advantages: correct presentation of early production vehicles on Pzkw. IV chassis; some
new tweaks over past variants of this vehicle
Disadvantages: DS tracks require adjustment but since they cement up using plastic cement
should not be a major drawback
Rating: Highly Recommended
Recommendation: for all German WWII fans
Following on their earlier Jagdpanzer IV L/48 Early Production (No. 7276), Jagdpanzer
IV/70 Lang (No. 7293) and the Jagdpanzer IV/70 Command Variant (No. 7328) kits, this kit
mixes and matches to provide an early production variant with the four return rollers and
Pzkw. IV road wheels. It also comes with the Pzkw. IV Ausf. H cylindrical muffler but
"Slide Molded" now with a hollow exhaust.
This kit has another new etched brass fret. Again the etched brass skirts (schuertzen)
from the "Stroke 48" kit have been dropped, and while the kit has the styrene
brackets the vehicle is shown as built without them. Parts now provided include new
stiffener/joint plates for the rear hull and a new joint plate for the casemate to hull
joint at the rear of the casemate. The rest is similar to the earlier three kits.
As is now the standard with this line of kits, it comes with positionable hatches and
separate hatches for the engine deck (but no interior). Details are quite small (Right
Puny Parts) so care will have to be taken in assembly to prevent the "Carpet
Monster" from acquiring some of the details.
The two holes in the belly which appeared in Kit No. 7293 are now gone, so the the diehard
"right belly" fans will be pleased!
The road wheels come in the now-standard two-wheel molded units with separate faces. Nine
wheel pairs are provided for spares as well as the regulars, but this kit comes without
the solid steel ones (as is correct for "as built.")
,
Other details include periscopic sights and viewers.
Four different finishing schemes are provided: Germany 1945 (tricolor); 9th Panzer
Division, Hungary 1945 (tricolor); "Feldherrnhalle" Panzer Division, Budapest
1945; and one unit in all green, Eastern Front 1945. The decals are a "targeted"
sheet for these options only.
Overall, this basically finishes up the Jagdpanzer IV family.
Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.
Cookie Sewell
|
