Jagdpanzer IV/70 Early Production

Reviewed by Cookie Sewell
 

Summary

FirstLook

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.")
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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.

This release basically finishes up the Jagdpanzer IV family.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.