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Forums - Modelling / Kits |
The kits forum is for the discussion of model kits. Typically questions on availability or certain subjects and quality of existing kits are posted here. Short reviews are good here too. |
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| Messages | 7906 |
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| Subject: | Re: Tamiya Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H or J? |  |
| Date: | Sep 11, 2006 |
| From: | Gerald Owens | |
Tamiya's Panzer IV Ausf. J is quite nice, but it's getting hard to find just now. It depicts an early production Ausf. J, circa summer, 1944 (the Dragon/Shanghai Dragon Ausf. J depicts a November, 1944 production version, but it needs much more in the way of detailing). Tamiya's H model depicts an early vintage H, with the G style hubcaps, but has a J turret shell with the thicker roof armor panel (Tamiya reused the J molding). These are nice kits overall with 1990's state of the art tooling and glueable soft plastic band tracks.
However, Tamiya's original Ausf. H was released in 1975, and should be avoided, as it is misproportioned to accommodate the standard Tamiya electric motor and battery pack. The tracks are too wide, the wheels too skinny, and the spokes on the drive sprocket do not taper correctly. Unfortunately, the Sturmgeschutz IV and Brummbar were based on this tooling and never updated, so they share its dimensional flaws. Fortunately, the Wirbelwind antiaircraft tank was reissued with the old turret mated to the newly tooled chassis, so that at least is correct, and the Mobelwagen antiaircraft tank (with the 37mm gun) is also an all-new effort (but the other version with the quad 20mm mount was based on the old chassis). The Dragon Sturmgeschutz IV kits are nicely done.
The older Tamiya Ausf. H kits still lurk on Ebay for the unwary, so pay close attention to stock numbers and box art, and their Brummbar and Stug IV are still on store shelves, alas. |
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 | Tamiya Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H or J? [IMG] - Allan J. Mata - Sep 11, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Tamiya Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H or J? - Alex Dutt - Sep 11, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Tamiya Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H or J? - Gerald Owens - Sep 11, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: Tamiya Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H or J? - Michael Dworacek - Sep 12, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: Tamiya Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H or J? - Eric Scurlock - Sep 12, 2006 |
| . . . . . . . . . Re: Tamiya Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H or J? - Gerald Owens - Sep 13, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Tamiya Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H or J? - Paul A. Owen - Sep 12, 2006 |
| . . . . . . Re: Tamiya Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H or J? - Paul A. Owen - Sep 12, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Tamiya Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H or J? - Allan J. Mata - Sep 12, 2006 |
| . . . Re: Tamiya Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H or J? - Marc Brandes - Sep 12, 2006 |
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