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Included in this kit is a single piece of cream coloured resin representing the transmission unit used in the Panzer IV chassis vehicles. The instructions call this a "ZF SSG 77" but according to Jentz's Panzer Tracts No.4 all of the Pz. IV, except for the Ausf. A, used a "ZF SSG 76" (the A used a 75). CMK has labeled this part for the Tamiya kit, which I assume are their newer Panzer J and H kits, but this transmission can go into any Panzer IV chassis based vehicle. I intend to use mine to help build an interior for the upcoming Panzer IV Ausf. E from Dragon. The transmission is probably the most complex part in the Panzer IV interior so this "short cut" will certainly help. Using this part will also help provide a point of reference in scratch-building the rest of the interior.
The moulding, as you can see in the photographs, is great. There are no air bubbles, shrinkage, nor any seam lines. There is a pour plug on the bottom. This can be left on since the transmission rests on the hull floor at about the same height as this plug. There is excellent reference of this mount in Spielberger's Panzer IV book (page 14). As far as I can tell the transmission is mounted on the chassis just starboard of the centre line. There are two longitudinal bars that sit on either side, these are well illustrated in the Spielberger book. The small details on the transmission appear accurate, based on photographs of the real thing. A few cables will have to be added. Beware of some reference photographs that show incomplete museum vehicles though.
CMK give a Humbrol paint reference of Midnight Blue (15) but colour photographs show the transmission being a green colour.
There isn't much to this kit, so there isn't much to test fit and review... so I've provided a set of detailed close up photographs instead. I intend to use this part in an upcoming project, it will become part of a scratch-built interior for the new (soon) Dragon Pz. IV E. I'll detail the part with the missing cables and provide details on its mount.
References:
Panzer IV & Its Variants. Walter J. Spielberger. Shiffer, 1993.
Panzer Tracts No.4, Panzerkamfwagon IV. Thomas L. Jentz. Darlington Pub., 1997.
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