Tristar Models
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The Panzerkampfwagen IV came about at the request for a new design after the disappointment of the Neubau Fahrzeug. This vehicles was known as the ‘verbesserten Neubau Fahrzeug” until renamed Begleitwagen (escort tank) or B.W. The fourth model of the Escort Tank was named 4. Serie/B.W. and a contract for 200 was awarded to Krupp-Grusonwerk in July 1938. A further 48 were ordered for the SS and numbered 5. Serie/B.W. although they were the same as the 4. Serie. In any case, all manufactured Ausführung D were handed over to the Army. For the planned invasion of England, several vehicles were tested with submersible equipment. While there were successes, they were not used against England and instead found their way to the Eastern Front. Several of the Panzerkampfwagen Ausf. D were converted to these Tauchpanzers and this kit represents this variant. The Panzer IV Ausf D had been on many wish lists, from those hoping Dragon (then DML) would complete the line of Panzer IVs and those that dreamed that Tamiya would redo their Ausf D as they had done with their Ausf H. Well, it is Tristar that released the latest Ausf. D kit first. Dragon soon followed with their rendition, followed by a Tauchpanzer version. This kit from Tristar is therefore the fourth kit of the Ausf D in this millennium. The box art is beautifully done and an acknowledgement is made to Thomas L. Jentz for his assistance. Sprue/Kit Photographs with Highlights of Changes to Original Kit Overall photographs of the sprues are available by clicking on the small images at the top of this page. Reading from left to right they are:
These are fairly large images, around 900 pixels wide each, so they will load slowly for dial-up users. If any further more detailed images of specific part are required then post a request in this review's forum topic. The Kit Enclosed in the sturdy box are 926 plastic parts of which many suspension pieces are not used. These can be saved to upgrade other kits since they include later versions of bogie mounts, spring caps, and etcetera. Aside from the decals, and a length of twisted wire for a tow cable, there are 64 photo-etched parts. These parts are well thought out and comprise of the wood block mount, clips for the tools, a belt for the wood block, air vent covers, and a painting stencil. The plastic parts are exquisitely detailed and show a tremendous amount of thought in their execution. Yoshikatsu Tomioka, of Achtung Panzer books and ModelKasten fame, designed the kit and many MK touches are evident. These include the method of attaching the 162 bolts, nuts, half butterfly nuts, lifting hooks and other tiny details. These are attached to a small handle which is used to hold the tiny part as one glues it to the kit then cuts the handle off. This has worked quite well for me with the ModelKasten products and I believe it can also work well here. Slide molding is used for the tow cable ends, the machine gun muzzles, main gun recuperator housing and coaxial machine gun armor. This time, there wasn't any flash to be seen. The highlight of this kit is that it can be built as a straight Panzerkampfwagen Ausf. D, or a Tauchpanzer in combat mode, as well as before and after over pressure inflates the covers. In the instructions, these are respectively referred to as Ausf D (4), Transmission (1), Prepare to Submersing (2), and Ready to Submersing (3). There are several options in the kit. Three different types of bogie mount covers are given and the road wheels are embossed with manufacturer and size markings. Looking at several archive photos, I think it will be difficult to figure out which one is correct for a particular vehicle. The bogie mounts do not have a cast texture or casting marks. The instructions are in fifteen steps and cover several options possible with the kit. Step one covers the wheels and suspensions. No mention is made that one must remove the half moon shaped protrusion from the back of the bogie mounts (s1-24 and s1-25). Not doing so will make fitting them to the multi piece hull impossible. Also the drive differential cover, with armor, is added. Again, the bolts are separate must be added individually. No casting texture or markings are seen on these kit parts. Step 2 covers the hull which is made of flat plates, similar to Eastern European kits, with two hull stiffeners. Step 3 is where the rear plate has the idler mounts added and to these, the correct eight sided bolts. The front of the hull gets some small brackets. The inner sides of the lower hull also get bolts (E7) which should be of the eight sided variety as well. It will be difficult to tell if they are not correct so I have not bothered to check how many sides are on those bolts. Step 4 adds the drive differential covers, road wheels and bogies to the hull. Step 5 begins with the upper hull. Here, we see the first mention of the four different ways of completing this model. Two complete upper hulls are provided. The second hull, on Sprue I, has a different tread pattern on it than the original hull, A1, with its dot pattern. While optimized for the Tauchpanzer, the new hull, I1, can be used for a straight Ausf. D as long as one remembers to use the corresponding rear mudguards added in Step 8. An interesting feature is part C50 which is to be added if building the tank without a turret. Does this foretell that a bridge layer is in the works? Possibly, an interior set may be offered soon as was done with the Panzer I Ausf A kits. The front mud flaps even have separate springs to attach. The side visors can now be positioned open to the empty hull thanks to newly added parts A-14 and the clear episcopes (GP2-2). Step 6 assembles the driver's visor which is a multi piece affair and can be positioned open or closed even though it is not mentioned in the instructions. Note that there are two front plates; one is specific to the Tauchpanzer. Whichever you choose, the machine gun port which is left over can be used to correct Dragon's kit. Step 7 has one add the glacis and front towing points. Depending on the version being built, add a locking clamp or the stud or none at all. The next Step 8, has one add the engine deck door and rear vertical plate. The hinges have been corrected on both hulls as well as the doors. Again pay close attention to the version being built as there are different parts for the air intake seals and covers. Tracks are covered in Step 9. Disregard the upside down rear tow hooks. Here again, we see the ModelKasten influence. Although the tracks are not fully workable, they do have hollow teeth and are the correct 36cm width. Be careful as they are handed. The track pins should face the outside of the vehicle. These tracks also suffer from a little flash. See photo 9. If this bothers the modeler, both ModelKasten and Friulmodel offer workable tracks. The rear mud flaps and exhausts are covered in Step 10. Again, one way valves are added for the Tauchpanzer. Note that the inner sides of the mud flaps have had rivet detailing added. Step 11 has one begin turret assembly starting with the main armament. A full breech, including casing catcher with newly added texture, is included. The option of using the antenna deflector is offered. Tauchpanzer modelers must choose one front plate, B-30 for combat mode or straight Ausf D, or part I-3 for choices 2 and 4. For the choices with the cover on, note that part I-7 should be clear as it is the cover over the gun sight. Also, part I-6 should have some of the seams seen in photo 15, check the excellent box art by Yuji Asano as a guide. Step 12 has the modeler complete the turret, which includes a turret ring (with new four bar tread plate) and seats for three crew members. The cupola armor can be shown open or closed. While the front and side visors are separate parts, no provision is made to show them open. The turret side doors, and the cupola hatches, can be shown open or shut. The Tauchpanzer choices (1, 2, and 3) have to add the inflatable rubber turret seals at this point. The last steps, 13, 14 and 15.cover the vehicle tools. This is also when almost all the photo-etched parts get used. The vehicle jack is a multi-piece affair but can not be shown extended. The tools are well done and separate clips, from photo-etch, get added to each. The headlights now get clear lenses. Decals/Marking Options Decals marking options are shown for five Panzer Grey vehicles. However, there are two sheets included of which one has two unmentioned markings from the first release. The decals are printed by Cartograf so are of the same quality as the latest Dragon offerings. The first choice is for a straight Ausf D of the 2nd Panzer Division at Semois, in 1940. The skull is missing its eyes. Bison Decals has a sheet with a better rendition. Marking 2 is for a Tauchpanzer of 9./Pz.Rgt. 18 in Russia during 1941. The third also belongs to Pz.Rgt. 18 and has a fish on a shield. The fourth choice, with a fish on the sides, is for 3./Pz.Rgt. 18 in Germany during 1940. The last is from an unidentified unit. The first unmentioned marking option is from the 7th Panzer Division, 25th Panzer Regiment, in France, 1940. Two sets of decals are given should the modeler want to use the two-piece turret numbers over the visors. The white air recognition marking on the engine deck must be painted on. The second option is for a 10th Panzer Division, Panzer Regiment 7, in France. This unit had the bison on the side and a PE stencil is provided for the modeler to paint it on. Note that the tanks from the French campaign are correct for the overall gray but before that, they should have the brown/gray scheme. My experience with the decals by Cartograf is that they are thin and respond well to setting solutions. Not being sure about the inks, I have only used the MicroScale system on them although the SuperScale solutions should also work. The decals are in register and the colors appear accurate without a glossy finish. Recommendation & Acknowledgements This is a beautiful kit which has been improved quite a bit from its first release. It is close to perfection for multi media since everything is so well thought out. Looking at the kit, I do not find much for the aftermarket crowd to add. Perhaps I can wish for provisions to open the turret visors, replacement mudguards should I want to show battle damage, and an interior. It is highly recommended. At first I thought the asking price was high but then one must consider the ‘aftermarket grade' parts which are included. My thanks go to MRC for providing the sample kit. Tristar is imported into the US by Model Rectifier. References Tom Jentz' Panzer Tracts book on the Panzer IV is recommended to detail the kit. Since I have this tome, I pulled it out and placed the parts over the plans. Not surprisingly, they matched perfectly. I used the following books to evaluate this kit:
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