Pz.Kfw. IV Ausf. H (+J)

Manufacturer: Revell AG.(Kit #03119)

These scans are from sometest shots of the Revell kit. They were sent in by Paolo Lavagnino . Here's what Paolo has to say:

• dimensions are the same of old ESCI and new Hasegawa.
• road wheels are very good and detailed moulded type (Hasegawa and ESCI are the cast type)
• good track-link with interior and exterior realistic details (the ice-slats are present too)
• the other small details are very realistic.

My observations fromviewing the scans:

The overall level ofdetail looks very good; fully up to the standards of Revell'slatest releases. But I think they took a step backwards by onceagain molding the pioneer tools onto the hull. Unlike theHasegawa Pz. IV's, there is a treadplate pattern molded onto thefenders. The louvres for the side engine air intakes are moldedonto the fenders in the open position. I guess that they would betoo thin to mold as separate parts, so the manufacturer has tochoose between molded open or closed. ESCI chose closed, andHasegawa (and this Revell kit) chose open. I would guess that anyforthcoming etched brass sets will likely include replacementparts.

You can see in theright-hand scan that there is a large sprue with the wheels, andtwo smaller sprues. The lower sprue with the schurzen are for theAusf. H kit, and the middle sprue (the smallest one) is for theupcoming Ausf. J. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I don'tthink that the smallest sprue comes with the Ausf. H kit. I wouldassume that the lower sprue with the schurzen would also comewith the Ausf. J kit. If it does, then that kit (when released)will have a wealth of spare parts to be used on other Panzer IVkits. It will come with early and late style idler wheels, earlyand late turret side doors, early and late mufflers (not tomention the first flammentoeter mufflers in 1/72nd scale).