In Box Review of Italeri 1/35th Scale
German Panzer IV Ausf. F1, F2, G
Sd. Kfz. 161/1
Kit no. 217
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1975
Out of production
I paid $6.00 for this kit 52 years ago.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1975
Out of production
I paid $6.00 for this kit 52 years ago.
HISTORY:
The Panzerkampfwagen IV (Pz.Kpfw. IV), commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161.
The Panzer IV was the most numerous German tank and the second-most numerous German fully tracked armored fighting vehicle of the Second World War; 8,553 Panzer IVs of all versions were built during World War II, only exceeded by the StuG III assault gun with 10,086 vehicles. Its chassis was also used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun, the Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer, the Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun.
The Panzer IV saw service in all combat theaters involving Germany and was the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war. It was originally designed for infantry support, while the similar Panzer III was to fight armored fighting vehicles.
However, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, the Panzer IV had more development potential, with a larger turret ring to mount more powerful guns, so the two switched roles. It received various upgrades and design modifications, intended to counter new threats, extending its service life. Generally, these involved increasing the armor protection or upgrading the weapons, although during the last months of the war, with Germany's pressing need for rapid replacement of losses, design changes also included simplifications to speed up the manufacturing process.
The Panzer IV was partially succeeded by the Panther medium tank, which was introduced to counter the Soviet T-34, although it continued to be a significant component of German armored formations to the end of the war. It was the most widely exported tank in German service, with around 300 sold to Finland, Romania, Spain and Bulgaria.
After the war, Syria procured Panzer IVs from France and Czechoslovakia, which saw combat in the 1967 Six-Day War.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1939–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1954–1967 (Syria)
Used by: Nazi Germany, Romania, Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Italy, Finland, Spain, Croatia, Syria
Wars: World War II, 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Six-Day War
Designer: Krupp
Designed: 1936
Manufacturer: Krupp, Vomag, Nibelungenwerk
Unit cost: 103,462 Reichsmarks and 115,962 Reichsmarks With 7,5 cm KwK 40 (L/43)
Produced: 1936–1945
No. built: 8,553 of all tank variants
Variants: StuG IV, Jagdpanzer IV,
Brummbär/Sturmpanzer IV, Nashorn, Wirbelwind, Ostwind
Specifications: (Pz. IV Ausf. H, 1943)
Mass: 25.0 tonnes (27.6 short tons; 24.6 long tons)
Length: 5.92 metres (19 ft 5 in), 7.02 metres (23 ft 0 in) gun forward
Width: 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in)
Height: 2.68 m (8 ft 10 in)
Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator/bow machine-gunner)
Armor: Hull front: 80 mm (3.1 in), Hull side (upper and lower): 30 mm (1.2 in), Hull rear (upper and lower): 20 mm (0.79 in), Hull roof and floor: 10 mm (0.39 in), Schürzen: 5 mm (0.20 in) to 8 mm (0.31 in), Turret front: 50 mm (2.0 in), Turret side and rear: 30 mm (1.2 in), Turret roof: 10 mm (0.39 in)
Main armament,7.5 cm (2.95 in) KwK 40 L/48 main gun (87 rounds)
Secondary armament: 2 × 7.92 mm MG34 machine guns (3,150 rounds)
Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM 12-cylinder petrol engine of 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
Power/weight: 12 PS (8.8 kW) / tonne
Transmission: (Synchromesh ZF SSG 77) 6 forward and 1 reverse ratios
Suspension: Leaf spring
Fuel capacity: 470–670 l (120–180 US gal)
Operational range: 200–320 km (120–200 mi)
Maximum speed: 38 to 42 km/h (24 to 26 mph) maximum, 25 km/h (16 mph) max sustained road speed 16 km/h (9.9 mph) off road
The Panzerkampfwagen IV (Pz.Kpfw. IV), commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a German medium tank developed in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz. 161.
The Panzer IV was the most numerous German tank and the second-most numerous German fully tracked armored fighting vehicle of the Second World War; 8,553 Panzer IVs of all versions were built during World War II, only exceeded by the StuG III assault gun with 10,086 vehicles. Its chassis was also used as the base for many other fighting vehicles, including the Sturmgeschütz IV assault gun, the Jagdpanzer IV tank destroyer, the Wirbelwind self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, and the Brummbär self-propelled gun.
The Panzer IV saw service in all combat theaters involving Germany and was the only German tank to remain in continuous production throughout the war. It was originally designed for infantry support, while the similar Panzer III was to fight armored fighting vehicles.
However, as the Germans faced the formidable T-34, the Panzer IV had more development potential, with a larger turret ring to mount more powerful guns, so the two switched roles. It received various upgrades and design modifications, intended to counter new threats, extending its service life. Generally, these involved increasing the armor protection or upgrading the weapons, although during the last months of the war, with Germany's pressing need for rapid replacement of losses, design changes also included simplifications to speed up the manufacturing process.
The Panzer IV was partially succeeded by the Panther medium tank, which was introduced to counter the Soviet T-34, although it continued to be a significant component of German armored formations to the end of the war. It was the most widely exported tank in German service, with around 300 sold to Finland, Romania, Spain and Bulgaria.
After the war, Syria procured Panzer IVs from France and Czechoslovakia, which saw combat in the 1967 Six-Day War.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Medium tank
Place of origin: Nazi Germany
In service: 1939–1945 (Nazi Germany), 1954–1967 (Syria)
Used by: Nazi Germany, Romania, Turkey, Hungary, Bulgaria, Italy, Finland, Spain, Croatia, Syria
Wars: World War II, 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Six-Day War
Designer: Krupp
Designed: 1936
Manufacturer: Krupp, Vomag, Nibelungenwerk
Unit cost: 103,462 Reichsmarks and 115,962 Reichsmarks With 7,5 cm KwK 40 (L/43)
Produced: 1936–1945
No. built: 8,553 of all tank variants
Variants: StuG IV, Jagdpanzer IV,
Brummbär/Sturmpanzer IV, Nashorn, Wirbelwind, Ostwind
Specifications: (Pz. IV Ausf. H, 1943)
Mass: 25.0 tonnes (27.6 short tons; 24.6 long tons)
Length: 5.92 metres (19 ft 5 in), 7.02 metres (23 ft 0 in) gun forward
Width: 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in)
Height: 2.68 m (8 ft 10 in)
Crew: 5 (commander, gunner, loader, driver, radio operator/bow machine-gunner)
Armor: Hull front: 80 mm (3.1 in), Hull side (upper and lower): 30 mm (1.2 in), Hull rear (upper and lower): 20 mm (0.79 in), Hull roof and floor: 10 mm (0.39 in), Schürzen: 5 mm (0.20 in) to 8 mm (0.31 in), Turret front: 50 mm (2.0 in), Turret side and rear: 30 mm (1.2 in), Turret roof: 10 mm (0.39 in)
Main armament,7.5 cm (2.95 in) KwK 40 L/48 main gun (87 rounds)
Secondary armament: 2 × 7.92 mm MG34 machine guns (3,150 rounds)
Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM 12-cylinder petrol engine of 300 PS (296 hp, 220 kW)
Power/weight: 12 PS (8.8 kW) / tonne
Transmission: (Synchromesh ZF SSG 77) 6 forward and 1 reverse ratios
Suspension: Leaf spring
Fuel capacity: 470–670 l (120–180 US gal)
Operational range: 200–320 km (120–200 mi)
Maximum speed: 38 to 42 km/h (24 to 26 mph) maximum, 25 km/h (16 mph) max sustained road speed 16 km/h (9.9 mph) off road
THE KIT
Italeri (spelled Italaerei on this kit, later shortened) is an old prolific model company based in Italy.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a Panzer IV Ausf. G posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts,
The tank is overall earth-yellow, with a black number 43 outlined in white on the sides of the turret. However, this number is done as 413 on the kits decal sheet.
It has a small German cross on the sides of the hull and a white Afrika Korps palm tree and swastika insignia on the right side of its front
There are 3 figures shown. They all wear light khaki uniforms.
One man is standing on the tank's fender and is reaching into the side hatch of the turret, He wears a short sleeved shirt, cloth side cap, shorts, high laced up brown boots.
The two other men are standing in front of the tank,
One is an officer, wearing a billed cloth field cap and high laced brown boots. He is holding a cigarette in his left hand and is talking to the 3rd man, who appears to be an infantryman and not a tank crewman.
This infantryman wears a khaki steel helmet, low shoes, is armed with a MP42 in his right hand and has the ammo pouches for it on his belt. He is pointing with his left arm outstretched.
Around the tank illustration there are line drawings of the Ausf. F1 short gun barrel and the Ausf. F-2 long barrel. The Ausf. G mounts a different long barrel.
One side panel of the box begins with a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the Panzer IV.
Italeri (spelled Italaerei on this kit, later shortened) is an old prolific model company based in Italy.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a Panzer IV Ausf. G posed against an all-white background. Similar to how Tamiya brand also does the majority of their box arts,
The tank is overall earth-yellow, with a black number 43 outlined in white on the sides of the turret. However, this number is done as 413 on the kits decal sheet.
It has a small German cross on the sides of the hull and a white Afrika Korps palm tree and swastika insignia on the right side of its front
There are 3 figures shown. They all wear light khaki uniforms.
One man is standing on the tank's fender and is reaching into the side hatch of the turret, He wears a short sleeved shirt, cloth side cap, shorts, high laced up brown boots.
The two other men are standing in front of the tank,
One is an officer, wearing a billed cloth field cap and high laced brown boots. He is holding a cigarette in his left hand and is talking to the 3rd man, who appears to be an infantryman and not a tank crewman.
This infantryman wears a khaki steel helmet, low shoes, is armed with a MP42 in his right hand and has the ammo pouches for it on his belt. He is pointing with his left arm outstretched.
Around the tank illustration there are line drawings of the Ausf. F1 short gun barrel and the Ausf. F-2 long barrel. The Ausf. G mounts a different long barrel.
One side panel of the box begins with a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the Panzer IV.
The other side panel of the box shows 4 color box arts of other AFV kits that Italeri manufactured: A Marder III German Self-propelled gun, a M 13/40 Italian tank, a Hetzer German tank destroyer and a M40-75/18 Italian self-propelled gun.
No kit numbers are given for these 4 kits. I assume they are all to 1/35th Scale.
No kit numbers are given for these 4 kits. I assume they are all to 1/35th Scale.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 3 tan parts trees, a tree of steel colored vinyl tracks and the decal sheet.
Nothing is in a cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 6 ¾” x 13” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up, with the turret no. 413, over the history of the Panzer IV in Italian and English.
Page has some basic assembly instructions in 4 languages, including English, over the parts-trees illustrations. Two black and white photos show the track and running gear of an actual Panzer IV.
Page 3 through to page 5 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
Page 6 and 7 are painting and marking guides.
Spread across the 2 pages are three 3-views.
The first one is a Panzer IV Ausf. F-1 with short gun barrel. It is overall sand yellow, with a German cross on the sides of the hull and black number 413 on the sides of its turret. It has a white tactical marking on its front and rear.
The second Panzer IV is an Ausf. F-2. It is in a camouflage pattern of a base of earth yellow, with green and red-brown spots.
It has a black number 7 followed by an ace of spades symbol on its turret sides. Alternately, this number can be black 444 outlined in white. German crosses on sides and rear and white tactical markings.
The third Panzer IV is an Ausf. G, it is in the same camouflage as the second one above. It can carry black no. 4o8 or just black 8 outlined in white on its turret sides and has a German cross on its sides and rear.
The right side of page 7 gives the painting instructions for the 3 figures. At the bottom of the page is a black and white photo of the model made up as a G version with the black 8 turret no.
At the top of page 8 there are illustrations of the markings with names of the units that used them.
No. 413 was with the 15th Panzer Div. North Africa.
No. 7 with the ace of spades was with the 10th Panzer Div. North Africa.
No. 444 was with the 21st Panzer Div. North Africa.
No. 4o8 was with the 21st Panzer Div. North Africa.
No. 8 atop 23 was with the 10th Panzer Div. North Africa.
The bottom of page 8 gives the history of the Panzer IV in German and French.
Trees are not alphabetized. The do have part number tabs next to the parts however. This means extra careful study to get the correct parts for each assembly. Bad move Italeri !
The 1st tan parts tree holds: final transfer covers, drive sprockets, idler wheels, main gun, fenders, rear hull wall etc. (117 parts)
This kit holds 3 tan parts trees, a tree of steel colored vinyl tracks and the decal sheet.
Nothing is in a cello bag.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 6 ¾” x 13” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up, with the turret no. 413, over the history of the Panzer IV in Italian and English.
Page has some basic assembly instructions in 4 languages, including English, over the parts-trees illustrations. Two black and white photos show the track and running gear of an actual Panzer IV.
Page 3 through to page 5 gives a grand total of 9 assembly steps.
Page 6 and 7 are painting and marking guides.
Spread across the 2 pages are three 3-views.
The first one is a Panzer IV Ausf. F-1 with short gun barrel. It is overall sand yellow, with a German cross on the sides of the hull and black number 413 on the sides of its turret. It has a white tactical marking on its front and rear.
The second Panzer IV is an Ausf. F-2. It is in a camouflage pattern of a base of earth yellow, with green and red-brown spots.
It has a black number 7 followed by an ace of spades symbol on its turret sides. Alternately, this number can be black 444 outlined in white. German crosses on sides and rear and white tactical markings.
The third Panzer IV is an Ausf. G, it is in the same camouflage as the second one above. It can carry black no. 4o8 or just black 8 outlined in white on its turret sides and has a German cross on its sides and rear.
The right side of page 7 gives the painting instructions for the 3 figures. At the bottom of the page is a black and white photo of the model made up as a G version with the black 8 turret no.
At the top of page 8 there are illustrations of the markings with names of the units that used them.
No. 413 was with the 15th Panzer Div. North Africa.
No. 7 with the ace of spades was with the 10th Panzer Div. North Africa.
No. 444 was with the 21st Panzer Div. North Africa.
No. 4o8 was with the 21st Panzer Div. North Africa.
No. 8 atop 23 was with the 10th Panzer Div. North Africa.
The bottom of page 8 gives the history of the Panzer IV in German and French.
Trees are not alphabetized. The do have part number tabs next to the parts however. This means extra careful study to get the correct parts for each assembly. Bad move Italeri !
The 1st tan parts tree holds: final transfer covers, drive sprockets, idler wheels, main gun, fenders, rear hull wall etc. (117 parts)
The 2nd tan parts tree holds: road wheels, figures, return rollers, bogies, gun barrels etc. (152 parts)
I lost one of the 3 figures over the years from this kit. No problem though, as I have many DML brand kits of German figures.
The 3rd tan parts tree holds; the turret, fenders, hull tub and roof etc. (15 parts)
The 3rd tan parts tree holds; the turret, fenders, hull tub and roof etc. (15 parts)
The steel colored vinyl track tree holds two long runs and 4 small spare runs.
The decals complete the kit contents.
I have a set of my company's 75mm ammo to add to the kit.
There are no clear parts in the kit.
Detailing is good.
Recommended.
Detailing is good.
Recommended.