German Flakpanzer IV, Möbelwagen (Tamiya)

This is the Tamiya 35 101-2500 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Flakpanzer IV, Möbelwagen’.

German Flakpanzer IV, Möbelwagen

History

The Möbelwagen was essentially a standard Panzer IV hull and chassis with hinged armoured flaps 10mm thick. The Möbelwagen entered service in the Autumn of 1943 and were used by the AA platoons of tank regiments until the end of 1944.
Source: Tamiya website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. D (Dragon)

This is the Dragon 6265 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. D’.

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. D

History

Well over 200 Panzer IV Ausf. D medium support tanks were produced between October 1939 and May 1941. These armored vehicles, armed with 7.5cm KwK37 L/24 guns, formed the backbone for early German military successes in France, the Balkans, North Africa and Russia.
Source: Dragon website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

German JagdPanzer IV, Ausf. F (Italeri)

This is the Italeri 6488 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German JagdPanzer IV, Ausf. F’.

German JagdPanzer IV, Ausf. F

History

The JagdPanzer Mark IV self-propelled tank-killer was built on the chassis of the Pz.Kpw.IV, one of the most efficient and widely used German tanks of the Second World War.

Characterised by a low profile, the Mark IVs were produced in their hundreds, steadily being improved and fitted with better weaponry such as the long-barrelled 7.5 cm gun that made it a match for any Allied tank.

Source: Italeri website

Manufacturer

German JagdPanzer IV L/48 (Dragon)

This is the Dragon 9145 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German JagdPanzer IV L/48’.

German JagdPanzer IV

History

The Jagdpanzer IV, Sd.Kfz.162, was a tank destroyer based on the Panzer IV chassis built in three main variants.

As one of the casemate-style turretless Jagdpanzer (tank destroyer, literally “hunting tank”) designs, it was developed against the wishes of Heinz Guderian, the inspector general of the Panzertruppen, as a replacement for the Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III). Guderian objected against the needless, in his eyes, diversion of resources from Panzer IV tank production, as the Stug III and Sturmgeschütz IV were still more than adequate for their role.

Officially, only the L/48-armed vehicle was named Jagdpanzer IV. The L/70-armed vehicle was named Panzer IV/70.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

Where I got it

German Sturmpanzer IV (Early version) (Tristar)

This is the Tristar 35038 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Sturmpanzer IV – Early version’.

German Sturmpanzer IV

History

The Sturmpanzer (also known as Sturmpanzer 43 or Sd.Kfz.166) was a German armoured infantry support gun based on the Panzer IV chassis used in the Second World War. It was used at the Battles of Kursk, Anzio, Normandy, and helped to put down the Warsaw Uprising.

It was known by the nickname Brummbär (German: “Grouch”) by Allied intelligence, a name which was not used by the Germans.

Just over 300 vehicles were built and they were assigned to four independent battalions.

Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

Where I got it

  • Hobbymesse 2013

German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. F1/F2 (Early version) (Italeri)

This is the Italeri 6514 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. F1/F2, early version’.

German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. F1/F2, early version

History

The Panzer IV was the most extensively used German tank during the Second World War. It represented the “backbone” of the German Panzer Divisions on all operational theaters.The production of Panzer IV Ausf. F, started in 1941, marked a decisive boost in the evolution of the tank. It featured an improved armor on the turret and hull.

The first version of Panzer IV F, featuring the traditional 7.5 cm. KwK 37 short-barreled cannon, were not able to fight successfully against the Soviet T-34 and KV-1 heavy armoured tank.The adoption of the anti-tank design KwK 40 long-barreled cannon, on the Ausf. F2 version, has decisively increased the Panzer IV effectiveness against enemy tanks.

Thanks to its new high velocity and high penetration gun, the Panzer IV became, once again, “lethal” on the battlefields.

Source: Italeri website

Manufacturer

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. E – Vorpanzer (Dragon)

This is the Dragon 6301 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. E – Vorpanzer’.

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. E - Vorpanzer

History

Vorpanzer which means “spaced armour” in German was fitted to some of the Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.E.

It differed from Zusatzpanzerung because it was spaced from the underlying armour, whereas Zusatzpanzerung was fitted directly onto the armour underneath.Vorpanzer was designed to defeat 105mm HEAT projectiles, and to strip off the piercing caps of APC and APCBC projectiles which would then shatter on the FH armour behind.

It also caused any HE filler in such projectiles to detonate prematurely.

Source: Dragon Models website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

  • Hobbymesse 2013

German Panzerjäger-Triebwagen 51 (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 01516 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerjäger-Triebwagen 51’.

German Panzerjäger-Triebwagen 51

History

It was suggested in mid-1943 to make the Triebwagen 51, but by the time design and construction was completed in 1944-45, it was too late to be of any significant use in WWII. It was equipped with an armored railcar 7.5cm KwK L/48 guns (in Panzer IV/H), which provided strong enough firepower to be used for anti-tank purposes.

There were only three of this railcar made (No. 51-53) and all were found at the factory by Allied forces, but it is questionable whether any ever went into service.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. F Fahrgestell (Trumpeter)

This is the Trumpeter 00363 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. F Fahrgestell’.

German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. F Fahrgestell

History

A total of 13 Munitionsschlepper were produced on Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. D, E, and F chassis which had been acquired from the normal Pz.Kpfw.IV production run as reported in May 1941.

There were two Munitionsschlepper for each of the six Gerät 040 Nr. I to VI and one for the experimental Gerät Nr. VII.

Source: Trumpeter website

Manufacturer

German Flakpanzer IV, Wirbelwind (Academy)

This is the Academy 13236 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Flakpanzer IV, Wirbelwind’.

German Flakpanzer IV, Wirbelwind

History

The Flakpanzer IV “Wirbelwind” (Whirlwind in English) was a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun based on the Panzer IV tank. It was developed in 1944 as a successor to the earlier self-propelled anti-aircraft gun Möbelwagen.
Source: Wikipedia

Manufacturer

Where I got it

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. D (Tamiya)

This is the Tamiya 35 096-1800 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. D’.

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. D

History

The later models of the Pz.Kpfw.IV series have become the best known and the most fequently modelled variants. These were the tanks that took part in all the big tank battles of World War II and formed the backbone of Hitlers Panzer divisions.
Source: Tamiya website

Manufacturer

Where I got it

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. J (Tamiya)

This is the Tamiya 35 181-3400 kit in 1/35 scale, of the ‘German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. J’.

German Panzerkampfwagen IV, Ausf. J

History

The Panzerkampfwagen IV was Germany’s most important tank during the second world war. It remained in mass production throughout the conflict, with more than 8,000 units being produced. This represented more than one-third of Germany’s total wartime tank production. It was the backbone of the Panzer Divisions and it was often referred to as their “Workhorse” The Pz.Kpfw.IV underwent constant improvement throughout its long career.

As an example, its original short-barreled 7.5cm main gun was replaced with the long barreled 7.5cm KwK40 L/43 gun beginning with the Ausf. F2 version. The further improved 7.5cm KwK40 L/48 was added to the Ausf. H onwards.In 1944 however, with the introduction of the new Panther and Tiger tanks, plus other tactical considerations, the Pz.Kpfw.IV began to serve mainly in a defensive capacity. A need was required to simplify construction and increase productivity, plus conserve scarce raw materials.

The last of the series, the Ausf. J thus had a much simpler construction, and an extra fuel tank replaced the auxiliary engine/generator. This greatly increased its range from 210km to 320km and was welcomed by the German troops, as they were having difficult with their supply, but it was attained at the expense of electric power for the turret traversing motor. The thin steel plates known as Schurzen (skirts), first introduced with the Ausf. G, were sometimes replaced with heavy gauge wire mesh, or not even used at all.

Source: Tamiya website

Manufacturer

Where I got it