1:35 Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F1(F) - DRAGON

Interestingly, the Panzer IV was originally designed as an infantry-support tank, whereas the Panzer III was designated as the vehicle to engage enemy armor. This was to change as WWII developed, and in fact the Pz.Kpfw. IV was the only German tank to remain in production throughout the entirety of the war with 8500 produced between 1937 and 1945. Dragon has recently produced two sensational 1/35 scale kits of the Panzer IV F2 and G, and the next subject to receive the treatment is the F1. Compared to the Ausf. E, modifications incorporated in the F1 were an increase in armor thickness, wider 40cm tracks, new mufflers, revised hatches and visors, plus air-intake cowls to aid cooling of the steering brakes. A total of 462 of this variant were produced between April 1941 and March 1942.

THE KIT:

• 3 directional slide-molded turret
• turret front view port can be modeled open/closed
• finely detailed vision block assembly with clear plastic parts
• clear parts for vision port glass
• side hatches can be assembled open/closed with interior details
• pistol ports can be shown open/closed
• cupola vision blocks can be assembled open/closed
• commander's hatch with interior detail
• commander's cupola recreates structural details
• direct sighting post can be made from supplied part
• signal port can be modeled open/closed
• slide-molded storage bin with crisp details can be
• include hollowed out undercut on turret bottom
• incorporates toothed turret ring inside turret
• 7.5cm Kw.K L/24 gun with delicate details
• complete gun assembly with full detail
• two types of gun sleeve included as options
• gun barrel is slide-molded
• rifling inside gun barrel
• orrect catcher for used ammo shells
• mantlet guard can be removed and gun unloaded as on real vehicle
• coaxial MG with hollow muzzle
• turret frontal armor and mantlet finely reproduced
• two types of engine deck with different cooling louvers provided as options
• injection-molded fenders made to thinnest possible dimensions
• side fenders with pattern detail on both top and bottom surfaces
• separate front and rear fenders can be posed in folded-back position
• driver's and radio operator's signal ports can be modeled open/closed
• driver's and radio operator's hatches with interior detail
• complete MG with workable ball mount
• 2 types of headlight included as options
• air intake covers have options of injection or photo-etched parts
• muffler with multi-parts assembly
• Injection-molded reflectors with optional photo-etched parts
• taillights with exquisite detail
• smoke candle rack housing with fine details
• one piece lower hull made from slide molds
• hull bottom is fully detailed
• fuel filler hatch has open/closed option
• separate armored cover for final drive housing
• final drive housing with details on both sides
• accurately designed transmission and steering brake access hatches can be optionally modeled open/close
• road wheels and suspension exhibit crisp detail
• realistic parting lines on rubber tires
• sprocket wheels with breath-taking detail and multiple delicate parts
• idler adjuster mountings have accurate details
• towing cable heads have hollow ends courtesy of slide molds
• detailed towing eye brackets with separate parts
• 40cm Magic Track
• extendable jack with separate parts
• injection-molded on-vehicle tools with clasps
• injection-molded cleaning rods for Ausf.F1
• bolts and rivets accurately represented
• metal towing cable
• new Cartograf decal