Description

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.

Dragon...s outstanding plastic rendition of the Panzer IV Ausf.F1 accurately portrays this short-barreled Panzer. The 1/35 scale kit is based on exhaustive research, and it has been carefully engineered by Dragon...s skilled technicians. The result is an extremely accurate kit that is easy and pleasurable to assemble thanks to its Smart Kit status. This new tank will be rapturously received by military modelers, especially those interested in earlier versions of the Panzer IV. This wonderful new model has captured the essence of an older tank!

Special Features:

Turret
- 3 directional slide-molded turret
- turret front view port can be modeled open/closed
- finely detailed vision block assembly w/clear plastic parts
- clear parts for vision port glass
- side hatches can be assembled open/closed w/interior details
- pistol ports can be shown open/closed
- cupola vision blocks can be assembled open/closed
- commanders hatch w/interior detail
- commanders cupola recreates structural details
- direct sighting post can be made from supplied photo-etched part
- signal port can be modeled open/closed
- slide-molded storage bin w/crisp details can be
- include hollowed out undercut on turret bottom
- incorporates toothed turret ring inside turret

Gun & Mantlet
- 7.5cm Kw.K L/24 gun with delicate details
- complete gun assembly w/full detail
- two types of gun sleeve included as options
- gun barrel is slide-molded
- rifling inside gun barrel
- correct catcher for used ammo shells
- mantlet guard can be removed and gun unloaded as on real vehicle
- coaxial MG w/hollow muzzle
- turret frontal armor and mantlet finely reproduced

Engine Deck & Lower Hull
- two types of engine deck w/different cooling louvers provided as options
- injection-molded fenders made to thinnest possible dimensions
- side fenders w/pattern detail on both top and bottom surfaces
- separate front and rear fenders can be posed in folded-back position
- drivers and radio operators signal ports can be modeled open/closed
- drivers and radio operators hatches with interior detail
- complete MG w/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 w/optional photo-etched parts
- taillights with exquisite detail
- smoke candle rack housing w/fine details

Suspension & Track
- 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 w/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 w/breathtaking detail and multiple delicate parts
- idler adjuster moutings have accurate details
- towing cable heads have hollow ends courtesy of slide molds
- detailed towing eye brackets w/separate parts
- 40cm Magic Track

OVM
- extendable jack w/separate parts
- injection-molded on-vehicle tools with clasps
- injection-molded cleaning rods for Ausf.F1
- bolts and rivets accurately represented

Others
- metal towing cable
- new Cartograf decal