Reviews : DML Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H

This Dragon production is a beautiful, enjoyable kit that results in a stunning, tiny tank. Though not without its (minor) flaws, the kit is a joy to build. The good points include: * Amazing detail in such a small scale. Turret and side armor skirts are quite thin and scale-like * Crisp moldings look great with recessed panel and hatch lines * The wheel hubs are molded separately from the tire portions, making accurate painting a breeze - especially helpful in this scale. I wish more manufacturers of all scales would do this! * Some beautiful slide molding, including the upper and lower hull, the main gun barrel, and a particularly clever muffler * Nice fit just about everywhere (minor exception noted below) * Paint and decals for 5 variants (I chose 2nd Div. #802 stationed at Normandy in 1944) * Gorgeous end result that looks wonderful on the shelf * One-piece tracks go together with regular cement, and have fine detail * There are a couple tiny flaws in the kit, including: * Minor fit problem between the upper and lower hull, resulitng in a small gap at the rear. Hardly noticeable and easily blocked if you use some sheet styrene on the inside * Some flash here and there, but all of it was easy to clean up * Turret armor skirt has minor fit issue - tricky to get lined up just right, but patience yields a good result * Tracks are a little loose on the running gear. However, the armor skirts hide most of this problem * A few other notes to be aware of: * There are numerous small and delicate parts in this kit - some very tiny * One or two minor errors in the directions (Step 3 says to fill 3 holes, but they don’t exist) * As mentioned, the turret armor skirts are tricky to get aligned correctly and can be a bit fiddly (along with a couple other areas) * Box art differs slightly from the kit - it shows spare tracks mounted on the vehicle, but they are not part of the kit * I epoxied a few lead weights into the bottom of the hull so it would sit properly on its tracks, and not be blown away in a slight breeze - recommended for any vehicle in this scale * The finished product, from rear fender to the end of the gun barrel, is only 3.75 inches long, and even if inappropriate for a tank, unbearably cute. I spent about 10 hours over 3 days to build and paint this little guy, and enjoyed every minute. Highly recommended. I hope Dragon keeps producing more in this series.