AFV Modeller - Issue 23 - 6 - D-Lite. PzKpfw IV Ausf. D

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D-Lite Tristar’s Panzer IVD

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With delayed release dates it’s been a while in arriving but has it been worth the wait ? by David Parker

I am old enough to remember the

articulating roadwheels. It works very well

release of the old Tamiya Panzer IV Ausf

the only downside is that it took me

D kit from the mid 1970’s. I finished mine

about 5 hours to assemble the

in panzer grey and I was pretty happy

roadwheels because of all the

with the result blissfully ignorant of all the

components that make up each wheel

dimensional inaccuracies, how things

and bogie. The individual tires are very

have changed!

effective but there is a slight gap

This is Tristar’s third full tank kit and it is

between them and the hub that needs to

very much state of the art. I got a real

be filled but the finished results speak for

sense that it had been designed by

themselves. The tool stowage is also

enthusiasts rather than designers with no

different with individually moulded

understanding of what the modeller

brackets for the bigger tools which

wants. The kit is full of tiny details that

contrary to my expectations work really

you only come across as you work, the

well.

ring clips on the return rollers, the

I was a little disappointed that there are

recessed screw heads, the mudflap

no parts included to allow you model the

clasps. This must be the first Panzer IV

North African versions but I went ahead

kit where I have not had to replace the

and built one anyway. The kit is missing

hinge pin on the front mudflaps because

the minute fins on the ends of the track

they are correct. All hatches, access

tensioning brackets and It would have

panels and visors are moulded

been useful to have included the chains

separately which is a big help if you want

for the smoke dischargers on the etched

to open things up and when you fit the

fret that comes with the kit, but these are

transmission access panel on the glacis

small points. It’s not often I can build a kit

and see that it stands slightly proud it

without being tempted by aftermarket

brings a smile to your face.

accessories but this is a kit you can build

There are some very different solutions in

from the box, as our pictures will show,

this kit - the suspension is perhaps the

this kit really is a D-light.

biggest giving the modeller fully

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Tristar

Panzer IVD

The lower hull is comprised of a floor pan with separate sides and rear. Two substantial cross braces ensure positive alignment and a good fit at the corners. Note the blanking panels for the sponson undersides.

Multipart roadwheels come with individual tires complete with the ‘Continental’ brand and the suspension bogies have been cleverly designed to allow realistic suspension travel.

The Turret comes with a separately moulded roof panel and open hatch and visor mouldings.

Delicate mouldings are supplied on small stub sprues which can be easily snapped off the main sprue. Here bolt detail for the final drive housings is seen on the stub sprue before it is sliced off and fitted.

The completed working suspension because of time restrictions we chose to fit an already assembled set of FRIULMODEL tracks rather than the individual link kit tracks. Tristar have included a partial turret interior with gun breech and turret basket. the gun itself is well handled although the muzzle has some very defined grooves for which I can find no reference. Although I left these during construction I returned and filled them in during the painting stage. I also drilled out the gunners sight aperture.

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The kit does not supply the turret bin so I took one from the GUNZE PanzerIV F1 kit. The shape of the bin has to be altered to fit the cupola bulge on the turret.

Individual visor sections can be positioned in the open or closed positions.

Recessed screw head detail abounds on the upper surfaces of the kit.

Open vision slots on the separately moulded visors add to the finished appearance

The GUNZE Panzer IV F1 kit also supplied the engine deck grills which were cut into the Tristar engine decks

The smoke grenade rack was detailed using ABER etched brass chain.

The kit rear mudflap springs were replaced with new ones made from brass wire.

The kit includes etched brass intake covers and plastic fastening catches. I replaced the catches with ABER parts which have more finesse.

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Tristar

Panzer IVD The aperture in the roof top periscope needs to be drilled out.

Brackets for the Jerry can rack were taken from the old Tamiya Panzer IV D kit.

The kit tools are supplied with moulded clasps and etched brass clasp handles. I chose to replace these with ABER clasps. Individual brackets for the larger tools work well.

Because the vertical hull armour is supplied as individual panels the weld detail must be added - this was done using the ‘Lloyd weld’ technique.

A basecoat of GUNZE COLOR panzer grey was applied.

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The topcoat of HUMBROL sand was applied to allow areas of the grey to show through.

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Areas of wear are added using tones of the panzer grey colour drybrushed on. Areas of heavy wear are emphasised with chipped and scuffed effects

The original sand colour enamel is then airbrushed over the areas of wear to knock them back and unify them before re-applying pure panzer grey to areas of extreme wear.

Turret numbers were hand painted in the original panzer grey with white outlines.

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Tristar

Panzer IVD Pastels were applied to the tops of the track guards, around hatch covers and anywhere where sand and dust would collect.

Gouache was airbrushed over the lower hull and the horizontal upper surfaces to increase the dusty effect.

Afrika Korps IV’s seem to have relocated the gun cleaning rods here when the spare wheels were fitted. The thin sheet metal stowage bin shows signs of wear and tear.

The unpainted grey roadwheel provides a nice contrast with the rest of the vehicle.

Pure Panzer Grey is used to pick out areas of extreme wear around the hatches, the gun muzzle and hull fittings which would be trodden on.

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The two crew figures from the ALPINE range were added as a finishing touch.

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