1:35 Panzer IV tank crew and infantry, 4 figures

Crew and infantry for the Panzer IV - four figures 1:35 (Border Model)

According to the name of the product, the set contains four figures in 1:35 scale: members of a German tank crew and accompanying infantry. It is important to say at the outset that this is not a kit of the tank. It is an accessory intended to bring an already built model or a diorama to life - the vehicle itself is not in the package. Figures in this scale are roughly five centimeters tall and their main contribution is one of scale: only a figure by the hull shows the viewer how big the vehicle actually is.

The real subject

The Pz.Kpfw. IV was the most widespread German medium tank of the Second World War and was built in many production versions, which differed in the thickness of the armor, the length of the gun and the running gear. The crew consisted of five men: the commander, the gunner, the loader, the driver and the radio operator. According to its name the set combines crew members with infantry, which is a common scene when a column halts or orders are passed on. The poses of the individual figures and the equipment they carry are shown by the illustration on the packaging.

Building and painting tips

First check what the parts are cast from. Glue injection-molded plastic with liquid cement for polystyrene; if these are resin castings, wash the release agent off them first, cut the casting blocks away and use cyanoacrylate glue. Always dry-fit the figures directly on the model - a figure that does not sit on the hull or does not touch the hatch spoils the whole scene. Paint them separately from the vehicle and join them only at the end. Build the flesh up in layers, tone the uniform with oil paints and at the end add dust in the shade of the terrain, so that the figures and the vehicle hold together.

Who the set is for

• Builders of dioramas with German equipment in 1:35 scale
• Modelers who want to give a finished tank scale and a story
• Figure painters looking for figures to fit into a vehicle
• Collectors who miss the human element on a display model

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.