1:35 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf B

Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.B 1:35 (Hobby Boss)

An injection-molded plastic kit of the early German Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.B medium tank in 1:35 scale from Hobby Boss. The model captures the early shape of the Panzer IV with the short 75mm gun and the redesigned superstructure front plate. The box offers a detailed hull, turret and running gear; according to the manufacturer, photo-etched parts and a decal sheet are included. It is an interesting and less common subject from the beginning of the Second World War.

The real subject

The Panzer IV was designed as a roughly twenty-ton medium fire-support tank and in its various versions became the most widespread German tank of the war. The early Ausf.B version was built only in a small number, around forty vehicles, in 1938. It carried a short 75mm gun intended mainly against infantry and fortifications; compared with the first version it received a redesigned superstructure front plate, where the machine gun and its mount were replaced by a vision port and a pistol port. It was a development stage on which the later production shape of the tank was refined.

Building and painting tips

Assemble the running gear with the tracks and paint the interior to the level of detail you want before you close the hull. Glue the parts with thin plastic cement and the photo-etched parts with cyanoacrylate. Apply a primer and airbrush the early German gray (Panzergrau); a wash in the recesses, edge highlighting and dust pigments on the running gear will add the weathering.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of German Second World War armor in 1:35 scale
• Modelers interested in early and less common versions of the Panzer IV
• Builders of dioramas from the beginning of the war

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