1:72 PzKpfw IV Ausf E Tank

The Panzer IV Ausf. E in the small 1:72 scale

The Ukrainian brand UM has worked up one of the first production forms of the medium tank Panzer IV. The molds match the habits of a small scale: the parts are slim, the parting lines inconspicuous, and the engraving on the fenders and on the superstructure stays sharp. The set is therefore rewarding for anyone who builds equipment in whole groups and does not want to sacrifice detail.

What the Ausf. E version was like

The Ausf. E followed the D series in 1940. It brought stronger frontal armor on the hull, a new commander's cupola moved forward and a modified covering of the driver's visor. The main weapon stayed a short gun in 75 mm caliber with a barrel 24 calibers long, that is a weapon intended rather for destroying firing positions and light targets than for duels with armored equipment. Vehicles of this series took part in the fighting in France, accompanied units in North Africa and served in the first months of the campaign in the east as well.

A procedure that has proved itself

Assemble the running gear dry and check the alignment of the rollers before you glue the sides of the hull on. Apply the base coat thinly, otherwise the fine engraving will be lost. Bring a gray or yellow base layer to life with a lighter shade on the horizontal surfaces and suggest the shadows with a dark wash into the hollows. Keep the pigments mainly to the running gear; on the upper surfaces a hint of dust is enough.

Who the set will please

• those interested in German equipment of the first years of the war
• builders of more extensive collections in a small scale
• more advanced beginners who can manage small parts
• makers of dioramas with a French or an African subject

The set arrives unassembled and with no coat of paint; glue, paints and accessories are not in it.