1:72 WWII German Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F/G basic(For DRAGON7278)

Voyager Model 1:72 Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. F/G — basic photo-etched set

An aftermarket set of photo-etched brass in 1:72 scale for the Dragon 7278 plastic kit. It is not a kit: the package holds only add-on metal parts. The manufacturer designates this set as basic, which with them means a narrower scope than the extended sets for the same vehicle. What exactly it holds is determined by the instructions in the package.

The real subject

The Panzerkampfwagen IV was the most widespread German medium tank of the Second World War and stayed in production throughout the conflict. The Ausf. F and Ausf. G versions fall into the period when the vehicle went through a fundamental change of armament: the short gun meant mainly for fire against unarmored targets was replaced by the long 7.5 cm KwK 40, which improved the anti-armor effect considerably. Vehicles of these versions were built from 1941 to 1943 and also differed in the thickness of the frontal armor and in a series of production details.

Building and painting tips

In 1:72 scale photo-etched parts are smaller still than in the more common 1:35, so it pays to prepare the workplace. Good lighting and a magnifier or magnifying glasses are not a luxury but a condition. Cut the parts off on a glass surface and leave them lying in place until you reach for them with tweezers. Dispense cyanoacrylate in a genuinely minute amount: in this scale excess glue floods the engraving faster than you can align a part. Spray the paint heavily thinned and in several passes; one heavy coat can block fine photo-etched detail completely.

Who the set is for

• Modelers in 1:72 scale who want to raise the detail of a kit they already own
• Builders for whom a basic scope is enough instead of a full set
• Anyone interested in German armor in a small scale

The set is an accessory for a plastic kit, which it does not include. The glue, paints and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.