"... Altogether, this is a worthy addition ..."

< full review here >
- Frank De Sisto

DR6291: Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. C
1/35 injection plastic kit with multimedia accessories and decals

This new release from Dragon fills a gap in their range of earlier production Panzer IV and features the Ausf C, which with 134 units made was the first Panzer IV production series to be produced in numbers beyond that of a single abteilung (battalion). This series featured the more powerful 300hp Maybach HL120TRM engine which was to remain the standard for all subsequent Panzer IVs. Like the Ausf B it had a straight front bow plate with a pistol port and visor instead of the hull machine gun. An armoured sleeve was welded over the coaxial MG34 and a rain guard was added above the driver’s visor. Built between October 1938 and August 1939, the Ausf C went on to see combat in the early blitzkrieg battles in Poland, France, the Balkans and Soviet Union, while some vehicles were still in service during the Normandy campaign.

OVERVIEW
Dragon’s Panzer IV Ausf C is their fourth release in their newly tooled Panzer IV range and incorporates the refinements of the “Vorpanzer” and Ausf D releases.

With the refined parts this kit has a desirable mix of positive part alignment, minimal need for cleanup due to the careful positioning of injection marks etc and sophistication. With in excess of 1,000 parts it offers considerable attention to detail and is rewarding for both experienced modellers and those wishing a large project; while optional parts which trade of finesse for ease of assembly or interior detail ensure that it appeal to most modellers. The gatefold instructions have 21 steps of line drawings that are clear and logically structured.

HULL & SUSPENSION
The hull includes the flat bow plate, new glacis plate and new side and rear plates which in depicting the Ausf C’s 14.5mm hull side and rear armour are slightly thinner than those in the Ausf D and Ausf E kits which were 20mm thick. The newly tooled early style side vents come with a choice of single piece injection plastic or multi-part PE parts for those wishing further finesse.

The one-piece lower hull has features such as an enhanced final drive housing, detail on the underside, workable suspension and a choice of fenders. Other features include earlier style hubcaps, brake access hatches on the upper glacis which can be assembled open or closed, drive sprocket with choice of super detailed version with separate bolts on the face or an easier version with bolts cast on, early design frame for the smoke candles and the wider early style rear exhaust muffler.

While not a standard feature, some Ausf C were eventually fitted with Notek lights (spare parts H29 and H30) on the front of the driver side fender as shown in the lower left close-up box of step 19 of the instructions.

Some of the features common with other Dragon Panzer IV kits include:

· The side fenders have anti-skid pattern on both the upper and lower surfaces. One pair of fenders has holes for the tools in their factory positions and the other has no holes for use with PE clasps etc. The fenders are fairly thin for injection plastic and have the lip (fold) on the outer edge. The front and rear fenders are separate pieces and can be modelled folded up.

· Two sets of on-vehicle tools are provided of which one has the clamps molded on for easy of assembly (and works with the fenders with the predrilled holes) and the other set has no clamps and is for use with the PE clamps.

· Both hatches on the engine deck can be modelled open or closed. The fans and coupling under the smaller hatch are included.

The road-wheels have considerable small detail including separate rubber tyres, which allow for painting of the rubber independent of the rims. The 'Continentau' (you can slice of half the “U”) logo is on the sidewalls.

The pre-cut tracks are the early 38cm wide links with open guide horns. The links are "handed" in that separate left and right side tracks are provided with the track pin facing out accordingly. To avoid mix-ups each set has its own plastic bag and is in a different shade of gray. The links, which have faint injection marks, snap together for quick assembly and a whole run can be assembled in minutes ready for you to apply glue.

TURRET
The turret is the early style where the cupola extended into the rear of the turret shell and the Ausf C’s distinctive armoured sleeve over the coaxial MG34. The commander’s cupola has a slide-molded body with over two dozen parts, such as five vision ports with clear vision blocks that were covered by sliding blocks, and a split hatch which can be positioned open or closed. The roof has all the screw heads, and small feature such as a PE sight. The interior features include the turret crew seats, turret floor with anti-skid, clear side plastic vision blocks, breech with catcher for spent cases, toothed turret ring and internal detail for the coaxial MG34.

For the Kwk37 L/24 gun, there is the choice of an injection plastic barrel with muzzle rifling or a turned metal barrel without rifling. A wishbone shaped aerial deflector is provided.

Most hatches and turret ports can be positioned open or closed including the ventilation hatch cover, side hatches (with interior detail) and signal ports.

PHOTO ETCH & MULTIMEDIA
Photo-etch and pre-formed metal are used for much of the fine detail. In many cases where PE parts are included, a simpler plastic only option is available. These parts include:

Three photo etch frets which include optional photo etch parts to build the rear side air intakes, chains for the towing eye brackets, photo etch tool clamps, smoke candle rack and cooling drain cap, fender reflector and the bracing plate on the jack block.
Three jerry cans with PE for the jerry can rack and the cans’ centre welded join. These early style jerry cans have an “X” stamped into their sides.
Assorted preformed metal for hull detail such as tow cable hooks, metal cables for front and rear lights and spare wheel mounts.
240mm twisted wire cable with injection plastic eyes for tow cable.
Two turned metal rounds, which as per early war tank ammunition are brass coloured.

DECALS
A crisply registered medium sized decal sheet by Cartograf containing markings for four specific Ausf Cs from the Blitzkreig invasions of France (1st 5th and 6th Panzer Divisions) and Russia (8th Panzer Division). Three view outlines are included for each vehicle as well as two unmarked Panzers from Normandy in 1944, both of which had a turret stowage bin (spare in Dragon Vorpanzer and optional in Pz 4 Ausf D) and Ausf E drive sprockets that are spares in this kit.

RECOMMENDATION

I was impressed to see that Dragon has rounded out their early war Panzer IV range with the Ausf C, giving modellers considerable choice over which production versions they want to build. As expected this is a well researched an accurate kit, which contains numerous features and offers modelers both good value for money and flexibility in how they build it. Definitely recommended.

- Neville Lord

"...With this kit, DML will have now offered all of the versions of the Panzerkampfwagen IV series of tanks ..."

< full review here >
- Cookie Sewell

"...Another brilliant addition to the range. We'll soon be able to build a complete range of Panzer IV's at this rate..."

< full review here >
- Vinnie