Panzer IV Ausf.D
Kit Comparison
Dragon Kit #6265 - Tristar Kit #35023
Part 2: Upper Hull
1:35th Scale
Kit Comparison by Terry Ashley

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The details are very much a mixed bag on the upper hull more so than the lower hull and it is also quite possible there are manufacturing differences between actual vehicles accounting for some differences and the plans also show different dimensions with some details further adding to the confusion while others are actual errors and would require attention to build a truly accurate model.

There are also some features different on both kit but photos are available showing the different details do appear on some vehicles which makes both kits right on that detail, if that makes sense?

All dimensions were checked against 1:35 plans in Panzer Tracks No.4 Panzer IV, the new Model Art Pz.Kpfw.IV Photo Book, Ground Power May 2003, Achtung Panzer No.3 Panzer IV and Koku Fan “World Tank Series” Panzer IV as well as details compared with the many excellent illustrations in the Achtung Panzer book and available period and museum reference photos plus other references listed below.

Main Hull parts:
Both kits have the main upper hull with separate superstructure sides to incorporate the required details and there are also separate engine access doors and crew hatches.
The DR hull has the full fenders separate with fine tread plate and other details on both sides for very good detail definition with two sets of fenders, one with locating holes for the tools/fittings and the other without any holes to use with the etched tool and equipment clips/brackets included.
The TRI kit has the forward three quarters of the fenders included with the upper hull and just the rear one third as separate parts. The fenders feature subtle dot pattern tread plate on the upper side only and while this tread plate was not as common as the DR pattern it was used.

The DR hull has the bolted turret ring included with the hull moulding while the TRI kit provides this as separate part to use if the turret is removed for any reason.

The other minor difference is the TRI hull includes the section of the glacis directly in front of the angled driver’s plate with the upper hull moulding while the DR kit has the full shaped glacis as a separate part. This is really of no consequence as there is a join line on the panels at this point in any case, just a case of each kit designed differently.

The TRI kit includes a second new upper hull with more refined detials such as the flush screws and smaller details which while marked for the Tauch version could easily be used with the standard Ausf.D for improved detail definition.

Glacis/Crew Hatches:
Both kits have separate brake access hatches and central transmission inspection hatch as separate parts with the transmission inspection hatch being identical in size on both kits with the TRI hatch being moved forward and is now in the correct postion but the hatch still sits slightly proud of the glacis where it should be flush. This is easy to remedy by thinning the undersides of the hatch edges till it sits flush. The DR hatch is also in the correct position on the glacis plate.

The brake access hatches are fractionally different sizes on each kit with the available plans not consistent on the hatch sizes so we can’t really say which is correct but the difference is so minor as not to be a problem. They both also feature the raised weld seam around the outer edges of the hatches but the DR hatches have key holes incorrectly depicted as round with the TRI key holes having the correct rectangular profile.

The crew hatch openings in the upper hull have the raised bullet splash guard around them but this is slightly too thick on the DR hull and also the contours are not correct with both these features correct on the TRI parts.

The crew hatches themselves are again very slightly different in size with the plans not helping determining which is correct being inconsistent in this area and it is it interesting that the hull openings show a greater difference in size than the hatches themselves. Both hatches have the raised weld seam around the outsides but again the DR hatches have round key holes instead of the correct rectangular as on the TRI hatches.

Other minor issues with the hatches are the signal port is about 0.5mm too far forward on the TRI hatches with the port being separate on the DR hatches allowing these to be shown open if required. The small fitting on top of the port is shown in the plans as being central as on the DR ports but some reference images show this to be slightly off set to the rear as with the TRI port and so the jury is out on this point.
Another minor issue is with the raised attachments on the DR hatch hinge brackets as all photos I’ve seen show these flush screwed as with the TRI hinges or with the brackets welded.
This follows thought to the inside where the DR hatch has the inner bolts and the TRI hatch clear of any fitting in keeping with the flush screws depicted and again there is no clear verdict on this detail at this point.
But at the end of the day we are talking very minor issues apart from the key hole shapes and may not be worth bothering with.

Superstructure/Driver's front panel:
Both kits have the “bent” contours of the front plate correct with the TRI plate having the machine gun mounting and pistol port moulded with the front plate while these parts are separate on the DR kit with both kits having separate driver’s vision ports and upper rain shield. Both kits allow you to depict the driver’s vision ports in the open or closed position as you wish.

The DR machine gun mounting has the inner opening too square in profile meaning the top section of the mounting is too thin while the TRI mounting has the better profiled rectangular machine gun opening and thicker top section of the mounting that matches photos more closely.

The TRI kit only has the outer MG34 barrel section while the DR kit has the full machine gun with full interior mounting and gun details as well as internal driver’s vision block details in clear plastic to add more detail here.

The TRI barrel correctly depicts the perforated MG34 jacket with small fittings attached and also has the muzzle hollowed out slightly while the DR barrel has the armoured sleeve which is incorrect for the Ausf.D and was only incorporated with the Ausf.E. It is possible this feature was retro fitted but if we are taking “standard” Ausf.D features then this is incorrect but easy to remedy by replacing with any available MG34 barrel.

The pistol port profile on the TRI kit has the correct small flat section at the tip while it is pointed on the DR port, but the DR port also sits slightly too low as it comes but being a separate part you simply open up the location hole slightly and fit correctly.

The DR kit also includes optional up-armour panels for depicting late Ausf.Ds if required.

Superstructure side panels:
Moving to the superstructure side panels each kit has these at the exact same size with separate vision ports on each side. The DR kit again provides additional up-armour panels to use as required and clear internal parts for the vision blocks and brackets.

The left side panels on both kits feature separate wooden jack block with etched brackets and separate brake cooling air outlet fan covers with open bottom as they should be as well as separate small lifting eyes at the front.

The only minor issue here is the visor slits on the DR visors which are located centrally while they should be offset as with the TRI visors, also the contoures of the DR visor appear too sharp and should be smoother when compared to photos. The TRI kit has been updated with inner brackets and clear vision ports that allow you to show the side vision prots open if you wish with the DR vison ports also having inner brackets and clear vision ports that can alos be shown open.

The TRI side panels feature a bullet splash guard in front of the visors which is not on the DR panels but I have seen photos of Ausf.Ds with and without this feature so each kit can be deemed correct only you will have to refer to references if you are building a specific vehicle to see if it had these guards.

The air intake on the right rear of the superstructure sides is a different size on each kit but as the available plans don’t show this feature it’s left to photo references to determine which is correct and these appear to show the DR intake more to size.

Upper Rear Hull:
On the upper rear hull the TRI hinges on the right engine door have been corrected and are now correctly orientated as are the DR hatch hinges.

The small round cover on the left side is slightly to big and in the wrong position on the DR hull while in the correct position on the TRI hull, but to further confuse matters the retailing bolts should be raised as on the DR part and not indented as with the TRI part.

The engine bay doors are slightly different widths on each kit and again the plans are contradictory on this and as the difference is so small it’s not worth bothering with.
A couple of other issues with the doors are the grab handle on the larger DR door is too small with the TRI handle being the correct size and profile and the also the coolant filler cover is slightly too long and located in the wrong place on the smaller DR door. As this is a separate part it is an easy matter to cut of one locating lug and position in the right place level with the TRI filler cover which is the correct size and location.

The DR kit again offers additional details with the tropical engine bay doors that feature etched details on the insides for good details as well as providing the full fan assembly which is fitted to the inside of the large right hand door.
This is a prominent feature seen whenever the engine doors are open and it’s a nice inclusion although an engine would have been even better as there is just a huge void inside the engine bay if you do have the doors open.

The side mounted air inlet/outlet louvers are in three parts each on tboth kits although they are depicted much finer on the TRI parts, this also means there is quite a bit of cleanup required on the TRI louvers as there are huge mould seams and gates to be removed, an unavoidable consequence of the fine mouldings.

The DR louvers have nice contours included on the louvers but noticeably thicker mouldings with both assembling in a similar manner and also fitting inside the rear hull in similar fashion without any real problems encountered on either kit.

The intake covers are provided in plastic and etched parts with the DR kit but just as etched parts in the TRI kit with better details on the DR parts. The four small cover clips on the upper hull are moulded with the TRI hull sides but included as separate etched clips on the DR hull.

Despite the extra interior detail included in the Dragon kit and the options such as add-on armour and tropical engine deck doors there are more substantial detail issues such as the key holes shapes, shape of the hull MG opening and hull MG barrel and contours around the crew hull hatch splash guards that requires a little more attention to fix than the issues with the Tristar kit except for the transposed hinges on the larger engine bay door.

Part 1: Lower Hull and Running Gear

Part 2: Upper Hull (this page)

Part 3: Turret

Part 4: Gun Housing Dimensions

Kit parts
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Kit parts


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References:

	Panzer Tracts No.4 Panzerkampfwagen IV Typical Panzer Tracts book with excellent technical descriptions and detailed coverage of the Panzer IV.
	Achtung Panzer No.3 Panzer IV Excellent detail coverage of the Panzer IV with the usual detail photos and drawings of all versions of the Panzer IV.
	Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.D Up-Gunned AFV Super Detail Photo Book Vol.1 Published by Model Art Co.Ltd. 56 pages, full colour, soft cover
	Ground Power Magazine #108 - 5/2003 Published by GALILEO Publishing PzKpfw IV Ausf.A-D (pages 5-75)
	Koku Fan World Tank Series Panzerkampfwagen IV Japanese text but 1:35 plans and many wartime Pz.IV photos
	Panzerkampfwagen IV Medium Tank 1936-45 Osprey New Vanguard 28 ISBN: 1855328437
	Panzer IV & Its Variants Walter J. Spielberger Schiffer Publishing ISBN: 0887405150
	PzKpfw IV Ausf.A to J Tanks in Detail 1 Ian Allan Publishing.
	PzKpfw IV Squadron Signal Publications Special #6081 The usual in action fare with photos and drawings of the Pz.IV versions. More photo coverage than the in action series
	PzKpfw IV in action #2012 Squadron Signal Publications The usual in action fare with photos and drawings of the Pz.IV versions

Page created April 27, 2006
Updated October 9, 2006 (Blue text)