Dragon

1/35 - Jagdpanzer IV L/70(v) Smart Kit

Kit Number: 6397

Reviewed by  Michael Delano, IPMS# 45465

MSRP: $49.95 Website: www.dragonmodelsusa.com Dragon’s latest Jagdpanzer IV variant – this time the L/70(V) - is quite a nice kit for fans of German tank destroyers and Panzer IV variants. The hallmark of the L/70(V) variant was its’ placement of 4 steel rimmed road wheels on the first bogie on either side in order to effectively bear the weight of the heavier 7.5cm PaK 42 L/70 main gun. While I’ve always been fond of Panzer IV’s, this was my first foray into the Panzer IV based tank destroyer – and I can’t wait to do another one! The kit is comprised of around 800 parts distributed among 15 grey styrene sprues, 1 clear styrene sprue, a full set of MagicTrak links, and a fairly limited photo etch sheet composed of 10 parts. I was not disappointed in the quality of the kit, as all the sprues were absent of flash and all parts were free of sink marks – exactly what I have come to expect from Dragon. As always, a nice sheet of Cartograf decals are included with marking options for 7 different units plus a separate winter scheme for one of those: Casemate No. 313 15.Pz.Gren.Div., Western Front 1945. Pz.Jb.Abt., Pv.Div. "Feldherrnhalle", Budapest 1945. Casemate No. 333 13.Pz.Div., Hungary 1945. Casemate No. 333 13.Pz.Div., Hungary 1945 (Winter whitewash). 9.Pz.Div. "Hohenstauffen", Hungary 1945 (with sideskirts). Pz.Jg.Abt. 1, Pz.Div. "LAH", Poteau, Belgium 1944. Casemate No. L01 Stu.Art.Brig. 210, Germany 1945. Casemate 403 7.Pz.Div., Eastern Front 1945. As is my standard plan of attack, I separated the kit into 6 major subassemblies: Fighting compartment roof and details. Upper hull. Lower hull and suspension. Main gun assembly. Road wheels, idlers, and sprockets. Tracks. As is the case with Dragon’s Smart Kit line as a whole, the instructions are quite simple to follow, thought they can get quite busy at some points. Over the course of several recent Dragon builds, I found a number of errors with regards to part numbering and left vs. right ride placement of parts. I was pleasantly surprised with this kit’s instructions, however that there were no such errors. To shape the track runs, all the links were ultimately assembled and then run around the temporarily placed sprockets, idlers, and road wheels. This is done using Tamiya’s thin cement as letting it sit for about 15 minutes or so gives you the freedom to work with an entirely completed track run without it falling apart on you. With the track runs wrapped around the running gear they were left to dry over night so they would maintain their rigidity when they were removed for painting. Once all of my sub assemblies were completed the tracks were set aside and everything else got a once over of Floquil Oxide Red. Once dried, the entire unit was given a base coat of Floquil Depot Buff. For my markings, I decided to go with casemate No. 313 of 15.Pz.Gren.Div. My green and brown camouflage pattern was applied using Floquil Depot Olive and Floquil SO Freight Car Brown. With all of the painting done, everything was given a coat of Future. Once the coat of Future was dry, all of the appropriate decals were applied and set with Microset and Mr. Hobby Mr. Mark Softer. Everything was given another once over with Future and set aside to completely dry. With the main unit set aside, I moved to my track assemblies. They were each initially primed with Mr. Surfacer 1200 followed by Floquil SO Freight Car Brown, and finally a coat of Testors Model Master Gun Metal Non-Buffing Metalizer. The track runs were set aside and I moved my attention back to the main unit. With the last coat of Future dry, I began my weathering using various oil washes and dry brushing. This was capped off by a final coat of Floquil Flat Finish. With the flat finish dry, the process was completed with applications various Mig pigments. The track was done using a generous application of a mixture of burnt sienna, raw sienna, and yellow ochre artist oil in Testors thinner. I like using this for my track runs as it flows well on application and when dry gives what I think to be a good illusion of dirty, grimy track. Overall, this kit was yet another pleasure to work with as is the case with all of the Dragon offerings. Many thanks to both Dragon and IPMS USA for the opportunity to review such a great kit!