Dragon 1/35 Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F1(F) (Bonus Version) # 6315

The Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.F1(F), commonly known as the Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F1(F), was a German medium tank used during World War II.

It was an early variant of the Panzer IV tank and was produced between 1941 and 1942.

The Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F1(F) was armed with a short-barreled 75mm KwK 37 L/24 gun that was capable of firing high-explosive, armour-piercing, and anti-tank rounds.

It also had a coaxial machine gun and a hull-mounted machine gun for defence against infantry.

The tank was powered by a Maybach HL120TRM engine, which gave it a top speed of around 38 km/h.

It had a crew of five and a maximum armour thickness of 50mm.

The Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F1(F) saw action on the Eastern and Western Fronts during World War II.

It was used in various roles, including as a support tank and a reconnaissance vehicle.

Despite its effectiveness in the early years of the war, the Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F1(F) became outdated as the war progressed and Allied tanks became more advanced.

It was eventually replaced by newer models of the Panzer IV tank.

Nevertheless, the Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F1(F) played an important role in the early years of World War II, and its short-barreled gun was effective against early Soviet tanks.

Its design influenced later models of the Panzer IV tank and other German armoured vehicles.

Interestingly, the Panzer IV was originally designed as an infantry-support tank, whereas the Panzer III was designated as the vehicle to engage enemy armour.

This was to change as WWII developed and in fact the Pz.Kpfw.IV was the only German tank to remain in production throughout the entirety of the war with 8500 produced between 1937 and 1945.

Dragon has recently produced two sensational 1/35 scale kits of the Panzer IV F2 and G, and the next subject to receive the treatment is the F1.

Compared to the Ausf.E, modifications incorporated in the F1 were an increase in armour thickness, wider 40cm tracks, new mufflers, revised hatches and visors, plus air-intake cowls to aid in the cooling of the steering brakes.

A total of 462 of this variant were produced between April 1941 and March 1942.

Dragon’s outstanding plastic rendition of the Panzer IV Ausf.F1 accurately portrays this short-barreled Panzer.

The 1/35 scale kit is based on exhaustive research, and it has been carefully engineered by Dragon’s skilled technicians.

The result is an extremely accurate kit that is easy and pleasurable to assemble thanks to its Smart Kit status.

This new tank will be rapturously received by military modellers, especially those interested in earlier versions of the Panzer IV.

This wonderful new model has captured the essence of an older tank!

Special Features:

Turret
- 3 directional slide-moulded turret
- turret front viewport can be modelled as open/closed
- finely detailed vision block assembly with clear plastic parts
- clear parts for vision port glass
- side hatches can be assembled open/closed with interior details
- pistol ports can be shown open/closed
- cupola vision blocks can be assembled open/closed
- commander's hatch w/interior detail
- commander's cupola recreates structural details
- the direct sighting post can be made from supplied part
- signal port can be modelled as open/closed
- slide-moulded storage bin w/crisp details can be
- include hollowed-out undercut on turret bottom
- incorporates toothed turret ring inside the turret

Gun & Mantlet
- 7.5cm Kw.K L/24 gun with delicate details
- complete gun assembly with full detail
- two types of gun sleeves included as options
- the gun barrel is slide-moulded
- rifling inside the gun barrel
- correct catcher for used ammo shells
- mantlet guard can be removed and the gun unloaded as on a real vehicle
- coaxial MG w/hollow muzzle
- turret frontal armour and mantlet finely reproduced

Engine Deck & Lower Hull
- two types of engine decks with different cooling louvres provided as options
- injection-moulded fenders made to the thinnest possible dimensions
- side fenders w/pattern detail on both top and bottom surfaces
- separate front and rear fenders can be posed in a folded-back position
- driver's and radio operator's signal ports can be modelled as open/closed
- driver's and radio operator's hatches with interior detail
- complete MG with a workable ball mount
- 2 types of headlights included as options
- air intake covers have options for injection or photo-etched parts
- muffler with multi-parts assembly
- Injection-molded reflectors w/optional photo-etched parts
- taillights with exquisite detail
- smoke candle rack housing with fine details

Suspension & Track
- one-piece lower hull made from slide moulds
- hull bottom is fully detailed
- fuel filler hatch has an open/closed option
- separate armoured cover for final drive housing
- final drive housing with details on both sides
- accurately designed transmission and steering brake access hatches can be optionally modelled as open/close
- road wheels and suspension exhibit crisp detail
- realistic parting lines on rubber tires
- sprocket wheels with breathtaking detail and multiple delicate parts
- idler adjuster mountings have accurate details
- towing cable heads have hollow ends courtesy of slide moulds
- detailed towing eye brackets with separate parts
- 40cm Magic Track

OVM
- extendable jack with separate parts
- injection-moulded on-vehicle tools with clasps
- injection-moulded cleaning rods for Ausf.F1
- bolts and rivets accurately represented

Others
- metal towing cable
- new Cartograf decal