Panzer IV/70 (V)
The Matchbox 1:76 scale Panzer IV/70 (V), armed with the effective 7.5 cm Pak 42 L.70 gun, which was also mounted in the Pz.Kpfw. V “Panther”. This previously owned model appears to have left the tank factory in great haste, only superficially painted, towards the end of the war. There is even residual sprue just behind the muzzle, which needs to be removed prior to repainting. Cheap, ready-made models from flea markets are well suited for simulation games, even at the risk of their being carelessly assembled, poorly painted, or partially damaged. Broken parts can be replaced, and unsightly areas of the superstructure may be hidden under equipment or camouflage netting.
Contents
- Panzer IV/70 (V), Sd.Kfz. 162
- Decals
- 116th Panzer Division, Army Group H, Ruhr, March 1945
- 20th Panzer Division, Eastern Front 1944, Dresden, May 1945
- Soldier with Carbine 98k, standing, firing
- Diorama Base: Terrain with Urban Debris
Evaluation
Excellent choice of subject, the Panzer IV/70 (V) is unique in this scale.
Easy to build, only 80 Parts. The soft rubber tracks are of the unique Matchbox “Hook & Eye” design, where the T-shaped tab on one end of the track perfectly matches the slotted cutout at the other end. The resulting connection is seamless, and the tracks are easily slipped over the idler, return roller, and road wheels.
The painting guide features a three- and two-colour camouflage pattern, but the Panzer IV/70 (V) looks particularly interesting in the “Ambush Pattern” introduced in August 1944.
The Panzer IV/70 (V) is an interesting model for wargamers who would like to try out the late war tank destroyer, built from August 1944 to March 1945, in a simulation game of their own.