Tamiya 35209 Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H Early Production Version 1/35 Scale Model Kit

Description

Tamiya ventured into the modeling business in 1948, with a scale wooden ship model kit. Since then, Tamiya has been striving to offer merchandise that can truly be called ‘First in Quality Around the World.’ Now Tamiya is offering more than 300 different products, both in the fields of precision static models and high performance radio control vehicles. These products are not only sold in Japan but also exported in vast quantities to the United States, Europe, South East Asia, and to many other parts of the world. The standard of excellence achieved by Tamiya is regarded as among the very finest in the world of model hobbies. The Panzerkampfwagen VI was Germany’s most important tank during WW2. It remained in mass production throughout the war, and with some 8,000 units produced, it represented more than one-third of Germany’s entire wartime tank production. As the backbone of the German Panzer Divisions, it was often called their ‘workhorse’. The Pz.Kpfw. IV underwent constant improvement throughout its long career, and Ausf. H, or the ‘H’ version, is generally regarded as the definitive model, with respect to both performance and produced number. 3,774 units outnumbered any other variant. The Ausf. H is roughly classified into the early, mid and late production versions, and the early H model had a close relationship with the preceding late production ‘G’ model. Both versions used identical suspension system and wheels. Weapons consisted of a powerful, long barreled KwK 40 L/48 tank gun plus two 7.92mm MG34 machine guns. Thin steel plates known as ‘Schurzen’ (skirts) were introduced on the Ausf. G, and succeeded the Ausf. H. The Maybach HL120TRM engine also remained the same, but an improved SSG-77 transmission was coupled on the Ausf.H. However, the extra weight of some 1.5 tons, due to added armor and increased ammunition, lowered its top speed to 38 km/h, which proved 2 km/h slower than the G. The Ausf.H was mass produced from April 1943 to July 1944. This finely detailed plastic model kit requires assembly and painting.