Hi all,

I would like to purchase a Jagdpanzer IV L/70 for my next project.

Which would be the better of these two kits: Tamiya 35340 or the Dragon 6397? With ‘better’ I mean most accurate and with the finest detail, but also with the least fit and gap issues?

Normally I would assume the Dragon kit to be the most accurate and detailed of the two, but this kit is from 2009 and the Tamiya kit had completely new tooling in 2014. I have a soft spot for Tamiya (love the box art), but from the photos it is hard to discern if is the same quality as Dragon’s offering. As a plus the Dragon kit has a lot of markings, including a nice Battle of the Bulge option.

Concerning kit extra’s, I will be getting after market parts like metal tracks, metal barrel etc anyway. For the Dragon kit Griffon Model has released two sets and for the Tamiya variant there are some sets from Voyager Model.

What would you recommend me? Thanks in advance!

Tamiya 35340
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/543823-tamiya-35340-jagdpanzer-iv-70-v-lang

Dragon 6397:
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/108456-dragon-6397-jagdpanzer-iv-l-70-v

I have built both. In my option the Dragon kit is better detailed but the Tamiya kit isn't bad. Some simple upgrades to the Tamiya kit really lift it up. The Dragon kit is a slower build obviously.

If I had to choose one, I'd prefer the Dragon kit. But that's just my opinion.

Here is a shot of the Tamiya kit I built early this year. It has Friul tracks and a scratch built canvas roof cover. I also added some minor details with nuts and bolts, mainly to the rear end.

I built the Dragon,very nice,very detailed,I recommend it for sure.

Both nice kits,Tamiya easier build,less detailed.
Dragon more details,but more complicated,although it's definitely not a bear.

Nice camo job! Is that scratch-done, or with decals or commercial mask?

I used the Uschi mask set for the disk.
-Kenneth

There is a comparison of the two kits:
http://www.moxing.net/2015/0118/5201_7.html

I am currently building a Shanghai Dragon version of one made in the mid-90's. Oh my gosh, avoid at all costs!!
-Ziggy

Thank you all of the info, I appreciate that!

@Kenneth Childres: your built of the Tamiya Jagdpanzer looks stunning. Great camo and I really like the look of the canvas roof cover, very realistic paint job. Inspirational!

@Paul: sadly the kit comparison link doesn’t seem to work.

@Chris: thanks for the heads up.

I'd vote for that camo job as well -- very nice!

Works for me, thank you Paul, very interesting! The Dragon kit detail seems indeed much finer.

I have the Tamiya kit and the Dragon one (plus a CyberHobby clone and the Dragon Zimmerited variant) and intend to build all four.

Cheers,

Christophe

The Dragon Jagdpanzer beats the Tamiya one "hands down" it includes schurzen and better detailed magic tracks along with a breech assembly you don`t have to buy as a "seperate" as well as two choices of exhaust types and return rollers, after buying the "add-ons" for the Tamiya kit it ends up being more expensive and less versatile than the Dragon kit !