_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Mario Matijasic
REVIEW
Tristar Panzer IV/70 (A)
c5flies
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: October 21, 2007
KitMaker: 3,684 posts
Armorama: 2,938 posts
Posted: Monday, August 01, 2011 - 01:45 PM UTC
Rick Cooper provides an in-box review of the upcoming Panzer IV/70 (A) Sd. Kfz 162/1 from Tristar.

Link to Item



If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
WARDUKWNZ
Visit this Community
Auckland, New Zealand
Joined: June 01, 2011
KitMaker: 1,716 posts
Armorama: 1,638 posts
Posted: Monday, August 01, 2011 - 02:02 PM UTC
Oh this is excellent news been wanting one of these Panzer IV/L70's for ages,,even built one from a old model mag which had plans in it ( looks pretty good to)
This will be added to my Panzer IV collection ..oh happy days hehe
retiredyank
Visit this Community
Arkansas, United States
Joined: June 29, 2009
KitMaker: 11,610 posts
Armorama: 7,843 posts
Posted: Monday, August 01, 2011 - 02:09 PM UTC
Looks like a very nice kit. A bit out of my pricerange for anything that isn't resin. Think I'll stick to modern armor as much as I hate to pass this one over.
Eloranta
Visit this Community
Hame, Finland
Joined: November 30, 2008
KitMaker: 286 posts
Armorama: 195 posts
Posted: Monday, August 01, 2011 - 08:53 PM UTC
Good review. And nice timing too since just hour ago got mine delivered This sure does have that ugly tank coolnes factor going, and if my memory serves me well there should be few photos of this tank in Panzerwrecks books. For the mesh schurzen I'm with Rick, but there is always option to leave them out.

PS. PMMS review here: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/tristar/tri35048.html
Plasticbattle
#003
Visit this Community
Donegal, Ireland
Joined: May 14, 2002
KitMaker: 9,763 posts
Armorama: 7,444 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 - 01:21 AM UTC

Quoted Text

A bit out of my pricerange for anything that isn't resin.

What difference does it make, on what plastic medium/process is used? Should it not be the quality of the end model that dictates the price? The days of paying more for a kit "just because it is resin" are long gone ... injected kits (when available) from Dragon, Tristar, Bronco, Tasca, AFV Club, etc are every bit as good .. if not better ... than the resin version previously available. Personally, Id pay more for an injected kit compared to a resin kit, as I hate sawing of moulding blocks and the dust involved in resin kits!

Thanks for the review Rick. Nice to see the details of the parts. As much as I love Tristar, Im a bit dissapointed with rubber tyres and the shurtzen material. Im supposing there is no injected tyres included in the kit? Neither of the above are Tristar quality in my opinion.
exer
Visit this Community
Dublin, Ireland
Joined: November 27, 2004
KitMaker: 6,048 posts
Armorama: 4,619 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 - 06:25 AM UTC
Thanks for the review Rick. The "screen door schurzen" seems like a cheap and easy way out for Tristar and like Frank I would have expected better.

Did all of this variant have mesh schurtzen or can plate schurtzen be substituted?
wbill76
Visit this Community
Texas, United States
Joined: May 02, 2006
KitMaker: 5,425 posts
Armorama: 4,659 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 - 07:10 AM UTC
I'll add my echo of disappointment to the vinyl-tire parts and the screen mesh choice for the Thoma schurzen. On the one hand I can understand the challenge that the Thoma schurzen would present from an in-scale material limitation but the vinyl tires doesn't make any sense to me at all for the road wheels. If the intent was for that to be an innovative/differentiator vs. the competition, it doesn't rate that way for me at least. The combination of the two would likely keep me from getting this kit until I can see one built up before making a final judgment.
bill_c
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
MODEL SHIPWRIGHTS
Visit this Community
New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 - 10:23 AM UTC
Good, informative review, Rick. I'm surprised, too, they went for vinyl road wheels, since Tristar as a very marvelous set of AM styrene wheels for the Pz. IV that are styrene all the way. The result is very detailed rims with "Continental" on them and everything.

Strange.
Eloranta
Visit this Community
Hame, Finland
Joined: November 30, 2008
KitMaker: 286 posts
Armorama: 195 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 - 04:22 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Good, informative review, Rick. I'm surprised, too, they went for vinyl road wheels, since Tristar as a very marvelous set of AM styrene wheels for the Pz. IV that are styrene all the way. The result is very detailed rims with "Continental" on them and everything.

Strange.


Actually those vinyl parts have equally good detail compared to hard plastic, Semperit logo and some numbering. So level of detail isn't really biggest issue here, it's top notch. On the other hand I can see how I'm going to curse those bits in to lowest of hells when starting to clean that seam in the middle... Maybe going to source those wheels from elsewhere.
bizzychicken
Visit this Community
Wales, United Kingdom
Joined: September 06, 2008
KitMaker: 967 posts
Armorama: 842 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 04, 2011 - 05:29 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text




On the other hand I can see how I'm going to curse those bits in to lowest of hells when starting to clean that seam in the middle... Maybe going to source those wheels from elsewhere.
The seam on the middle of the tyre is supposed to be there. I like the look of this kit too. The Thoma skirt does look cheap compaired to Tristars norm, not sure if these can be replaced with normal shurzen. Aber does Side Mesh Screens for Pnz IV Ausf J (35A66) which look good. I'm not sure if they are the same but should fit
Plasticbattle
#003
Visit this Community
Donegal, Ireland
Joined: May 14, 2002
KitMaker: 9,763 posts
Armorama: 7,444 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 04, 2011 - 05:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Actually those vinyl parts have equally good detail compared to hard plastic, Semperit logo and some numbering. So level of detail isn't really biggest issue here, it's top notch. On the other hand I can see how I'm going to curse those bits in to lowest of hells when starting to clean that seam in the middle... Maybe going to source those wheels from elsewhere.

My biggest fear with using vinyl parts is they split when the model is complete ... although its never happened to me, Id cry if spent so much time on a model and the tyres split a few months after finishing. Im not gonna take any chances either ... If I dont use alternative tyres or wheels, this wont be either bought or built by me!!
clovis899
#155
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: May 05, 2002
KitMaker: 774 posts
Armorama: 605 posts
Posted: Thursday, August 04, 2011 - 11:44 AM UTC
Thank you everyone for your kind words regarding the review. I appreciate the effort to post your views. I agree with Tomi, the detail on the vinyl tires is excellent. I haven't seen any other Semperit tires on the market, maybe someone can enlighten me if they are available. It is a nice change from the Continental brand. And I agree that the issue will be the clean up of the two or three attachment points. I will try to get one of the bogie units built up and a few photos posted in the next couple of days.

Cheers,
Rick Cooper
Eloranta
Visit this Community
Hame, Finland
Joined: November 30, 2008
KitMaker: 286 posts
Armorama: 195 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 06, 2011 - 07:40 PM UTC
I must admit that I'm greatly tempted to start this build, but then again I have so many ongoing projects and nothing finished that maybe not... But this is definitely great OOB kit, well maybe some Friul tracks but nothing more.
 _GOTOTOP