A review of the new Pz. IV Ausf D DAK Smart Kit from Dragon. This adds another version of the excellent Pz. IV kits from Dragon for modelers to enjoy.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

I'm probably not the only one puzzled by Dragon's latest releases. One step forward, two steps back it seems. I was thinking about adding this to my growing stash of IVs but nixed the idea when I realized the kit comes with DS tracks. I just finished a Stug III and was not happy with them. They're barely adequate and were a few links too long to boot.

Kimmo

I'm not happy with the ds tracks either, they just don't look like cast metal tracks. well its good for after market products but they are too darn expensive .

FYI on Missing-Lynx the word is you get F style wider road wheels with this kit not the early narrow D style ( Axis thread Aug 22) . It wouldn't matter to me so much , but to some of you rivet counters ...just lettin you know

So are saying sir that the kit is not accurate as a Panzer IV D tropicalized ? What about dragon 6330 there are extra wheels in the kit can they be cannibalized and used on this kit. I' m still bummed out by the DS track . Well AFV club has tracks that will fit this vehicle , maybe that's a way to go .

Very nice review!

I've also heard some noise about the wrong road wheels...

I'm sorry to say - while the subject entices, the issues raised will serve to keep me away.

Dragon has no excuse for not providing the correct wheel sets, and they certainly have plenty of great tool sets in the inventory, so no pass there, either.

The DS increasing flash issue is a real deal-breaker - it should be whether you in general like MagicTracks (as do I) or actually prefer a DS approach, as many others do. What NOBODY wants and nobody should tolerate is D sliding into crappy DS tracks for a modern kit price. IF the decision is to issue new kits with DS, OK - some of us may skip them on account of this. But don't abuse those who will buy kits with DS; I think a top-drawer model company should be careful to avoid crappy - if those DS molds are getting tired - make a new set so that at least these things will be passingly crisp-looking!

Bob

It would be nice if dragon would offer a choice the DS or magic tracks which ever you prefer . That would be awesome .

Bummer to hear about this being a mixed bag...I might still buy it since I have one of the first E kits that Dragon brought out and was later found to be a big flop but using the running gear ,tracks and the tools could probably make this into a really great kit ..I'm sure I'm not the only one who has an E kit that they will never build...am I?

LOL! Not bad, now we can take two kits to make one good one ..

Rick

are you talking of the dak IV e 6264 ? the tools are the wrong size

At least you get the rubber tires and the PE clasps for the tools... but are these the same tools as in that kit? are they too big? More questions...hmmmm.

Rick

the tools are too small

. How many dragon Panzer IV do you have in your stash ? If you have a lot go through the unused parts you might have just what you need. For tools the Dicker Max 6357 has what you need and it's not used . You can fix the dimensional problems of the 6264 it just will need a lot of slicing and dicing. The hardest thing to find is the track support rollers. Here's a suggestion , Tristar made a panzer IV wheel set the early one was 35014 there's a later version not sure of the kit number. They pop up on e bay every so often, that's one way to fix the wheel size problem and you won't destroy a kit.

Do you really want to know???? lol A,B.C., D Tauchpanzer,D(TriStar) ,Regular D, E Vorpanzer, 2 E (Bad Dragon kit . F1 Vorpanzer, F2(G), G, G with Shutzen, Early H , Late H , Early J .. I could build PanzerIVs for the 5 years..lol

Same thing goes for Tigers and panthers !!

Rick

mmm but this model came with the same set of wheels seen in the Final production J of Dragon. I think this review is bad because you never check this really big error of dragon.

I know this of the wheels.. because I found the error and exposed in missing-lynx. I was who discover this.

Chumpo, you dont can repair this error, with wheels of another set. The solution is easy if you need build one 4d, never bought this kit. You have in the market the old 4D and is a really great kit or the tristar model.

next time in your next review, please almost check better the info, and compare with another..

LOL .... have pretty much the same kits and add to that all the kits I have on the Pzr IV chasis, thats a hell of a lot of wheels to clean.
When I read this review (nice one Rick), I realise that the tools are not an issue for me ... I can clean off the blob and have plenty of spares. The wheels are an issue ... a lazy mistake and considering the high prices today, not one Im willing to oversee. So add cost of Tristar AM set. No way will I accept DS tracks so add cost of AM tracks. Now what will this kit cost me .... kit/wheelsTtracks? Nope wont be buying it. Maybe in 4 years time when I find it cheap somewhere ... very cheap.

Dragon dont you realise you are releasing kits into a saturated market, that are being bought by customers who dont really need another pzr IV but will buy if the kit meets the standard. This standard is re-calibrating itself all the time as prices go up. This one doesnt make the cut! Your play.

Not the smartest move on Dragons part,I must say.. Emmanuel it was you who brought this to my attention...Thanks !
I guess Dragon thought they would just slap another IV together and make a buck or two...Too bad I mean they got all the parts sitting there in the warehouse..Slow down a bit and think before screwing up! I'm sure if they had asked Tom Cockle to check this before releasing it ,we would have had a great kit..DS tracks....eeehhhh on panzer III's and IV's I'm not impressed but then again knowing that the real nuts like us won't buy this kit because of the mistakes ..they might as well have DS tracks for the beginner who would be scared away from the Magic Tracks ...LOL

Rick

Hear, hear, Frank G.!

[quote]Dragon dont you realise you are releasing kits into a saturated market, that are being bought by customers who dont really need another pzr IV but will buy if the kit meets the standard. This standard is re-calibrating itself all the time as prices go up. This one doesnt make the cut! Your play. [quote]

My sentiments exactly. And even though this market is rather replete with Pz. IV kits and many have over-full stashes - we are often gluttons and will continue buying new things as they come along - but they need to hold up to the current standards. Choice is GOOD!

What's really galling about this is that many of us KNOW that Dragon has done MUCH better, so such relatively smallish-seeming deficiencies really resound - whereas nobody would raise a brow at other, less-consistent and hugely well-known for great products companies doing this sort of thing. We DO more expect the D to keep up standards D did so much to create!

Bob

"thebear" if you read the post on missing-lynx you can found your opinion in this model. The amazing of this is beause tom always knows about the differences betwen the early models and late models but never change anything. And this is not the only kit with some errors.. Tom knows about alls but he never do something for corrected. I think Tom only build the models for tests and your opinion never can be considerer if needs some changes. Another examples is the wrong dimensions in new RSO-01 (The old italeri is perfect in the cab) and the last panzer 4 j final production and jagdpanzer 4 (A) last production, dont came with the sets of return roller simplificated how the only model exposed in saumur museum. Tom is only a builder.

and why not ? tristar released a wheel set for the panzer IV that covered the up to the IV E, this release by dragon is a IV D sure its DAK but what was the diff. between that and the regular IV D in Europe concerning the road wheels . please elaborate.

Emanuel... Tom is more than a builder ..He does build the kit and makes "suggestions "to Dragon.. It is then up to Dragon whether or not they want to change things.. He can not be responsible if they don't listen.

Rick

but he is the admin of the forum where appears all data for the "suggestions". I think is only a builder because your suggestions in only for build. Not research. btw one picture says all about the new wheels http://www.track-link.com/forums/attachments/site_blogs/7ac47ac09e8683c874b51d19da22e870_47857.jpg