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News
Border: Panzer IV F1 & G
varanusk
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ARMORAMA
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Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain / España
Joined: July 04, 2013
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Posted: Thursday, April 16, 2020 - 06:46 PM UTC


Border is preparing two variants of the Panzer IV on a single box, the Ausf. F1 and Ausf. G

Read the Full News Story

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
russamotto
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Utah, United States
Joined: December 14, 2007
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Posted: Friday, April 17, 2020 - 04:29 AM UTC
F2 and G. I'd like to get this as it looks very nice.
RLlockie
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United Kingdom
Joined: September 06, 2013
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Posted: Friday, April 17, 2020 - 05:02 AM UTC
I don’t see any mention of an F1 there, just F2 and G (which were the same thing - the F2 was renamed the G). Presumably it contains parts to build an F2/G from various points in the production run.

I think the 7.5cm was an L/43 rather than an L/48. Might have been fitted with the longer weapon later in the production run though, as was the StuG III F/8.
varanusk
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Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain / España
Joined: July 04, 2013
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Posted: Friday, April 17, 2020 - 11:42 AM UTC
My fault, should have written F2 instead of F1
Taeuss
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Manitoba, Canada
Joined: January 03, 2016
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Posted: Saturday, April 18, 2020 - 04:35 AM UTC
Not a whole lot of meaningful difference between an F2 and a G. Hell, the only real difference that anyone might notice on an F versus the longer barrelled-versions is just that, the gun barrel. Internal ammo stowage is hardly a concern here. So, outside not having schurtzen like Border's initial release, how's this one different?
TopSmith
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Washington, United States
Joined: August 09, 2002
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Posted: Monday, April 20, 2020 - 06:27 AM UTC
Is this kit an improvement over current Panzer IV kits currently on the market?
RobinNilsson
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Stockholm, Sweden
Joined: November 29, 2006
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Posted: Monday, April 20, 2020 - 10:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Is this kit an improvement over current Panzer IV kits currently on the market?


Border and RFM are significantly cheaper than some of the alternatives and most importantly they come with styrene tracks instead of DS (Dreadful Stuff, even if there is a four letter word that could substitute 'Stuff' ... but I try to maintain polite language, occasionally ...)

/ Robin
marcb
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Overijssel, Netherlands
Joined: March 25, 2006
KitMaker: 1,244 posts
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Posted: Monday, April 20, 2020 - 11:33 AM UTC
Decal options:
http://www.moxingfans.com/test/other/2020/0409/7577.html
Bravo1102
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 08, 2003
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Posted: Monday, April 20, 2020 - 10:06 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Not a whole lot of meaningful difference between an F2 and a G. Hell, the only real difference that anyone might notice on an F versus the longer barrelled-versions is just that, the gun barrel. Internal ammo stowage is hardly a concern here. So, outside not having schurtzen like Border's initial release, how's this one different?


A look at the sprues shows a new turret, some older fittings like the gun guard, grenade box, tool storage, mounting step, cupola and driver's hatches.

All the differences between an ausf F and early G and the late G.

Don't ask me why, but I have four ausf F1, F2, G kits. I want to show to slow changes that happened during production. Fascinating. And can finally see it on a Pzkpfw IV as opposed to Tigers and Panthers.

I prefer the engineering on the Border kit over the Dragon. It's just that much more modeler friendly than the Dragon.

And no DS track.
PanzerKarl
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England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: April 20, 2004
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Posted: Monday, April 20, 2020 - 10:22 PM UTC
Bit skeptical about those paint schemes and turret numbers.
ivanhoe6
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Wisconsin, United States
Joined: April 05, 2007
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Posted: Monday, April 20, 2020 - 10:58 PM UTC



Thanks Marc for posting this link !


The zoom images really show a lot of detail, welding fillets, Continental rubber vs Dragon's Continentau (to avoid copy rights I'd guess). I'm thinking about digging into the stash and finding a Pz IV and compare plastic to those images.
I always liked Dragon PzIII & IV's but all of those molds are old and the newer releases have the DS tracks.
Anyway, it's great to have options !
marcb
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Overijssel, Netherlands
Joined: March 25, 2006
KitMaker: 1,244 posts
Armorama: 1,226 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 - 06:51 AM UTC
Echelon makes some decal sets:
https://echelonfd.com/products/details/AXT351022

https://echelonfd.com/products/details/AXT351020

Africa:
https://echelonfd.com/products/details/AXT351025
GeraldOwens
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Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, April 22, 2020 - 08:51 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Not a whole lot of meaningful difference between an F2 and a G. Hell, the only real difference that anyone might notice on an F versus the longer barrelled-versions is just that, the gun barrel. Internal ammo stowage is hardly a concern here. So, outside not having schurtzen like Border's initial release, how's this one different?

As mentioned, the F2 was redesignated the G after a few months. The F2 designation is useful for modelers, as the early models had the single baffle, globular muzzle brake and the vision ports on the forward turret sides, while later vehicles delivered as Ausf G mostly had solid turret sides and double baffle brakes. The L/48 gun was introduced late in the production run, around the same time as schurtzen armor.
Border has molded the forward turret sides separately, to accommodate early or late turret shells.
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