Hi, Was up to the local hobby store this past week end (I've got to stop going up there, as every week I seem to be coming out with another box or two!), and happened to get Dragon's new 1/35 scale Jagdpanzer IV A-0 kit. I haven't had to do too much baby sitting of the grand-daughters this week so far, so I've had a little extra time for a little self indulgence with glue and plastic, and I must say that this kit is really nice.

This model has that 'rounded' armor plate style on the front body which gives a 'something different' look to this particular German armor vehicle. (Just bounced a small motor tool bit around on it to give more of a heavy armor plating look.) I also see that it has two machine guns, one coming out on each side of the main gun, which is an interesting feature.

All the parts are nicely molded and very crisp.
This kit has PE armor sheets for the side skirts. Something new for me to try. But even though I'm not wild about those pastic track links Dragons still hasn't gotten away from (just love those new one-piece plastic tracks that this company is starting to issue in some of their newer kits now), there is always Fruil tracks if this kit turns out as nice as I hope my skills can make it.

And for around $28, it wasn't a bad investment.

Take care, Sgirty

Enjoy building this kit sgirty it's a good kit just like the rest of dragon models, i hope to see it when it's finished, greetz
eric

Also on my build pile, it does indeed look like a nice kit. With everyting Dragon has been including in their kits it also look as though you won't have to run out and purchase anything for it.
Regards,
Robert

Hi, I have to say, from a personal perspective, now that Dragon has introduced the new technology of molding their plastic tank cannon barrels in all one piece length-wise, and the muzzle brakes in two or three seperate pieces, it actually makes putting in the turned aluminum barrels in these kits unnecessary. In fact I'm not even using the aluminum barrel on this one. No need for it. Just a tad bit of light sanding on the plastic one to remove a very light seam line, and it's ready to go.

Take care, Sgirty

I noticed that on the 3 in 1 Tiger. I agree, metal is great, but the only reason was it was too difficult to put the split halves together and erase seam lie or lose the roundness due to excessive sanding. Having to attach the muzzle brake makes much more sense

I got this model too, but I don't know when or where it was used. It looks like a prototype for the Jagdpanzer lV with the more common straight front plate. This one must have been produced in very limited numbers. DML should learn from Tamiya and include a brief history of the vehicle on the instruction sheet.

Jagdpanzer IV was issued to Panzerjager Abteilungs of Panzer and Panzer Grenadier Divisions from March of 1944 onwards. They first saw combat in service with Hermann Goering Division in Italy, followed by service with 4th and 5th Panzer Division on the Eastern Front. In June of 1944, 62 Jagdpanzer IV were in service with Panzer Lehr Division, 9th Panzer Division and 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend" (which received some 10 in mid 1944, just before D-Day) awaiting the Allied invasion in Normandy. In general, Jagdpanzer IV was used in groups for infantry support and for anti-tank defence.

In August of 1944, first Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) equipped 105th and 106th Panzer Brigade, which operated on the Western Front. New vehicles were issued to Panzerjager Abteilungs of Panzer and Panzer Grenadier Divisions and even to Panzer Brigades and Panzerjager Abteilungs. The largest number of Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) took part in the Ardennes Offensive, when some 137 were in service. In 1945, Jagdpanzer IV/70(V) were also issued as a replacement tank, practice that was a mistake but the desperate situation and the overall shortage of tanks made it a necessity.

Jagdpanzer IV/70(A) was issued first in September of 1944. It was issued as regular tank to Panzer Abteilungs or as a replacement assault gun to Panzer and Stug Brigades. It was used as an anti-tank support vehicle for regular battle tanks. Most of the vehicles saw service on the Eastern Front. On April 10th of 1945, there were still 285 Jagdpanzer IV/70 in service with the German Army, 274 on the Eastern Front, 8 in Italy and 3 on the Western Front. After the war, approximately 6 Jagdpanzer IVs (L/48 and L/70) found their way to Syria.

Compliments of Achtung Panzer.
Regards,
Robert

I already know a bit about the general history and deployment of Jagdpanzers. It's this particular model of the lV-AO with the curved front which is less common than the lV- L/48, and lV-70. It's common knowlege that the '48's and '70's were in Normandy with Panzer Lehr, and 1st and 12th SS, but was the AO there with them? Don't think I've ever seen a pic of the AO variety in action.

Have you any pics from your model??

No, but this model is almost identical to the Jagdpanzer lV L/48. The only difference is that the upper glacis (where the gun mount is) is curved back at both sides, instead of a straight plate as in the later models. It looks like a protoype for the L/48 version, until they realized a straight plate was cheaper and faster to produce.

thank you, I like to see it when it's finished.
Wich camo are you going to spray it??

Succes on your model.

Bye Hilbert

I'm building mine for the Tank Destroyer campaign. it has gone together smoothly with one tiny problem. I began the PE Schurtzen and low and behold they came up short with parts. Each Schutzen plate requires 8 rivets on the outer face. 8 Schurtzen 8 rivets = 64. Well, they came up about 20 short! I made mine with my punch and die set. Just be aware that it is a tiny problem.

Hilbert there are pictures in the Tank Destroyers - progress reports please! thread.

If anyone is still interested in the origin of the Jagdpanzer lV A-0, this particular model was just one of several pre-production variants of the later Jagdpanzer lV/L48. It probably never saw action, but was used for training by Panzer Lehr. But who knows?? Maybe it did take out a Sherman or two in Normandy.