Last x-mis I got from my kids the Tamiya pzkfw IV D tank (art. 35096).

I never did anything German before and I feel like starting this one in (maybe) a Barbarossa diorama.

Can anyone comment on this kit, is it a good OOTB build? Ore are there a lot of errors that I need to know of?

It's not good OOTB. For one thing it has the ugly motorization holes that is associated with old Tamiya kits. The tracks are wrong, they are 40 cm tracks, whilst a D had 36 cm tracks. There are numerous errors that I cannot remember, you need some serious AM stuff to make it nice. HTH.

For the AM stuffs, I have no information as of now, but I think Aber does have a set for it.

Agreed, the Tamiya Panzer IV D is a sow's ear of a kit. To turn it into a silk purse, you are going to need "some serious AM stuff". I'm about to dive into this project myself. Here's a list of the AM stuff I've collected over the last couple of years specifically for this project:
Aber brass detail set.
Aber brass fenders
Italeri Pz IV E/F/G kit (for the more accurate lower hull and suspension)
Tamiya PzIV vehicle tool set
Armo aluminum barrel
Friulmodelisimo metal tracks, 36cm
Friulmodelisimo metal, 36cm drive sprocket
Tiger Model Designs early Pz IV rear hull plate
R&J Products early Pz IV muffler w/auxilery turret muffler
ModelKasten Pz IV road wheels

Admittedly, it's a bit crazy to buy all that AM stuff for this kit. You can build a reasonable IV D with a lot less but I would buy a new set of narrow tracks and drive sprockets and the ModelKasten replacement wheels at the very least.

Now you just watch, about the time I finish the dang thing, Tamiya will come out with an all new mold of a IV D. That's just about how luck runs.

Dave Clark

Well done Bravo....couldn't have put it better.
IT IS a swine to build. I bought this kit a while ago and cannot bring myself to build it....

If you can get your hands on a copy of Military in Scale febuary 2003 ,Tom Cockle has taken you through the whole build ..All I can say is that this is the nicest D I have seen in a while ...The article is worth the price of the magazine.

Rick

Rick,

I am not in a habit to ask this, but ... I can't get Armor in Scale around here, is it possible to scan/email me that article (or someone else?)

I'll see if I can get a friend to scan it and send it to you ....I'm too computer challenged for that!! #:-)

Rick
check your e-mail in a day or two ..

I think I read somewhere that there is proper scale problems as well! I think its too short or too narrow or both. Maybe Im getting mixed up, but I would hate to use so many aftermarket parts on a kit that is still going to be wrong.

Ronny,
Build it and realize that it is an early Tamiya when they were all motorized kits. Tamiya had to make allowances for that. But, it still looks like a PzkfwIVD. Building any kit, accurate or not, is good practice. Remember, this is a hobby. Build what you want.
I've built kits that I won't show anyone, but they gave me insight to each manufacturers molding techniques, and what to watch for on the next one. Try an inexpensive eastern European maker like RPM/Mirage or Maquette, with the multi-part hulls an turrets and link to link or link an length tracks. They are fun....LOL
Build a kit, finish it and put it on a shelf. Come back a month later and look it over closely and see what you can do to improve the next one you build.
Enjoy building and reading your references.

As always, Ron, very sound advice. Never let a kit stand in the way of enjoying the hobby, or learning something new.

Mike

I have yet to build a model that was 100% correct, no matter how much aftermarket stuff I put into it. I always see some error in the kit or the build a month after I finished it that I didn't see while building the model. If a kit is off a little bit dimensionally, but still looks right to my eye, I build it without reservation. If the dimensional errors are to the point that the model looks out of proportion, I go for aftermarket resin replacement parts. I get into the smaller AM detail stuff to replace kit features that don't "look" right. I'd make myself crazy and never finish anything if I took calipers and manufacturers blueprints to every model kit.

We each have to find our own omfort level with regards to total accuracy. If a finished model looks in scale to my eye, it's good enough for me.

Ron, you're right on. I will add that 15 years ago, it wasn't all that bad a kit...It's really not too hard to add a little sheet plastic and putty to the moto holes, is it?

It´s not a good kit. For Panzer IV in all it´s versions the better ones are from Dragon/DML (in my opinion).