Introduction

Kagero have released No 25 in their Top Drawings aeries of books looking at the Sd.Kfz. 161 Panzer IV Ausf. H/J. The Panzer IV has always held a popular spot with modellers and this title from Kagero will help the modeller get their finished model to the accuracy standard they personally desire.

Review

This title from Kagero is a duel language offering in Polish and English, English on the Left side and Polish on the right. The introduction in the book is very short, only covering one page and so not a title for someone who wants to read about the Panzer IV in all its glory. The Panzer IV saw a long service in World War Two serving right up until the last days, during that time its design and layout saw many changes and this title concentrates on the H and J versions of the Panzer IV. The book has 40 pages plus a separate fold out scale plan and offers a set of masks.

This title provides scale line drawings in the most usual scales of 1/35th and 1/72nd, but with the release of a 1/16th scale offering and the 1/48th scale that has its followers these scales have also been covered. The 1/16th scale schematic is printed on the folded sheet supplied with the book and is a very nice touch by Kagero. The line drawings cover the usual front, back, sides and top of the model, but also supply scale angled drawings of the vehicles; I questioned the use of these at first, but I do find them of use when used to view a finished model from the same angle.

At the end of the book you are supplied full colour prints of 16 Panzer IV Ausf. H/J tanks that correlate with the scale drawings provided. The paint masks supplied by Kagero allow the modeller to finish a 1/16th scale model as those covered in this title.

Conclusion

This is a very nice offering from Kagero for the modellers who are a fan of the Panzer IV. I like the fact that the two main scales have been covered well and the less well known, or should I say followed scales of 1/16th and 1/48th have not been forgotten. The paint masks supplied by Kagero should I feel also cover at least 1/35th and 1/72nd scale due to the popularity these scales have over 1/16th and 1/48th and I cannot help but think they have missed a trick or opportunity in this respect. Fault wise the masks scale is the only thing I can pick up on. This title will I am sure, prove to be a very popular offering to the modeller.

I would like to thank Casemate for supplying this title for review purposes, and I do believe it will prove of great benefit when I get my Panzer IV H out of the cupboard.