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Pz.Kpfw.IV Tauchpanzer w/Betriebsstoffanhanger
Ref. # 6402
Scale: 1/35
Manufacturer: Dragon
Price: £25 (Far East)
Material: Styrene, aluminium, PE, brass
To see higher resolution photographs used in this preview, please see the GALLERY ALBUM.
There are pictures of the completed Fuel trailer in the forum thread at the bottom of this review.
Introduction
The Tauchpanzer was an attempt to make a tank capable of being submersed, for example to take part in beach landings or cross rivers. A number of Panzer III's and Panzer IV Ausf.D's were converted to participate in operation Sealion, but of course were never used. The Panzer IV Tauchpanzer's did however see use in various river crossings on the Eastern front. A small number of Panzer IV Ausf.E were converted in this way, represented by this kit.
The Kit
There has been much incredulity following the news of this kits forthcoming release, centred around the inadvisability of towing fuel drums on a trailer whilst fording a deep river in a tank. To be honest I haven't yet figured this one, but it seems that the Betriebsstoffanhanger, or fuel trailer could have been released with a number of different kits, and perhaps it had just come around to it's 'turn'? I don't think there's anything significant in that fact that it was released with a Tauchpanzer, other tham it makes an interesting combination.
To be perfectly honest, this kit has me a little puzzled, or rather Dragon's decision to class it as a 'Smart Series' kit has. As anybody familiar with Dragon kits will know, the 'Smart Series' range was supposed to represent a range of easier to assemble kits that still offered the same high levels of detail, but using the minimum number of parts to get the job done. I.e. photo-etch only if it represented the best way of doing the job, etc. Further, any Dragon fan will also know that two ranges of Panzer IV's exist within the Dragon catalogue, the so-called 'Super kits' and the 'Smart kits'. The former characterized by for example, suspension bogies that almost needed a degree and ten close relatives to assemble properly, whilst the latter offered almost as much detail but was made from different toolings that kept the parts count down to a more 'friendly' level. Well, although this is classed as a 'smart series' release, it's based on the 'super kits', and in fact is more or less the same as Dragon #6301 'Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.E 'Vorpanzer', with some things added for the Tauchpanzer version of course, and some parts withheld.
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Inside the box there are seven large sprues of grey styrene, four medium-sized ones, seven small ones and three small transparent ones. Also there are a separate hull and turret, idler wheels, two bags of right and left-handed 'Magic' track links, a length of black plastic tubing and a wire tow rope. There's also a bag of separate road wheel tyres, four photo-etched frets, a brass tube, decals sheet and finally, a small sprue of Dragon DS100 Vinyl holding the waterproof versions of mantlet and cupola. Phew!
As said earlier, it's basically the Vorpanzer with some differences of course. First the omissions. You don't get the aluminium barrel that was included in that kit. Instead, there is a styrene one, although it's not simply in two halves. This one has a clever insert and has been slide-moulded, meaning the business end has been moulded in one piece, if that makes sense, and includes rifling even. Nothing new there, since this was included in the original Vorpanzer release as well. We also don't get the two turned brass shells in this one, along with the pre-formed wire spare roadwheel brackets. While we're on the subject of what has been omitted, if that makes sense seeing as it's a new release, the most important one for me is the fact that Dragon have seen fit to omit the pair of fenders without the holes! To clarify: In the original Vorpanzer release, two sets of fenders were included. These were really nice, having detail on both surfaces. It was selling point, as was the fact that since two sets of on vehicle tools were included, with or without moulded clamps, then two sets of fenders were included, with locating holes for the moulded clamps, and without so that you could use PE clamps which were also included. In this release, we still get the option of using PE clamps, but if you do then you'll have to spend time filling the holes on the fenders, because that's the only version in the kit. That's a fairly big minus point for me. Even more oddly is the fact that the kit advertises on the box that spare fenders without the holes are included. But they're not on the parts map on the instruction sheet, and they're not mentioned in the instructions as an option, and most importantly...they're not in the box! I've tried to contact Dragon to clarify whether the box is wrong or the instructions.
EDIT: I've received a communication from Dragon apologising for the fact that it's the box art that's wrong, and the fenders were not intended to be included.
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Pic 30,
Pic 31,
Pic 32,
Pic 33,
Pic 34,
Pic 35,
Pic 36,
Pic 37,
Pic 38,
Pic 39,
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So that's what's missing...what's new? Well, that small sprue of Dragon DS100 tan-coloured vinyl is. It has a replacement cupola and mantlet on, all buttoned up to represent the tauchpanzer version, although the normal non-waterproofed versions are also included. These are not the same as those included in the Tauchpanzer Ausf.D version, which were moulded from a type of resin. The waterproofed cupola included in thsi kit has a separate hatch that can be modelled opened unlike the Ausf.D kit. Remember that Dragon DS100 vinyl can be cemented using normal styrene cement.
In order to make the Tauchpanzer version, there's also a brass snorkel tube supplied, along with the mantlet and cupola, and also various other parts such as headlight covers, PE clamps for the brake access hatches, and two different types of waterproof covers for the hull machine gun. As mentioned there's a choice of moulded clamps for all the on-vehicle tools, or PE ones, PE covers for the engine air vents, along with inserts for the idlers.
There was very little you could fault about the original Ausf.E Vorpanzer kit, and as you basically get that kit, with a few small changes then you can't go far wrong with this one. (Apart from those fenders!) A fairly full turret, including the basket, full breech etc., means that even if you leave the hatches open, you don't have to put a Commander figure in it, because there's plenty to see. I suspect many modellers will buy one of these just to get their hands on the fuel trailer, which I suspect could be used with a variety of different vehicles, although I haven't been able to find any references on this. The complete trailer comes on a separate new sprue along with two drums. I think it's a first for Dragon, in that I've never seen fuel drums by injection moulding without being in two halves? Seriously...they're both moulded in one piece, as cylinders, with just two end pieces to fit. No pesky seams to remove! The two end pieces, as can be seen in picture 51, are very nicely detailed, having embossed writing on both ends. The trailer wheels are supplied in two halves, but because of the tread pattern you shouldn't have a seam to disguise.
Markings-wise, the two examples catered for are both in panzer grey, one fitted out as a Tauchpanzer, the other, number '613' isn't!
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Pic 71,
Pic 72,
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Pic 78,
Pic 79,
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Pic 81,
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Conclusion
Axis armour fans will love this one! Although they'll have probably already built it without the trailer, it would just look so good on the shelf with it! I'll add an explanation of the missing fenders to this as soon as i have one....meanwhile....still a great kit!
My Thanks to Dragon for the review sample.
For full information on all Dragon products, please see their website,
Dragon Models Ltd.
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denotes 
Vinnie Branigan
