Academy1/35 German Panzer IV Ausf.H. Ver Mid #13516 Hobby Model Kits

The new kit by Academy is very detailed. In contrast to the respective kits from competitors the hatches on the engine deck and the maintenance hatch and the hatches for venting the brakes are closed. The engine deck is a separate part. The layout of the parts is based on the idea to offer other variants of this tank by adding a minimum of new parts. Already this kit offers alternative parts. The gun barrel is in one piece with two different muzzle brakes. The hull is consisting of the bottom part and separate left and right side parts. ( quite similar to the Tristar ( now Hobby Boss ) " Panzer IV B, C and D " ).The kit has no separate track links but rubber tracks only. Zimmerit coating is on a seperate sheet. In my opinion a very good idea. Each modeller can decide by himself if his tank will be fitted with Zimmerit or not.The side skirts ( part no G 50 and G 51 ) are in one piece and the fastening is quite similar to the " Italeri solution ". That's the only point I have to criticize. This could have been done better.Luckily it is not a big point. Many photographs show that in combat the side skirts were lost very soon and many tanks were fitted with the turret skirts only.The kit has no PE parts.Instructions are detailed and should not make problems.Decals are for three tanks of 12 th SS Panzerdivision " Hitlerjugend " in the West 1944. Including the well known tank with female first names both on turret cupola and drivers sight.Despite the " side skirts point " it is a great kit and I am fully satisfied.