The Panzer IV Ausf B featured many improvements over the initial Ausf A production version. Built between June and October 1938, the forty-two Ausf B went on to see combat in Poland, France, the Balkans and Soviet Union. One distinguishing feature of the Ausf A was the straight front bow plate, which had a pistol port and visor instead of the hull machine gun. Improvements over the Ausf A included a more powerful Maybach engine, new cupola and the upgraded six speed SSG 76 transmission.

Overview
This Panzer IV Ausf B is a limited release model from Cyber-hobby, which features over 60 new parts including many unique to the Ausf B. As expected this kit is based on the recent Dragon Panzer IV range and incorporates the refinements seen in the “Vorpanzer” and Ausf D releases.

Characteristic of the Ausf B, and new to this kit are the “A” shaped antenna deflector, external mantlet for the 75mm KwK 37 L/24 gun, upper superstructure including the new flat bow plate, new glacis plate and new side and rear plates which are slightly thinner than those in the Ausf D kit, a feature that is in keeping with their being around 5mm thinner on the real tank (14.5mm face hardened armour plate on the Ausf B hull side and rear). Other new parts include the hatches on the engine deck, turret hatches with newly tooled hinges, front tow hooks and fuel filler caps which can be assembled open or closed.

Two of the three photo etch frets are new to this kit and collective offer a considerable amount of detail. Highlights include optional photo etch parts to build the rear side air intakes which would offer a very much in scale appearance when assembled, chains for the towing eye brackets, smoke candle rack and cooling drain cap, fender reflector and the bracing plate on the jack block. As expected two sets of on-vehicle tools are provided one with the clamps molded on and the other without clamps for use with the photo etch clamps.

The gatefold instructions have 20 steps of line drawings, which clearly show optional or alternative parts that allow modelers to determine the level of challenge and finesse. Given the kit’s high level of detail, it will require several modeling sessions to construct.

Turret
The turret is the early style where the cupola extended into the rear of the turret shell. The commander’s cupola, which had five vision ports covered by sliding blocks is slide-molded with internal detail including clear vision blocks, and the hatch levers. The triangular plates on the lower front of the turret match scale plans and considerable interior detail is provided including the turret crew seats, turret floor with anti-skid, clear side plastic vision blocks, breech with catcher for spent cases, toothed turret ring and coaxial MG.

For the Kwk37 L/24 gun, there is the choice of an injection plastic barrel with muzzle rifling or a turned metal barrel without rifling. An aerial deflector is provided, although photos reveal it was not always fitted, again the choice is yours.

Most hatches and turret ports can be positioned open or closed including the commander hatch, ventilation hatch cover, side hatches (with interior detail) and signal ports.

Lower Hull with Workable Suspension
The one-piece lower hull has features such as an enhanced final drive housing, detail on the underside, workable suspension and a choice of fenders. Other features include earlier style hubcaps, brake access hatches on the upper glacis which can be assembled open or closed, drive sprocket with choice of super detailed version with separate bolts on the face or an easier version with bolts cast on, early design frame for the smoke candles and the wider early style rear exhaust muffler.

Some of the features common with the Dragon Ausf D and Ausf E kits include:

* Two sets of on-vehicle tools are provided of which one has the clamps molded on for easy of assembly (and works with the fenders with the predrilled holes) and the other set has no clamps and is for use with the PE clamps.

* The side fenders have anti-skid pattern on both the upper and lower surfaces. One pair of fenders has holes for the tools in their factory positions and the other has no holes for use with PE clasps etc. The fenders are fairly thin for injection plastic and have the lip (fold) on the outer edge. The front and rear fenders are separate pieces and can be modelled folded up.

* The road-wheels have considerable small detail including separate rubber tyres, which allow for painting of the rubber independent of the rims. The 'Continentau' (you can slice of half the “U”) logo is on the sidewalls.

Tracks
The pre-cut injection plastic magic tracks depict the early 38cm wide Panzer IV track links. They have open guide horns and are "handed" in that separate left and right side tracks are provided with the track pin facing out accordingly. To avoid mix-ups each set has its own plastic bag and is in a different shade of gray. The links snap together for quick assembly and a whole run can be assembled in minutes; before you apply glue to the assembled track run. A small injection mark is on each side of the guide horns and could be removed swiftly with a hobby knife if you wish, or easily overlooked.

Preformed metal and other Accessories

In addition to the previously mentioned photo-etch, this kit includes a variety of pre-formed metal and other extras to provide fine detail. These include:

* Three jerry cans with PE for the jerry can rack and the cans’ centre welded join. These early style jerry cans have an “X” stamped into their sides.

* Assorted preformed metal for hull detail such as tow cable hooks, metal cables for front and rear lights and spare wheel mounts.

* 240mm twisted wire cable with injection plastic eyes for tow cable.

* Two turned metal rounds, which as per early war tank ammunition are brass coloured.

Decals
A crisply registered medium sized decal sheet by Cartograf containing markings for nine specific Ausf Bs. This sheet includes many decals that are unique to the profiled vehicles and as such are quite valuable, particularly given photos of many of these vehicles can be readily found. The sheet includes a variety of turret numbers, white Balkan crosses (4 styles of which 2 are solid and 2 outlines), unit insignia and tactical markings.

Decals and three view outlines are included for three Panzers from the 1939 invasion of Poland (1 Panzer Division and two from 5 Pz. Div), three from the 1940 French campaign (7 Pz. Div. and two from 1 Pz. Div), one from the 2 Panzer Division during the Balkan offensive and two from 12 Panzer Division in Russia.

Alternative views exist on whether the grey (Dunkelgrau) Panzer IVs used in Poland and France should have a disruptive secondary colour of dark brown, as indicated by Tom Jentz’s recent research and accurately depicted in the kit’s box art. Many Panzers used in Russia are shown in photos as being solid grey.

Recommendation
This Cyber-Hobby Panzer IV Ausf B provides a very accurate model of this early production Panzer. In particular it allows modellers to depict a Panzer IV from the 1939 invasion of Poland and provides a well-researched matching decal sheet that also includes options from later campaigns. While a sophisticated kit, with many multi-media and interior parts, the modeller has the option of determining the level of challenge, thus ensuring this model has broad appeal. Highly recommended.

- Neville Lord

6297, Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.B. 1/35th-scale injection molded styrene/multimedia kit. Contains: 684 styrene parts (plus 31 clear), two bags of individual-link "Magic Tracks", one turned aluminum gun tube, two turned brass rounds, four steel wire parts, three photo-etched brass frets, one stamped brass part, one piece of braided metal wire, nine decal marking schemes and ten pages of instructions in 20 steps.

This is the fourth Pz.Kpfw.IV from DML to be released since the advent of these new-tool kits of this Heer workhorse Panzer. This is a limited-run edition co-produced with a DML subsidiary, Cyberhobby. Based largely on the revised Ausf.E "Vorpanzer" kit, with parts from the more recent Ausf.D kit, there are approximately 61 new parts to model the Ausf.B.

New parts include a superstructure roof, straight front, side and rear plates, engine deck hatch lids; glacis plate and bow applique plate; hull, hull rear plate, idler wheel mounts, engine air intake flaps, tow hook mount and fuel filler caps; turret, turret side doors, sleeve for the KwK with antenna deflector and internal gun mantle. There are a number of new detail parts such as view-port flaps, lifting hooks, lights, etc. There are also a number of parts that can be used to improve the first DML Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.E kit, as were also found on the "Vorpanzer" and Ausf.D kit; so, here's your chance to have an entirely new kit, plus almost all of the parts to fix your Ausf.E.

Features seen on the previous kits are included in this latest issue. Some of the following has been excerpted from previous reviews.

The suspension system includes fully articulated bogie spring mounts (including variations in some of the fittings), separate fairings for the mounting brackets, separate bump-stops and crisply molded return roller mounts. The road wheels themselves are each multi-part assemblies, featuring a separate wheel rim, hub and tire. The hard styrene tires have a mold seam on their outer edges (which, despite what contest judges think, are CORRECT for a new tire!), and have sprue attachment points inside the rims. This eases clean-up considerably and will still leave the aforementioned tire seam intact. It also makes painting the tires a snap since this can be done before they are mounted onto the wheel rims.

The transmission final drive housings are particularly well-done and feature internal details as do the sections of the hull behind them. There are two styles of armored guards for the final drives. One is in two pieces and features molded-on conical bolts. The other is a single part to which separate (and tiny!) conical bolts are to be added. The newly-tooled drive sprockets are presented in two forms. One is literally broken down completely including separate hubs, spokes and tooth rings as well as separate bolts (YIKES!!). The second set is more conventional in its rendering and therefore less fearsome to assemble. Either can be can be used with the narrow 38cm tracks (Friulmodel ATL-02 tracks fit perfectly, BTW; I know because I've done it…use 100 links per side). The beautifully-rendered rear idler mounts include separate small details and can be adjusted for track sag. The rear idlers themselves come in two versions. One is a conventional two-piece design to which is added a hub and etched brass details, while the other is molded as one piece from a slide mold (to which the previously-mentioned parts are added).

The tracks themselves are the early 38cm type with smooth faces and open guide teeth; they are newly-tooled for the Ausf.B to represent the shorter guide teeth, a very nice touch!. They are "handed", so don't simply open the two bags and throw everything in a pile prior to assembly! Check the instructions carefully. They require no clean-up of attachment points, but they do have very small knock-out pin marks. These can probably be ignored as they are very subtle. There is also a frame to assemble them which is shaped to permit track sag to be depicted over the return rollers. While these fit together due to friction, when satisfied with their position, the modeler is urged to "nail 'em down" with cement.

The superstructure will require care in the cleaning of its component parts as everything is separate, but the fit is very-good-to-excellent. In another (now familiar) departure, the undersides of both sets of fenders are not moonscapes of knock-out pin marks. Instead, they are completely detailed with framing, bolt heads and the "reverse side" of the non-skid pattern seen on the top surfaces. One set of fenders has holes for mounting tools with molded-on brackets and clamps; the other is without them in order to mount the bare tools and the supplied etched-brass clamps and brackets. This is an excellent feature. Another small point is the fuel filler caps as seen on the hull side. They are separate and can be shown open and also include internal details. The vehicle jack can be depicted in use since its "foot" can be extended. The tow cables are braided wire that comes pre-weathered and fits into pre-bored styrene end loops. These are hung on plastic or formed wire brackets.

The turret interior is nearly all there, except for the small storage boxes, some fittings and power conduits, etc. The gun breech for the 7.5cm KwK is very nicely done and is not simply "blocks and tubes". It boasts a separate sliding breech block, telescopic sight, co-axial MG34 with mount, recoil guard and internal mounts. To this can be mounted either a plastic gun tube (with rifling at the bore) or a turned aluminum gun tube. All of the view-ports can be shown opened or closed and have clear inserts as well as hinge details. There is a multi-part turret traverse mechanism (with gear-box and hand-wheels) for the gunner, as well as seats for all three turret crew members. Finally, the circular floor plate is attached with various frames and has a non-skid pattern. The only other interior details consist of a very nicely rendered radio operator's MG34 for his hull station, which is complete with inner mounting plate, sight, head pad and grips.

The new upper turret shell features the original design with different side and rear plates, as well as a separate bulge for the cupola on the rear plate; to accommodate it, a new lower turret part has also been included. The turret also has other small detail differences including side hatch lid bump stops, roof vent flap and two styles of signal port flap. The new cupola is of the style first seen on the Ausf.B and used on the C and D. It features an extraordinary level of detail including optional-position view shutters and clear styrene for the glass vision blocks.

Nearly every item on the actual Ausf.B that has a hinge on it is a separate part on this kit. This means that all hatches of any type, that are visible, can be modeled in either the opened or closed positions. The turret side hatch doors operate on very fine scale hinges. This feature, plus such things as basic internal details for the turret, separate final drives and sprockets with internal details, as well as the fan housing on the engine access hatch lid, will all allow the modeler to very easily depict a destroyed Panzer, or one undergoing maintenance, with very little fuss. Of course depending on the result desired, one will have to source an engine or transmission/final drive unit from the after-market folks; but they certainly exist.

I began test-fitting and assembling the major components, beginning with the lower hull along with the front and rear panels. With basic cleaning techniques they fit together perfectly. The superstructure is rather more complex since the roof, side, front and rear panels are all separate parts. Again, with care and using basic techniques, there were no fit problems. The turret bottom and front panel fit to the main shell with no problems. In other areas, the hatches and ports fitted neatly into position after proper clean-up. The suspension bogies are a bit tricky, especially when it comes to putting the cap over the articulating arms. Just be patient and go slow; personally, a third hand would have been helpful!

The water-slide decals are by Cartograf from Italy and are as always, in perfect register. The edges of each design are crisp, while the color saturation is also excellent. Nine specific schemes are provided for the following Panzer:

" White 26, 2. Kompanie, Panzerregiment 15, 5. Panzerdivision, Poland 1939.
" White 24 "Prag", 2. Kompanie, Panzerregiment 15, 5. Panzerdivision, Poland 1939.
" Yellow 332, 3. Kompanie, Panzerregiment 29, 12. Panzerdivision, Russia 1941.
" White 813, 8. Kompanie, Panzerregiment 2, 1. Panzerdivision, France 1940.
" Red/white 321, 3. Kompanie, Panzerregiment 25, 7. Panzerdivision, France 1940.
" White 800, 8. Kompanie, Panzerregiment 1, 1. Panzerdivision, Poland 1939.
" White 422, 4. Kompanie, Panzerregiment 1, 1. Panzerdivision, France 1940.
" Yellow 623, 6. Kompanie, Panzerregiment 19 (should be 29), 12. Panzerdivision, Russia 1942.
" White 623, 6. Kompanie, Panzerregiment 3, 2. Panzerdivision, Balkans 1941.

I was able to reference five of the markings schemes (800, 422, 321, 26 and 24) and those are correct; I have no reason therefore to doubt the rest. Note that 623 should be from Panzerregiment 29, not 19 as listed in the instructions; most likely this was a typographic error. All of the vehicles from the French and Polish campaigns (six in total) should be painted in Dunkelgrau Nr.46 (later the code was changed to RAL 7021). This was over-sprayed with Dunkelbraun Nr.45 (later RAL 7017) in patches, so it covered roughly 1/3 of the item being painted. The three from the Balkans and Russia should be painted overall Dunkelgrau RAL 7021. The instructions only indicate one of the Polish vehicles is to be painted in the two-tone scheme; at least it's a start! Finally, references indicate that there should be a vertical yellow stripe on the center of the rear superstructure plate of both Panzer from 5. Panzerdivision.

Since I plan on using this kit to depict a panzer from the Polish Campaign, I was glad to have a number of marking options for that battle. This Panzer is different enough than what has come before to make it interesting and also to contrast with the later models in a side-by-side display, something I appreciate. Hopefully you guys will as well.

Highly recommended.

- Frank De Sisto