What? This old clunker? Yes, it seems I was bothered by Trumpeter's response and never posted this review on ANY site. So, here it is! If you want to know what bothered me, see the footnote marked * below.
Another of Trumpeter's copying resin kits into injection molded plastic, this one uses masters from CMK. Unlike the incorrectly named Dicker Max and Sturer Emil who had the cooperation of On Track Models' owner, Mr. Tam, this one was done without CMK's consent. It was to be a preview of their Panzer IV super kits and included some of the sprue tree frames and a large amount of PE as well as springs and so on which re-appeared in later releases.
Even aluminum turned shells were included specifically for this kit (3 of the shown PE frets reappear in other releases):
The super kit hull made to compete with Dragon's (DML's at the time) hull tub including visible transmission gears:
Also to reappear in future releases were the option of either vinyl track strips or injection molded individual tracks links, both with open guide horns: Note the flash on the vinyl...
The next preview 'Super kit' sprue tree frame are these:
The rest are specific to this variant and no attempt was made to correct any of the mistakes or shortcomings of the CMK kit.
Slide molding is in effect but so is flash!
*I sent a letter asking Mr. Song (exec at Trumpeter at the time) why so many kits are simply copies of resin kits without improvements. Claims were put forward by Accurate Armour, New Connections, and others. The response was that they introduced it into a new medium so it was OK! Soon after, Mr. Song left the company to start another.
So, what did I do? I replaced the hull with a Dragon (DML) Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. E (although the Tristar, now Hobby Boss, kit will work too) and replaced the ammunition cradle floor to reflect the US Army's description of the foreign material item brough back and scrapped, at APG.
Another of Trumpeter's copying resin kits into injection molded plastic, this one uses masters from CMK. Unlike the incorrectly named Dicker Max and Sturer Emil who had the cooperation of On Track Models' owner, Mr. Tam, this one was done without CMK's consent. It was to be a preview of their Panzer IV super kits and included some of the sprue tree frames and a large amount of PE as well as springs and so on which re-appeared in later releases.
Even aluminum turned shells were included specifically for this kit (3 of the shown PE frets reappear in other releases):
The super kit hull made to compete with Dragon's (DML's at the time) hull tub including visible transmission gears:
Also to reappear in future releases were the option of either vinyl track strips or injection molded individual tracks links, both with open guide horns: Note the flash on the vinyl...
The next preview 'Super kit' sprue tree frame are these:
The rest are specific to this variant and no attempt was made to correct any of the mistakes or shortcomings of the CMK kit.
Slide molding is in effect but so is flash!
*I sent a letter asking Mr. Song (exec at Trumpeter at the time) why so many kits are simply copies of resin kits without improvements. Claims were put forward by Accurate Armour, New Connections, and others. The response was that they introduced it into a new medium so it was OK! Soon after, Mr. Song left the company to start another.
So, what did I do? I replaced the hull with a Dragon (DML) Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. E (although the Tristar, now Hobby Boss, kit will work too) and replaced the ammunition cradle floor to reflect the US Army's description of the foreign material item brough back and scrapped, at APG.
