Best Kit for Panzer IV and a Luchs?

okieboy

Member since
July 2003
From: USA

Best Kit for Panzer IV and a Luchs?

Posted by okieboy on Monday, December 6, 2004 8:44 AM

Hello All,

I need some help in finding the best kit manufacturer for a Panzer IV and a "Luchs". It's been so long since I did a scale smaller than 1/16 and I need some help with 1/35. I've grown accustomed to building Tamiya for their fit and detail, but I may be missing out on other kits that are not made by Tamiya such as Dragon, Trumpeter and Tasca.
The complaint I have against Tamiya armor kits is those darned rubber tracks!
Dragon kits, the "Imperial Series" in particular, are said to be very old and need updating. But in their defense, they are supposed to have individual track links.
I'm looking to build two kits and I'd like the best detail and fit possible:
Panzer Mk IV - Early version with side skirts, possibly an H.
A "Luchs", light reconnaisance vehicle.

Thank you very much for your assistance and opinions,

Okieboy

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harm." George Orwell

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JWest21

Member since
December 2002
From: PA

Posted by JWest21 on Monday, December 6, 2004 8:54 AM

The Tasca kit is far and away the best Luchs kit out there. The only drawback is it is really expensive. Check out Greatmodels. They have one for about $41 (Search 1/35 pla35001 PzKpfw.II Ausf.L 'Luchs'. Their cross reference doesn't pick it up for some reason) The other Tasca version is $7 more (Tasca Models pla35006 1/35 pla35006 Pz.Kpfw. II Ausf.L Luchs)

The best Pz IV that I have done is the Tamiya. I have also done the Acadamy, which I do not like. I have not done a Dragon. Check out Tamiya Squadron http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=TM35209
- They have an early H with the skirting, too. The rubberbands are not terrible, but if you desire, there are aftermarket replacements. Fruilmodel and model kasten make them

Jason "There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." -D. Barry

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okieboy

Member since
July 2003
From: USA

Posted by okieboy on Monday, December 6, 2004 2:03 PM

Thanks Jason,

I've seen Tasca's Luchs, and I thought that it had better be worth that kind of money! As for Tamiya's Panzers, I always thought they ruled, but either way it looks like I'll be buying Friulmodel tracks!

Okieboy

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harm." George Orwell

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 6, 2004 2:09 PM

the academy panzer IV sucks. do not get it. it has poor decals and a bad shurtzen assembly. go for teh tamiya one if any.

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JWest21

Member since
December 2002
From: PA

Posted by JWest21 on Monday, December 6, 2004 2:27 PM

I second Murderdogg. The Academy one I had was shelved due to a high degree of suckitude. The Tasca Luchs, however, I just can't say enough about. I had been looking at it for a long time, but just couldn't get past it until I saw it 40% off at Greatmodels during their pre-Thanksgiving sale. I was able to get the 4th Panzer version for $38. It comes with PE grill covers (although it is missing covers for the rear deck grates. I picked up the Aber set for the ICM kit, as suggested in military miniatures.) The details are crisp and the fit is really nice. Even the Jerry cans have PE parts.

Jason "There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." -D. Barry

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 6, 2004 2:32 PM

The Tasca Luchs was designed by some peaple that used to work for Tamiya
and for the Panzer 4 you could get the Tamiya Ausf H kit and get a resin back date for it

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Monday, December 6, 2004 3:22 PM

I have the Tamiya Panzer IV J unbuilt, but it looks so much better than their older H. Check the sales that Greatmodels is running all month.

Eric

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JWest21

Member since
December 2002
From: PA

Posted by JWest21 on Monday, December 6, 2004 3:26 PM

Hmm... I got the J a while back, but I never compared sprues. I just thought it was a reboxing with one or two different sprues. i'll have to check that out!

Jason "There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." -D. Barry

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 6, 2004 3:42 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman

I have the Tamiya Panzer IV J unbuilt, but it looks so much better than their older H. Check the sales that Greatmodels is running all month.

i was meaning the New Panzer 4 H kit, basicaly the new Tamiya J with an extra sprue for the H bits

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JWest21

Member since
December 2002
From: PA

Posted by JWest21 on Monday, December 6, 2004 3:50 PM

Did you mean this one?
http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=TM35209
That's what I have.

Jason "There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." -D. Barry

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 6, 2004 4:02 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by JWest21

Did you mean this one?
http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=TM35209
That's what I have.

Yeah thats the one

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Edit

JWest21

Member since
December 2002
From: PA

Posted by JWest21 on Monday, December 6, 2004 4:33 PM

That's probably why I didn't notice any differences

Jason "There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." -D. Barry

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Monday, December 6, 2004 6:35 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by JWest21

Did you mean this one?
http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=TM35209
That's what I have.

$4 off? Makes me want to order one. Clown [:o)]

That's why I think Squadron is overpriced. Yes, I built the old PZ IV, not the newer Early version, so I had no idea of the quality of the newest H.

Eric

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JWest21

Member since
December 2002
From: PA

Posted by JWest21 on Monday, December 6, 2004 6:42 PM

I always look to Greatmodels first. I only use Squadron if I cannot find it elsewhere. You're right, they are always more expensive

Jason "There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." -D. Barry

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Tankmaster7

Member since
August 2004
From: Nowhere. (Long Island)

Posted by Tankmaster7 on Monday, December 6, 2004 6:59 PM

squadron is overpriced, i try and use hobbylinc as much as i can.

-Tanky

Welcome to the United States of America, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, in partnership with Halliburton. Security for your constitutional rights provided by Blackwater International.

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Monday, December 6, 2004 9:17 PM

Actually I remember when my friend and I started in the hobby back in mid-70's and Squadron was THE place to mailorder from. They used to have some good deals. Once the Tamiya Russian jeep was only 69 cents. We usually ordered together to save on postage. They were very efficient, I'll give them that. There was one time we both ordered the Tamiya Kubelwagen (junk compared to their newer version) and they sent us one Tamiya and one Italeri. We fought over the Tamiya one. Personally, the Italeri version was superior.

Eric

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JWest21

Member since
December 2002
From: PA

Posted by JWest21 on Monday, December 6, 2004 9:29 PM

That's where I started. Now the only time they have any good deals is their rare Subscriber Special. I once picked up a couple of Amtech's Huckebein for $14 a piece when they were normally $28.

Jason "There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." -D. Barry

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Monday, December 6, 2004 9:39 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by JWest21

I always look to Greatmodels first. I only use Squadron if I cannot find it elsewhere. You're right, they are always more expensive

Then I woke to the reality of online shopping and Greatmodels has made a pretty penny off me. Feel sort of sorry for the old LHS, but I still buy painting supplies and mags, books, and other supplies from them. Sorry, going a little O.T. here.

Eric

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zokissima

Member since
July 2003
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Posted by zokissima on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 10:09 AM

I know that the Tasca Luchs is by far the best offering out there of this little tank. As for the Pz.Kpf IV, I'd say in terms of accuracy and ease of build, probably Tamiya.

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okieboy

Member since
July 2003
From: USA

Posted by okieboy on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 11:24 AM

Ah, now that's what I'm talking about! That's what I call input. Thanks guys. I wanted to know the ins and outs of all the manufacturers that mattered and you delivered. I appreciate your experience.
Oh, one last question. I'm going to replace the one-piece rubber tracks with Friulmodel tracks. Unless of course you all think that's a bad idea? What would you do?

Okieboy

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence upon those who would do us harm." George Orwell

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JWest21

Member since
December 2002
From: PA

Posted by JWest21 on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 12:16 PM

I have had a lot of success using the rubber bands, so I don't often replace them unless they are inaccurate or just bad. Tamiya's are nice on their new offerings. Sag can be replicated by using small pieces of wire (I use paperclips) inserted into holes on the hull side to hold down the track in the places you want sag. They don't stick out the whole width of the track and they get painted the track color so they are hidden. They look good and save you $30, which is another kit

Jason "There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." -D. Barry

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