Border Model 1:35 Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf. J Last • Kit No. BT-008
The Panzer IV has always remained in the shadow of its more famous younger brothers, the Panther and Tiger. I think this is a bit wrong, because the Panzer IV was the workhorse of the Panzerwaffe, and it was mainly on this tank that the German tankmen fought from the first to the last day of World War II.
Border Model’s kit represents the Panzer IV Sd.Kfz. 161/2 Ausf. J. It was created as a development version of the H version and was the last mass-produced version of this tank. In fact, the Ausf. J can hardly be called a development of the family. All its modifications were aimed at simplifying and accelerating production. This was understandable because at that time the Germans began to feel the shortage of various materials more and more. One of the most noticeable changes was the discontinuation of Zimmerit application. The two-stroke engine driving the electric motor that rotates the tower through a generator set was also abandoned. This modification meant that the rotation of the turret could only be done manually. In place of the removed two-stroke engine, a fuel tank was installed, which increased the range. In addition, instead of the silencer placed horizontally, there are characteristic two vertical exhaust pipes - somewhat similar to those of the Panther. The return rollers were all steel. At the beginning of production, four were installed on each side, and only three in the final versions. But perhaps the most characteristic change was the mesh side screens - the so-called “Thoma Schürzen”. The screens were designed to protect the tank against HEAT shells, for example from the American bazooka. Out of a total of around 9,170 total Panzer IVs, at least 1,758 were built in the J version.
They fought in the Ardennes, Hungary and Poland, and later on all fronts of the ever shrinking Third Reich, up to the last battles in defence of Berlin and Czechoslovakia. But the last recorded use of these tanks in the line was the 1967 Six-Day War. Syrian Panzer IVs were towed to the hills and used as stationary firing posts. Anyway, with a rather poor effect. In Poland, at the Museum of Polish Arms in Kołobrzeg, we can see the preserved Panzer IV J. In 2011, a heavily devastated wreck, torn apart by an internal explosion, was excavated in Kluczewo. Then it was restored by the armour magicians who used the scrap metal to create one of the most interesting exhibits of this museum. So much for the theory. It’s time to take care of our model.
BORDER MODEL’S 1:35 PANZER IV AUSF. J
Until 2019, the Chinese company Border Model was known only for the production of model accessories. However, their Panzer IV G version released in 2019 immediately aroused great interest.
It is very rare that the company’s first injection model has made so much fuss with its quality and reasonable price for such quality. The company followed this debut and the next variant of the Panzer IV - the F.1 version, consolidating their position of these miniatures on the modelling market.
Several versions of the Panzer IV are offered by several well-known producers; Dragon, RFM or even Tamiya, among others. The “J” version was presented at the turn of 2019 and 2020. So we are dealing with a completely new model. The box contains 40 sprues, three sheets of photo-etched plates and a metal barrel.
Several parts of the model, including the fuselage tub, the turret and the crew lumber container, the so-called Guderian box, are perfectly cast using multipart moulds. On one of the sprues we can also find the T-34 track links, which the cautious crews used as additional armour.
Two track options are included: movable, assembled from single links, and also in the form of links and separate lengths of different sizes. The release also includes an aluminium 7.5 cm Kwk 40 L / 48 barrel, while the muzzle brake in three variants is made of plastic. The photo-etched parts are mainly for the Schurzenami, shovel and bucket handles. The decals offer five different options.
I decided to make my model as a wreck. I started studying pics of broken Panzer IVs on the internet, not to perfectly copy a crashed tank, but to find out how a given structure behaves when subjected to the destructive effects of shells or internal explosions. It is also important that our wreck looks effective on a diorama / base.
Finally I found a photo with a broken Panzer IV, based on which I planned the construction of my model.
Photos of the crashed column of German tanks were taken in Italy by the Hungarian war reporter Robert Cap from Life magazine. And although the broken Panzer IVs in the photos are not the “J” version, it doesn’t really matter to me. For me, the more important question is how a given type of tank behaves when subjected to destructive factors.