Tamiya 35088 - 1:35 Jagdpanzer IV/L 70 Lang

Plastic model kit of the German Jagdpanzer IV/70 tank destroyer in 1:35 scale

The Jagdpanzer IV/70, also known as the Panzer IV/70(V), took the idea of a low tank destroyer on the Panzer IV chassis a step further. In place of the StuK 40 it carried the long 7.5 cm PaK 42 L/70 gun - the same weapon as the Panther tank. The result was a vehicle with heavy firepower and a very low silhouette, though distinctly nose-heavy.

Tamiya 35088 comes from a 1976 mould. It reproduces the steeply sloped front plates of the casemate and the Panzer IV running gear. Both barrels are included - the long L/70 and the shorter L/48 - and the decal sheet is split between Waffen-SS and Heer units, with three-colour camouflage.

What is in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, casemate, gun and running gear
• Two barrels to choose from: 7.5 cm L/70 and L/48
• Vinyl band tracks
• One crew figure
• Decal sheet in two groups: Waffen-SS and Heer (three-colour camouflage)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35088
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Length when built: approx. 243 mm (with the L/70 barrel)
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This is a kit for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Clear kit engineering and good parts fit make for a smooth build. It is worth deciding on the barrel early, as it defines the look of the finished model, and taking care that the long L/70 barrel sits perfectly straight. The vinyl band tracks are joined with cyanoacrylate glue.

The three-colour camouflage is built up over a dark yellow base (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow), with patches of green and red brown applied by airbrush or by brush, according to preference. Decals go down best over a gloss coat, which limits silvering, and a matt varnish suits the finished vehicle. A wash and pigments will bring out the casemate detail and add dirt to the running gear.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the vinyl band tracks
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle - Jagdpanzer IV/70:

The Jagdpanzer IV was conceived as a successor to the assault gun in the tank destroyer role: a low casemate with steeply sloped plates on the Panzer IV chassis gave good protection at a modest height. The version designated Panzer IV/70(V) received the long 7.5 cm PaK 42 L/70 gun, the same as fitted to the Panther.

The new gun gave high muzzle velocity and the ability to destroy Allied tanks at long range. The price was the weight over the front of the vehicle, which loaded the front road wheels and the steering and limited cross country handling.

Vehicles of this type entered service in the second half of 1944 and fought to the end of the war - in Normandy, in the Ardennes and on the Eastern Front. They were used mainly in defence, from ambush and prepared firing positions, where their low silhouette and heavy gun counted for most.

Original vehicle specifications (Panzer IV/70(V)):

• Combat weight: approx. 25-26 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 7.5 cm PaK 42 L/70 gun
• Engine: Maybach HL 120 TRM petrol
• Chassis: Panzer IV medium tank
• Frontal armour: up to 80 mm, steeply sloped
• Production: from 1944 until the end of the war

About the manufacturer - Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. It began as a timber business and released its first plastic model kit in 1960. Two years later came the 1:35 scale tank that established this scale as the worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds, well thought out kit engineering and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of items covering vehicles, guns and figures from the Second World War and the modern era. Alongside kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.