Tamiya 35374 - 1:35 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.F

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German tank Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.F

In the early war years the Panzer IV served as a support tank — its short 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 gun was meant to break up firing positions and fortifications, while the Panzer III took on enemy armour. Tamiya 35374 depicts the Ausf.F in exactly that form, from tooling created in 2020.

The model faithfully captures the wider tracks and the frontal armour thickened to 50 mm that characterise this version. Two engine deck options are provided. The tracks are of the link-and-length type, and the kit includes a jig that makes it easier to reproduce their natural sag across the road wheels. Three crew figures are posed in the commander's cupola and the side turret hatches.

Please note: this is the short-gun version — no long barrel from the later Panzer IV variants is included.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, turret and equipment
• Short 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 gun
• Link-and-length tracks
• Jig for reproducing the track sag
• Two engine deck options
• Three figures: commander in the cupola, gunner and loader in the side turret hatches
• Decal sheet for two marking options (Eastern Front)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35374
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: approx. 169 mm (calculated from the original vehicle length)
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (link-and-length tracks)

Note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This kit is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Assembly goes smoothly thanks to the excellent parts fit typical of Tamiya. The tracks deserve the most attention — the supplied jig makes it far easier to achieve a natural sag along the upper run, and the effect clearly lifts the finished model. The figures are best finished separately and added at the end.

For both Eastern Front options we suggest the dark Panzergrau base (e.g. Tamiya XF-63 German Grey); the instructions give Tamiya paint codes for both schemes. Applying decals over a gloss coat helps avoid silvering, and a matt varnish makes a suitable final finish. A wash brings out the armour detail, while pigments reproduce dust and mud on the tracks. For even crisper detail you may wish to consider metal accessories available separately in our shop — they are not part of the kit.

Tools you will need:

• Sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.F:

The Panzer IV was designed as a support tank armed with the short 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 gun and its large high-explosive shell. In that role it excelled — it could destroy a machine gun nest or a bunker with a single round, even though its armour-piercing shells had a low muzzle velocity.

The Ausf.F version, built in 1941–1942 to the tune of around 470 vehicles, received wider tracks and frontal armour increased to 50 mm — a response to the first months of fighting on the Eastern Front. It was powered by a 300 hp Maybach HL120TRM engine, weighed about 22.3 tonnes and carried a crew of five.

Encounters with the Soviet T-34 and KV-1 showed that the short gun was no longer enough. Later Panzer IV versions received the long 7.5 cm KwK 40, turning the support tank into Germany's principal medium tank for the second half of the war.

Original vehicle specifications (Panzer IV Ausf.F):

• Length: approx. 5.92 m
• Width: approx. 2.88 m
• Height: approx. 2.68 m
• Combat weight: approx. 22.3 t
• Crew: 5
• Main armament: short 7.5 cm KwK 37 L/24 gun
• Engine: Maybach HL120TRM, 300 hp
• Armour: up to 50 mm
• Production: approx. 470 vehicles (1941–1942)

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The business began in timber and wooden models, and in 1960 it released its first injection-moulded plastic kit. Two years later came the 1:35 tank that established the scale as a worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for precise moulds and outstanding 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 releases and is one of the most comprehensive catalogues of 1:35 military vehicles anywhere. Alongside kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. Today the company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.