Tamiya 35378 - 1:35 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.G Early Production

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German tank Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf.G (early production)

Encounters with the T-34 and KV-1 forced the Germans to rearm the Panzer IV. The Ausf.G received the long 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/43 gun with its ball-shaped muzzle brake — from that moment the support tank became a fully capable battle tank. Tamiya 35378 depicts the early-production variant from tooling created in 2021.

The kit stands out for its wealth of external stowage: sandbags, jerry cans (including water cans), spare track links and wheels, a wooden crate, a rolled tarpaulin, tow cables and a flare pistol launcher allow the vehicle to be built fully kitted out for the front. The tracks are of the link-and-length type, and the supplied jig makes it easier to reproduce their sag. Four full figures and a driver bust turn the model into a ready-made scene.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, turret and equipment
• Link-and-length tracks
• Jig for reproducing the track sag
• Stowage: sandbags, jerry cans (including water cans), spare track links and wheels, wooden crate, rolled tarpaulin, tow cables, flare pistol launcher
• Four full figures (commander, gunner, loader, infantryman) plus a driver bust
• Decal sheet for two marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35378
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model size: approx. 187 × 82 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (link-and-length tracks, many small accessories, five figures)

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

Building the model:

The tank itself goes together quickly thanks to the excellent parts fit typical of Tamiya. Most of the time goes into the stowage and the figures — the small accessories are easier to paint separately before they are glued to the armour. The track jig makes it much easier to achieve a natural sag along the upper run.

For the 21st Panzer Division option we suggest tropical sand tones (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow), and for the Eastern Front option the dark Panzergrau (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 and pigments help reproduce desert dust or 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 (useful for the figures)
• 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.G:

The campaign on the Eastern Front brutally exposed German assumptions: the short-barrelled Panzer IV had nothing with which to fight the T-34 and KV-1. The answer was the long 7.5 cm KwK 40 gun, initially in its L/43 form, which gave armour-piercing rounds a high muzzle velocity and a real chance of defeating Soviet armour.

The Ausf.G was built from March 1942 to June 1943, with 1,930 vehicles completed. Weighing about 23.5 tonnes, it was powered by a 300 hp Maybach HL120TRM engine and carried a crew of five. Early vehicles of this version are recognisable by the distinctive ball-shaped muzzle brake.

Panzer IV Ausf.Gs fought on every front — from North Africa, where they served with the 21st Panzer Division among others, to the Eastern Front. From this version onwards the Panzer IV became Germany's principal medium tank, remaining in production until the end of the war.

Original vehicle specifications (Panzer IV Ausf.G, early production):

• Length: approx. 5.92 m (hull)
• Width: approx. 2.88 m
• Height: approx. 2.68 m
• Combat weight: approx. 23.5 t
• Crew: 5
• Main armament: 7.5 cm KwK 40 L/43 gun with ball-shaped muzzle brake
• Engine: Maybach HL120TRM, 300 hp
• Production: 1,930 vehicles (March 1942 – June 1943)
• Origin: a response to the Soviet T-34

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.