Tamiya 35381 - 1:35 German Panzer IV/70(A)

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the German tank destroyer Panzer IV/70(A)

The Panzer IV/70(A) was born of an urgent need: Germany lacked vehicles able to fight Allied tanks, while Panzer IV production was still running. The answer was to mount the long 7.5 cm PaK 42 L/70 gun in a tall superstructure on the Panzer IV Ausf.J chassis, with production carried out by Alkett. Tamiya 35381 is the 2023 release — some parts come from the Panzer IV Ausf.J tooling, the remainder are new.

The kit comprises 414 parts and allows the barrel to be built movable, complete with a travel lock. The Thoma mesh side skirts are supplied as photo-etched parts, giving an effect impossible to achieve in plastic. The tracks are of the link-and-length type. A commander bust completes the package.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the chassis, superstructure and gun
• Photo-etched parts: Thoma mesh side skirts
• Movable barrel and travel lock
• Link-and-length tracks
• Commander bust
• Decal sheet for two marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Product number: 35381
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled model length: approx. 242 mm
• Number of parts: 414
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (link-and-length tracks, photo-etched parts, high parts count)

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

Building the model:

This is one of the more elaborate kits in this group — 414 parts, link-and-length tracks and photo-etched components. We suggest attaching the Thoma mesh skirts with cyanoacrylate glue and precision tweezers; the result is well worth the effort. Thanks to the excellent parts fit typical of Tamiya, the build stays within reach of modellers with limited experience.

For painting we suggest a Dunkelgelb base (e.g. Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow) with green and brown patches; 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 texture and the mesh skirts, while pigments reproduce mud on the running gear. For even crisper detail, the Tamiya 12660 metal barrel is available separately — it is not part of this 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)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched parts
• 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 – Panzer IV/70(A):

By late 1944 German industry was looking for ways to field more vehicles armed with the effective 7.5 cm PaK 42 L/70 gun. Rather than wait for new chassis, Alkett mounted the gun in a tall superstructure on the readily available Panzer IV Ausf.J chassis.

The result was a 28-tonne vehicle with a crew of four: heavy firepower, but also a high, easily spotted silhouette and an overloaded front suspension. In all, 278 were built between August 1944 and March 1945.

Panzer IV/70(A)s went to panzer brigades and divisions fighting in both the west and the east — among them the 106th Panzer Brigade and the 17th Panzer Division, whose markings are included on the decal sheet in this kit.

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

• Combat weight: approx. 28 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 7.5 cm PaK 42 L/70 gun
• Chassis: Panzer IV Ausf.J with a tall superstructure
• Manufacturer: Alkett
• Production: 278 vehicles (August 1944 – March 1945)

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.