[MAGNA]

That's a really nice job, especially the decals Geek.

I'm just going to slip a quick review in here if you don't mind. It may help those who are looking at gaming when purchasing.

This is a review of two model kits in 1/72nd scale. As the models I buy usually end up on the games table I am always looking for different variants.

The first is the Dragon JagdPanzer IV L/70. The production model I suppose. The kit comes with a large number of small parts and extra road wheels for some reason. It even has an extra mantlet. Etched brass parts are included, some of which are literally tiny. There are two levels with this kit. For example, the rear hull top can be put together from parts including separate tools, or there is a moulded one piece part. I used the one piece part before I realised this option was available. I still would have gone that way and kept the other bits had I known.

The second kit is the Hasegawa Ostwind, again based on the Panzer IV. This kit has extra parts as well. It includes the Panzer IV turret with the L/48 gun, a bonus for gaming as it means two vehicle types available. The other extras include an unusual hull top which apparently comes with the Morser Karl kit and is for the munitions panzer.

Both kits are flash free with very good fitting of small parts. The Dragon kit did have a problem when it came to putting the top hull piece on though. The top and bottom hulls have a rod and pin system moulded in. The large hollow rods are in the bottom and the pins are in the top. The pins did not line up properly with the rods and were not straight. The pins had to be sliced on one side to fit. Even then the hulls twisted and would not line up. More slicing. It seemed strange to have to do this when everything else fitted so well.

The Hasegawa tracks were short and one was split. Unfortunately the Ostwind didn't come with cock-up covers so extra 'dirt' was required on the tracks.

The instructions;

Dragons - not too good. Confusing at times and out of sequence. If the instructions sequence is followed exactly there would be parts that could never be fitted.

Hasegawa - very good. All in sequence with snippets of info where necessary.

The one noticeable thing about both. They are far more advanced than many earlier kits. The detail added is excellent.

As far as wargaming is concerned, both are good representations. The Dragon kit is more suited to a static display though as the small parts included are going to go missing once it has been on the table a few times. The Hasegawa model is not as likely to have this problem.

Neither kit is for the beginner and both could be enhanced for display purposes.

I don't know about the level of small parts and brass in this scale though. The Dragon kit includes a lot of this. The Hasegawa has some. Once either is painted the extra parts and detail make little difference compared to other kits which have the same detail moulded on or even those which don't have as much detail (unless you get up close). It just isn't worth the extra bother in 1/72nd for gaming.

From building both I have to say they are excellent kits for display in dioramas. If I was to build a kit for single display and wanted all the bits that come with it I would definitely go for a larger scale.