1/72 scale (20mm) Italeri Panzer IV Ausf. F2

 

 

The Panzer IV (Panzerkampfwagen IV) was the most produced German tank and the second most produced German Armoured Fighting Vehicle (second to the Sturmgeschütz III) during the war, with over 8,500 Panzer IV tanks built.  Several versions (Ausf.) of the Panzer IV were produced.  The Panzer IV Ausf. F1 version is armed with a short-barreled howitzer-like 7.5 cm KwK 37 (Kampfwagenkanone 37), while the Panzer IV Ausf. F2 is armed with a more powerful long-barreled 7.5 cm KwK 40.  

 

 

 

Panzer IV Ausf. F2 Data Card

 

Russian Captured Panzer IV Ausf. F2 Data Card

 

 

 

Italeri produces a 1/72 scale (20mm) ‘fast assembly’ Panzer IV F1/F2 kit, which allows you to build two Panzer IVs. The tanks could be built as either the Ausf. F1 (short-barreled gun) or the Ausf. F2 (long-barreled gun).

 

 

 

 

I built both tanks as long-barreled Panzer IV Ausf. F2s.  My reason for doing so is the short-barrel 7.5 cm KwK 37 was typically used only in the early war as this tank gun proved ineffective against Allied armour.

 

 

 

Panzer IV Ausf. F2: front

 

Panzer IV Ausf. F2: side 1

 

Panzer IV Ausf. F2: side 2

 

 

 

I painted one of the Panzer IVs as a captured tank adopted by the Red Army.  To represent the time constraints and limited resources (i.e. vehicle paint) the Red Army was under, I painted the top half of the Panzer IV in Russian Factory Green, while leaving the bottom half in the original German colours.  As well, I applied Russian tank decals and tank riders to the captured Panzer.  The decals are from Italeri’s T-34/85 and IS-2 kits and the tank riders are produced by HaT Toy Soldiers.

 

 

 

Captured Panzer IV Ausf. F2: front

 

Captured Panzer IV Ausf. F2: side 1

 

Captured Panzer IV Ausf. F2: side 2

 

 

The images below will appear in the German Armour I: Tanks section (in the upcoming Panzer IV Ausf F2 gallery) and the upcoming Russian Armoured IV section of Citizen Soldiers: A 1/72 scale World War 2 Model Site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Citizen Soldiers: A 1/72 scale World War 2 Model Site is devoted to the hobby of painting and collecting World War 2 models/miniatures.  It is my hope, through creating this website, to honour the men and women who served in the Second World War, whose sacrifices and courage have given us the freedom and quality of life we have today.