Dragon Armor Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. F1 (F) - Rare

No. 60084, Vintage year - 2009, Scale - 1:72

Unit - Pz.Rgt. 31, 5.Pz.Div. ("Devil's Head") - The 5th Panzer was formed in November 1938 at Oppeln. It fought in Poland and France before supplying Pz.Rgt. 15 to the newly-created 11th Panzer Division. It took part in the Balkans campaign before transferring to the Eastern Front where if fought in the central sector. It participated in the drive against Moscow and later fought at Kursk before getting pushed back into Latvia, Kurland and finally East Prussia (where it surrendered to the Soviet Army in April 1945 near Danzig). Throughout the fighting on the Eastern Front, the 5th Division was seen as one of the best German units by their Soviet counterparts. Up until July 1944 when Operation Bagration destroyed Germany Army Group Center, the Soviet High Command advised against directly engaging the division if possible.
Campaign - Russia 1942- Panzer IVs were used in Operation Barbarossa in June 1941. They were all of the "short" type. Throughout 1942, the production of the F and G versions increased as the Germans needed a tank to pit against the T-34s and KV-1s after the Battle of Moscow. Until May 1943 when the first Panthers and Tigers were introduced, the Panzer IV constituted the backbone of the German Panzer Divisions.

Markings - Tan and dark green stripe camouflage with brown spots with No. 424 on turret in red and the Demon's Head insignia on turret and front of the 31st Regiment. Also has German cross on front hull and insignia (yellow X) of the 5th Panzer Division as well as the number "82235" on the side. 

Model - The Krupp-designed Ausf. F began in April 1941 and was the third production variant to the Panzer IV. The first production unit was an Ausf. D as the A, B and C versions were used for development and training only. The early Ausf. F featured 50 mm single-plate armor (vs. the applique armor added to the Ausf. E) and further increase in side armor to 30 mm. The Ausf. F featured armor additions, a new turret, a new drive sprocket (front) and was the last variant with the short-barreled 75 mm gun. Wider tracks also facilitated the fitting of track shoe "ice sprags" (mittelestollen). The designation Ausf. F changed to Ausf. F1 after the distinct new model, the Ausf. F2, appeared. Almost 500 Ausf. F tanks were produced from April F2 to March 1942.  The early Panzer IVs used the short 75 mm gun but later versions used the 75 mm KwK 40 L/43 and then the Kwk 40 L/48 in early 1943.  After dealing with the Soviet T-34 medium and KV-1 heavy tanks during Barbarossa, the designers realized the need to up-gun the Panzer IV in successive upgrades.

Condition - New with minor wear on box. 

Thank you for your interest.