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Tristar Sturmpanzer IV Early/Mid
staff_Jim
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Posted: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 12:59 PM UTC
Tristar has provided a pre-release production sample of their newest kit, the Sturmpanzer IV Early (Mid. Production) which includes a partial interior, separate tracks and an ample photo etch.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
CMOT
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Posted: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 01:29 PM UTC
I have never attempted a kit from Tristar as yet but this looks to be one I would really like to get my hands on. The only issue I can see is some flow marks that may or may not be an issue. The inclusion of an interior is a nice touch that should make this a popular kit, and there is some really nice moulded texture. Do we have a release date for it?
staff_Jim
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Posted: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 01:34 PM UTC
Hi Darren,
I have inquired but nothing firm yet. I would assume pretty soon as this kit was in full production form.

Cheers,
Jim
c5flies
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Posted: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 03:31 PM UTC
Thanks for the preview, Jim, always good to see something new from Tristar.

Darren, those flow marks seem to be pretty common in Tristar's moldings, at least in the few kits I have. No issues with painting, and the only problem I've encountered was a sprocket cracked while still on the sprue which was due more to a short shot than anything, although it had those flow marks on it, too.
alanmac
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Posted: Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 10:32 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Tristar has provided a pre-release production sample of their newest kit, the Sturmpanzer IV Early (Mid. Production) which includes a full interior, separate tracks and an ample photo etch.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!




Hi Jim

I don't wish to be pedantic but your description here and in the article describes the kit as having a full interior. It isn't a full interior. Whilst extensive it only details the fighting compartment around the gun. Further on inside to the drivers area, transmission etc is not included and would have to be sourced, unless Tristar add this.

Looks a nice kit though, as all Tristar kits seem to be, certainly from the ones I've purchased are great.

Alan
CMOT
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Posted: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 02:51 AM UTC
Thank you James as I had not considered it being a weak point (even though that makes sense) I was thinking about the possibility of an indent that may show when completed.
staff_Jim
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Posted: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 07:28 AM UTC
Hi Alan,
Thanks for pointing that out. I will amend it to read 'partial' interior.

Jim
alanmac
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Posted: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 07:39 AM UTC
Hi Jim

Saw your edit. Just didn't want the moaners to come down on you. It is a bit strange on Tristar's part because other kits they've put interiors into have been full interiors, right through to engine compartment detail.

With the big hatches this beastie has it needs an interior. Maybe they figured that the missing elements won't be seen but that can probably be said for about 90% on interiors.

Will we see this build blogged by one of the usual suspects soon ?

Alan
90designer
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Posted: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 09:30 AM UTC
Hi,
just a point which no-one appears to have picked up - the box illustration shows zimmerit - why no moulded zimmerit? or we supposed to shell out for the kit, and then spend about the same on an aftemarket add on?
DW
CMOT
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Posted: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 11:08 AM UTC
Only DML have provided kits with Zim on the hull structures, and they have their own issues as it effects fit of pieces. A number of people have complained that because the Zim is perfect it is difficult to make it look damaged, and I don't think it is really fair to knock the kit because it doesn't have Zim moulded on it.
90designer
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Posted: Wednesday, July 14, 2010 - 09:21 PM UTC
Not knocking Tristar really, just another kit that raises the level of scale detail to the next plane - but cannot be made into an accurate 'out of the box' (at higher and higher cost)
Dave
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Posted: Sunday, July 25, 2010 - 01:13 PM UTC
I have been pleasantly surprised with Tristar's fit and finish. Some areas of their 38(t) are over complicated, but they've carved out a niche, although a crowded one in Axis armor. At least we are presented with relatively complete kits by them making their 'bang-for-the-buck' pretty high in comparison to those demanding addition upon addition...

It can only get better!
GaryKato
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Posted: Sunday, July 25, 2010 - 05:34 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Saw your edit. Just didn't want the moaners to come down on you. It is a bit strange on Tristar's part because other kits they've put interiors into have been full interiors, right through to engine compartment detail.

With the big hatches this beastie has it needs an interior. Maybe they figured that the missing elements won't be seen but that can probably be said for about 90% on interiors.




Tristar has put a full interior in their Panzer 38(t) kits but not their Panzer IV kits (at least not the Ausf C and initial Ausf D kits that I have). I believe for a while Tristar sold their Panzer 38(t) interior as a separate kit.
vonHengest
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Posted: Sunday, July 25, 2010 - 05:46 PM UTC
Gary: You are correct. For a time Tristar did sell it's 38(t) interior as a separate kit, which can still be found through some retailers.

It would be nice to have some more options from Tristar for their Panzer IV chassis, but they do look to be nice kits for what it's worth.
They also made a nicely detailed interior for the Flakpanzer I kit they released a while back, but no engine if my memory serves correct.
jacob33
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Posted: Monday, July 26, 2010 - 01:01 AM UTC
the sprues of the hull look exactly the same (color and each part) as their Panzer IV ausf D. kit. Strange because on the hull-sprues it appears like it said "brumbar", oh well, I never noticed that I was actually capable of remembering the actual arrangements of the actual pieces, nor did i never know the lexicon for the "holes" and the extrusions/indentations to merge two pieces together.
Plasticbattle
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Posted: Monday, July 26, 2010 - 08:34 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Not knocking Tristar really, just another kit that raises the level of scale detail to the next plane - but cannot be made into an accurate 'out of the box' (at higher and higher cost) Dave


Hi Dave. You always have the option of building the # 35038 kit - German Sturmpanzer IV (Early) Sd.Kfz.166. No need for zimmerit for this one. The fighting compartment does not have the round stowage details like the later kit does, but the gun is there. Its an excellent kit .... Im building it at the moment.

Quoted Text

They also made a nicely detailed interior for the Flakpanzer I kit they released a while back, but no engine if my memory serves correct.


Tristar do have an injection-moulded engine as well ... although it came after the flakpanzer kit ... it was inlcuded in their # 35025 kit - Panzerkampfwagen I Ausf.A ohne Aufbau.

Quoted Text

the sprues of the hull look exactly the same (color and each part) as their Panzer IV ausf D. kit. Strange because on the hull-sprues it appears like it said "brumbar", oh well, I never noticed that I was actually capable of remembering the actual arrangements of the actual pieces


Not exactly the same. The pzr IV D has seperate plates to make up the lower hull, but the Brumbar has a single tub. Totally different. Maybe thats why you never noticed that you were capable of remembering the actual arrangements Jacob
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