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Armor/AFV: Axis - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Axis forces during World War II.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Border Model BT-001 Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.G Mid/Lat
GazzaS
#424
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Queensland, Australia
Joined: April 23, 2015
KitMaker: 4,648 posts
Armorama: 2,248 posts
Posted: Friday, February 15, 2019 - 12:37 PM UTC
Thank you for this great review.

The muzzle brake looks more like the Panther muzzle brake, though I know there was more than one type used. Are there other muzzle brakes available in the kit?

Obviously, in a shortage of Dragon kits, this one is quite welcome.

Gaz
ctkwok
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Alabama, United States
Joined: May 21, 2018
KitMaker: 197 posts
Armorama: 183 posts
Posted: Friday, February 15, 2019 - 01:08 PM UTC
Thanks! Yes they have both types used in G, the early type I used in my build and the wider late type.
ctkwok
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Alabama, United States
Joined: May 21, 2018
KitMaker: 197 posts
Armorama: 183 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 17, 2019 - 06:01 AM UTC

Some side by side comparison with Dragon.

The general profiles. On the right is the Dragon and left Border. I left some hatches and stuff off the Dragon in case I wanted to pose them differently, but otherwise it is complete. The Dragon has welded extra armor and Border has bolted. The applique armor is a little different, with the Border model extended more horizontally and curved more inwards. Of course it could be my execution. I'm not sure there is a standard here as reference photo seems to suggest both are ok.


Border use brass plates and Dragon steel for Schurzen. I'm not sure if it's my issue with fitting fenders, but the Border plates are more loose than Dragon's.


Close up of the turret side hatches. I'll spend more time comparing the turret since I think that's where the kits differ the most. First I got the Dragon's side hatches backwards, I didn't glue them down and was just test fitting which led to the mistake. I mentioned in the build that I think the lip-style opening in the Border kit seems inaccurate when compared with Dragon's recessed version, and Dragon's hinges have the top "pin" protruding that is absent from Border's. You can add that detail yourself. Dragon's side hatches have bottom tabs on each for padlocks, I'm not sure every vehicle has them so I don't know if their omission is an issue.


I have a nagging suspicion that the turret have different profiles so I put them together. Adjusting for visual illusion, they seem identical.




It seems Dragon's recessed areas (bolts, panel lines etc.) are generally deeper.


PanzerKarl
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England - North West, United Kingdom
Joined: April 20, 2004
KitMaker: 2,439 posts
Armorama: 1,980 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 17, 2019 - 07:38 PM UTC
The bolt on armour on the Border kit is not sitting flush.
ctkwok
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Alabama, United States
Joined: May 21, 2018
KitMaker: 197 posts
Armorama: 183 posts
Posted: Sunday, February 17, 2019 - 07:44 PM UTC

Quoted Text

The bolt on armour on the Border kit is not sitting flush.



Haven't committed to a welded or bolted armor vehicle yet so the piece is slapped on, but great observation.
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