Interestingly, the Panzer IV was originally designed as an infantry-support tank, whereas the Panzer III was designated as the vehicle to engage enemy armor. This was to change as World War II developed, and in fact the PzKpfw IV was the only German tank to remain in production throughout the entirety of the war with 8,500 produced between 1937 and 1945. Dragon has recently produced two sensational 1/35 scale kits of the Panzer IV F2 and G, and the next subject to receive the treatment is the F1. Compared to the Ausf. E, modifications incorporated in the F1 were an increase in armor thickness, wider 40cm tracks, new mufflers, revised hatches and visors, plus air-intake cowls to aid cooling of the steering brakes. A total of 462 of this variant were produced between April 1941 and March 1942.Dragon’s outstanding plastic rendition of the Panzer IV Ausf. F1 accurately portrays this short-barreled Panzer. The 1/35 scale kit is based on exhaustive research, and it has been carefully engineered by Dragon’s skilled technicians. The result is an extremely accurate kit that is easy and pleasurable to assemble thanks to its Smart Kit status. This new tank will be rapturously received by military modelers, especially those interested in earlier versions of the Panzer IV. This wonderful new model has captured the essence of an older tank!