ESCI – 8319 – 8012 – Jagdpanzer IV

Description:

Jagdpanzer IV

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a German WWII tank destroyer Jagdpanzer IV (Sd.Kfz.162/1), fitted with a long barreled gun 7.5cm Pak 42 L/70 gun.

ESCI released the first of the two Jagdpanzer kits in 1974, the second release had to wait till 1977.

Focusing on this initial release, it depicts a late variant with a long L/70 gun (Sd.Kfz.162/1). In this occasion ESCI did not the single piece double width wheels, but they are not especially good either. The early series produced by ESCI also were issued with the single piece vinyl tracks.

The kit features also an early exhaust type and also has four return rollers, another early feature. The problem of this early features is it should probably also wear Zimmerit paste. The kit also offers two figures, but it’s value nowadays is not relevant.

Over the years other manufacturers put efforts on the Jagdpanzer IV in 1/72 scale, almost all of them, if not all, are superior to the old ESCI kit in almost every aspect (with the exception of the Hasegawa tracks compared to the ESCI-Ertl link and length ones).

Italeri never issued this variant, only reissued the short barreled variant as Italeri – 7028 – Jagdpanzer IV Ausf. F Sd.Kfz. 162.