COBI PzKpfw IV Ausf. G Set 2592

COBI's PzKpfw IV Ausf. G is a 1:28 model built from 1,107 blocks, 25 cm long, in late-war camouflage. The turret rotates through 360 degrees, the barrel elevates, the turret and basket lift off to show the interior, the tracks run, and a brick engine sits under the service hatch or displays alongside. A tank crew figure in cap and headphones is included, plus a printed nameplate.

In production on the first day and the last

No other German tank managed it. The Panzer IV was in service when the war started in September 1939 and was still being built when it ended in 1945 — every other design was either introduced later or dropped earlier.

It survived by changing. The original was a short-barrelled support tank meant to fire high-explosive at bunkers and gun positions while the Panzer III fought enemy armour. Then the T-34 appeared, the Panzer III's turret ring turned out to be too small to take a bigger gun, and the Panzer IV's was not. The long 7.5 cm went in, and the support tank became the main battle tank by default.

More than 8,000 were built, more than any other German tank, and the chassis carried the Sturmgeschütz IV, the Jagdpanzer IV, the Wirbelwind and the Hummel. Germany built more exotic tanks. This is the one that did the work.

Specifications

Pieces: 1,107 · Figures: 1 · Scale: 1:28 · Removable engine
Model dimensions: 25 × 13.5 × 11 cm (9.8 × 5.3 × 4.3 in)