Wade’s World Review - TriStar Pz IV ausf C #35017
Some tools need added but my opinion and evaluation of the kit is as follows:
5 Price - The Hobby Boss repop is available via Amazon to your door in the USA for $43 and listed for as little as $32 elsewhere plus shipping on the interwebs. I paid $20 to a vendor in 2014 (IPMS Roscoe Turner) for this kit.
I think the TriStar Pz IV’s are an excellent value, see the following review for justification and documentation.
4 Instructions - They are generally good 
but have room for improvement. There’s a suspension part number error on the parts tree. S24 is listed for parts S24 & S25. The difference is noticeable as one part is for the left hand side and the other for the right hand side.
In some steps related to the hull, providing a sequence of assembly could be beneficial. Most know to do the inter supports of the lower hull before the sides plates but mentioning it would benefit less experienced modelers…etc.
4 Molding Quality - This one is painful because there is so much absolutely fantastic molded detail in this kit. However, I can’t rate it a 5 due to slight divits & depressions (sink marks) being present plus some light flash. The depressions sand flush without trouble. The A part suspension dampers were the worst offenders in my kit but not the only ones.
5 Plastic Quality - Very similar to the top Dragon Slayers like Takom, Ryefield or Meng. Sands, scraps or trims nicely - easy to clean.
5 Parts Clean Up - It’s easy & basically painless but takes a while due to the complex suspension. TriStar, in my opinion designed for easy clean up.
3 Ease of Build - Very subjective for this kit. Parts clean up must be absolutely precise 
percent perfect. Taping or clamping required due to part warpage.
If one’s parts clean up is always perfect add 1 point. One tiny burr on a either beveled assembly face will cause issues. Be sure to check for warpage & fix etc.
The fabulous, easy to clean open guide tooth track links help the kit score 3 instead of a 2.
5 Accuracy - I’m not Captain Accuracy but this kit passes with flying colors imo. The Pz IV is my favorite tank to model. I didn’t pull references to check as I found nothing visually offensive about this Pz IV kit. 
5 Fit - that’s the white Elephant in the room for this kit.
I had a couple of issues but I felt it was due to my failure to fix a warped belly plate in step 2 and likewise missing a slight warp in the upper hull.
So Wade why the hell are you giving a kit with two major warped parts a pass on fit other than your blatantly obvious pro TriStar Dragon hating favoritism?
Because my other TriStar Star Pz IV doesn’t have the warp issues. Pulled and checked after this one was on the workbench.
Likewise, there’s an assumption made one can successfully fill hairline seams with Mr Surfacer and remove excess without damage to surrounding details. I personally wouldn’t want to build this model without thinned Molak Stucco Putty, Mr Color Leveling Thinner & a stack of Q-tips to remove excess putty.
5 Doesn’t Require Aftermarket none needed, tracks are sweet the MG’s slide molded, kit has photo etc. One can of course add aftermarket as desired. Photo etch is provided as are tool latches & wing nuts etc.
5 Details Built Out of the Box - kit is a Top of the Food Chain Natural Born Killer for stock model in my opinion.
However the fiddly basic construction 
will hang many careless builders.
46 out of 50
46/50 => 92%
**Very Highly Recommended for the Pz IV connoisseur…aka Pz IV Geeks 
**
Recommended to others if they enjoy a rewarding yet challenging model kit build.
Not recommended for:
beginners
novices
intermediate
Experienced modelers due to fiddly construction and time consuming parts clean up.
