Rye Field Models RM-5033 1/35 2 in 1 Panzer IV Ausf J. (Whats in the box?)

My first foray into building a Pz.IV Ausf J was as a dual build. It was an interesting comparison between a mid naughties Dragon kit, considered one of their best Ausf J's releases, and Border Models 2019 released BT-008 kit.

Using the well researched Panzer Tracts No.4-3 publication once more, I would now tackle Ryefield Models (RFM) 2 in 1 kit RM-5033.

This was released at the same time as their interior kit 5043 and uses similar flat pack engineering to create the Wanne (Hull tub). Kit 5033 allows you to build both a gun tank and an artillery observation tank. The instructions have you build the gun tank option with a three return roller Wanne, with extended side towing eyes. This is also how you are instructed to build up the gun tank in kit 5043. However, although not instructed to, you do get the choice to backdate the gun tank in both kits to a slightly earlier production variant, without some of the very last features. All the parts are available on the sprues.

This is a kit I have very much been looking forward to building.  It will be my first RFM kit and I have only heard goods things about them as a manufacturer. Although I understand purests have spotted some accuracy issues, the kit engineering is much lauded. So without further ado lets get started.

Upon opening the large box all the sprues are individually packaged and the instruction booklet looks nice and clear. There is also a small correction sheet, but this looks only applicable to their interor kit 5043. As already mentioned, in addition to the regular Ausf J gun tank, you can also build a Panzerbeobachtungswagen IV Ausf. J (Pz.Beob.Wg.IV Ausf.J). This was an artillery observation tank which started to be assembled on the Ausf J in April 1944. This is instructed to be built with a four return roller Wanne. Whether any were built on the later three roller Wanne I am unsure.

Checking over the sprues I was surprised to see a few parts covered in small traces of flash. They don't look too much trouble to clean up, but it is not something I expected to see on a kit so new. There are also a lot of mould stubs on the rear of parts. What RFM can be commended on is the positive placement of many of the more delicately moulded items to the sprue gates. Cleaning them up can be made much easier without sacrificing detail.

 

 

RFM offer an upgrade solution for super detailing. Set RM-2003 can be used both on this kit and their interior kit.