Kit Review: Dragon 6265 Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. D 3 in 1 in 1/35

This is an in-box review of the second in the line of so-called "Super Kits" of the Panzer IV. This particular one is a D, released in 2006.

[@charleslaine]

I built the Ausf.C 6291 kit and it has much the same detail and complexity as this. Very fiddle but it looks fantastic. It did not have a jig for properly setting the magic tracks, and I just had to do it on the kit itself. But these kits are very cool. It was my first kit that I ever built that had so many pieces of photo etch and I struggled at first. the key (of course) is to have a proper set of precision folding tools and ways to manipulate and deal with so many exceedingly small parts. The hardest thing to put on the kit were these super tiny wing nuts that go onto a couple of the tools. OMG they are so small, and maybe it's just the way that the dragon photo etch is tooled, but those tiny parts were very difficult to place onto the model without them vanishing into thin air!

[@AdamMann3D]

I have been waiting to build this after butchering the E super kit. They are amazing

[@lucasner463]

Adam, you do some of the best reviews on the web, brother. Whenever I am looking to buy a kit, yours is the first page I check for a review.

[@AdamMann3D]

+lucasner463 Thank you very much, that's very kind praise.

[@Duececoupe]

Managed to get my dirty mittens on Dragon's Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H, Mid Production, Autumn 1943, Smart Kit....kit number 6526 if I remember correctly....onwards and upwards to get this one, all thanks to you and your superb reviews Adam! Looking forward to many more! All the best, Jan

[@AdamMann3D]

You're very welcome. Thanks for the support.

[@timothywood4402]

That is the state of the art kit.hell most from that time (2005-7) i luv em.but i been at it for decades.wish they kept that type of kit going til now for the Panzer IV etc...but hey we got 3D printing...awesum...! Nice review bubba.

[@geekyrocket9714]

Nice review! I've had my eye on this kit on Ebay from a seller up in my neck of the woods for a decent price, may have to snag it after watching this review. The lower hull assembly (whereby we are essentially assembly every nuance of detail) is almost exactly the same as the Dicker Max I built... long and tedious work but looks superb once built up. Cheers!

[@AdamMann3D]

GeekyRocket Yeah I would say that some parts of these kits are a bit over engineered, but man they do look nice when they're together. Do they look better than the simpler builds? Maybe.

[@dsmith8984]

Love your videos Adam, you are very knowledgeable with German armour and Dragon’s kits. Watching your videos has inspired me to buy these Dragon kits and now I have a fairly large stash of them. They really are excellent kits, the level of detail, the fit, etc really impresses me. I used to build only Tamiya but I’ve gone off their kits with too many issues over their glue together rubber band tracks. I’ve become really good at assembling individual plastic link tracks so I now buy Dragon kits for their realism, although I’ve stayed clear of DS tracks. Thanks Adam, keep up the great videos mate. 😊👍

[@AdamMann3D]

You are most welcome, and thanks for the positive feedback. I'm not making videos as often due to having little kids at the moment, but I always want to record something after such a nice comment.

[@dsmith8984]

Adam Mann that’s awesome to hear, I have two daughters now in their mid teens and I must say it’s been a wonderful time in my life watching them grow and learn things etc. I’ve really enjoyed the experience of fatherhood and I hope for you the experience is just as good. Stay safe mate in these difficult times. Cheers and best wishes from Melbourne Australia, Dean. 👍

[@Mokkori84]

Good review mate. The other once are good too. Haven't had much time lately but I try too look at as many videos as I can. Keep it up.

[@AdamMann3D]

60sGarageLover88 There are more reviews filmed, so don't worry I'll keep going. Until I run out of kits to review at least. Thanks for watching.

[@davout71]

Excellent review. I am currently building Panzer III smart kit 6394. It is my first Dragon kit and I have been on it 6 months. My next kit is 6265 which I bought in a sale before Christmas. I must admit my current kit has been a real challenge for me and after I read your review I am feeling just a little intimidated about commencing 6265 lol.

[@AdamMann3D]

davout71 Thank you very much. Funny enough I jumped in to one of those Panzer IV super kits too soon myself. You may want to do one or two more before diving in to that kit. They're very complex. Beautiful, but they call them super kits for a reason.

[@davout71]

Adam Mann I may just take your advice. I have a 234/1 smart kit in waiting as an alternative.

[@rickmoreno6858]

Just picked one up today with voyager set for 50. Going to build my Tristar version pz 4 ausf d, and see how it stacks up with this kit. Hell I'll have plenty leftover for my tamiya 1970s kit to upgrade it, even got resin tracks for the tamiya kit.

[@tommelom2]

Dicker max also uses this kit as a base. Nice walkthrough of the kit!:)

[@AdamMann3D]

Thanks. I just got a Dicker Max and you are correct.

[@TheJer1963]

Adam, great job getting this kit for $20. Today on Ebay a sealed kit will cost you $65. I am willing to go $55 for a sealed mint box ($55 shipped). Kind of a hard kit to find today in June 2019. It is suppose to have 1,197 parts in it. I am still working on kit #6291 which is suppose to have 1,164 parts and I swear this kit is drving the crazy. I have never opened a kit that had so many warped parts. First problem was the wheels and it got worse from there. If anyone knows of this #6265 kit for sale please let me know. It is going to be sitting in my stash for at least the next 5 or 6 years, to many kits ahead of it. I don't know of any Dragon kit that comes with more parts than #6265.

[@milky55way2012]

An awesome kit, one of the best Dragon ever produced, in my humble opinion of course. But the suspension was over engineered. The dimensions and shape look spot on though. My favorite variant of the Pz IVs.

[@AdamMann3D]

milky55way2012 The suspension does seem a bit ridiculous. Looks nice when it's done though. It's a good representation of an Early Pruner IV for sure.

[@HollywoodModelling]

Awesome Review buddy.. you did miss one of the super kits though... 6402 the Ausf. E Tauchpanzer is one as well...Oh yeah... and stop the memes..... :D

[@AdamMann3D]

Hollywood Modelling Thank you very much Hendrik. I thought I missed one. And I have stopped by the way.

[@HollywoodModelling]

Yeah I know... I was jokingly saying this... :D

[@shawnstreeter236]

Nice review...too many parts for this kid!

[@AdamMann3D]

Shawn Streeter Thank you. You and me both on that part count. I built the E version of the kit and I didn't take advantage of all that was there. For those that can do it though, lots of stuff.

[@Svesther]

Nice review, those instructions make my eyes bleed :)

[@AdamMann3D]

+Svenne009 thank you, those 3 in 1 super kits have some pretty intense instructions. But if you go over them and circle what you need before you start it makes it more doable.

[@rob3609]

Wow after this build you must be able to make the real thing LOL