Cavico Models 1/35 scale Riesen-Panzer IV Ausf A/B (Yellow Version) plastic model kit review

A new name to me, Cavico Models out of Japan, offers a series of models based on the NZ Industrial “Kampf Riesen Mars 1941/1945” lineup. It’s a "what if" series of models bringing big mechs into World War II. The 1/35 scale Riesen-Panzer IV Ausf A/B (Yellow Version) plastic model kit includes new parts that the original crowd-funded version from 2018 did not.

Two things inspire me the most in modeling: armor and sci-fi. Luckily, this kit fits perfectly into both categories. The kit builds similarly to Bandai’s Gundam and mecha kits: pre-colored parts that snap together and remain posable after assembly.

Construction starts with the barrel-shaped main body and head. The tight part fit means you don't need to use glue during the build, but I employed Tamiya Extra Thin Cement in a few areas to ensure they remained together. Even at 1/35 scale, there’s a driver’s hatch that opens. There isn’t much detail inside, though, and the kit doesn’t provide a pilot figure.

The arms and legs mirror each other and assembly identically. As such, I built both sets simultaneously. Like the body, a low parts count and good fits made building them a snap. Each arm and leg has five articulation points that allow for a lot of possibilities for posing. The legs, for example, can easily be placed in a running or kneeling pose.

Being that it’s a “what if” model, there is no correct way to paint or weather it. Use your imagination! The supplied decal sheet offers many options, including numbers and letters in white, black, and red, warning labels, and nose art. They even include decals that look like racing contingencies!

I kept it simple and within the theme and setting. You could build the model without paint, keeping the dark yellow plastic color. I painted and weathered my Riesen-Panzer IV like I would paint a WWII tank model with Tamiya acrylics and AK Interactive washes and pigments.

My Cavico Models 1/35 scale Riesen-Panzer IV Ausf A/B took me a weekend to build, and I painted and weathered over a second weekend for about 12 hours to get the finished model. As soon as I finished, I already started thinking about how to finish another. This is perfect for historical modelers looking for something similar but different. And if you’re a mecha modeler and want to move in a direction more like traditional armor, this kit makes a great option.