I think my (Bolt Action) Germans need a tank

[ithoriel]

If you’re trying to keep it simple, get 2 Pz IVs, a Pz IVD, paint it grey, for early to mid war and a PzIVG or H and paint it dark yellow, red brown and olive green cammo for mid to late.

This!

The early, short barrelled, version covers Poland, the Fall of France and the early parts of the North Africa campaign.

The later, long barrelled, version covers the Eastern Front, later North Africa, Italy, D-Day and North West Europe.

Even early war the PzIII is beginning to show it's age and by the time Kursk is over the PzIII is pretty much relegated to being a training tank or they are being retrofitted as assault guns (by both the Germans and the Russians).

[Doug E]

Thank you all for the training and the sage advice!!!

I'm amazed at how much I learned from a few comments and a couple of Wikipedia pages. 

The order has been placed -

Back to painting bread bags now.

[vodkafan]

You have had great advice already. My advice is: go 3d printed. I recently bought a perfectly acceptable  1/56 early war Panzer IV  from eBay for about £5. It was in the cheaper PLA but the detail was fine for gaming.  Lots of other tanks are available from the same seller. At that price, you can afford three or four different tanks for the price of one plastic kit or resin beast. Which means your options are not so squeezed.