Panzer IV ausf D

[Striker]

Hi,

First of all, as i'm a Froggies, sorry about my english.
And as it is my first Vbench, not sure to be quite good as other =)

So this first bench is about a kit i made recently for a french forum, with the subject "Kit for less than 25€" :lol:

So i decided myself to take the old Tamiya Panzer IV Ausf D, covered with dust (natural one, not Mig :lol: ), not as good as recent one, i know, but i decided to build it and accurising it to see all the work needed to do something credible and test my nerves :lol:

So first of all, i have planned to check all the thnigs i could correct easily without massive surgical operation on the kit. So, as i don't have patience and technical skill to do so.

So first of all, some pictures of the model :

http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Photos/Tamiya/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv%20box1.jpg

http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Ph...iv%20parts1.jpg (http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Photos/Tamiya/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv%20parts1.jpg)

http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Ph...iv%20parts2.jpg (http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Photos/Tamiya/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv%20parts2.jpg)

http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Ph...iv%20parts3.jpg (http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Photos/Tamiya/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv%20parts3.jpg)

http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Ph...iv%20parts4.jpg (http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Photos/Tamiya/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv%20parts4.jpg)

http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Ph...iv%20parts5.jpg (http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Photos/Tamiya/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv%20parts5.jpg)

http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Ph...iv%20parts6.jpg (http://www.studioscale.com/images/Kit%20Photos/Tamiya/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv/tamiya%20panzer%20kampfwagen%20iv%20parts6.jpg)

I forget to tell you : My references comes essentially from the build of James Tainton, in a way the Dragon's kit help me to accurate the Tamiya's. And others blueprint or photos from here and there on the web.

[Striker]

Here is the list
http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/800/10000210z.jpg

Bon alors les différents points :

- 1 - The strap has to be remade
- 2 - add chains and the something like a mask
- 3 - the part where the smugler connect to the hull is missing
- 4 - Straps were missing
- 5 - This parts seems to be for the Ausf E and not the Ausf D... but not sure about it
- 6 - The things to put the wire is missing
- 7 - nuts missing and circles on the "outside" of the wheel
- 8 - a circle is missing on the oustide
- 9 - this part is not right, must be bend
- 10 - This part must be redone
- 11 - miss two little "fuel opening"
- 12 - this part are wrong


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/800/10000210z2.jpg


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/800/10000210z3.jpg


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/800/10000210z4.jpg

As i'm not sure of my translation, i just put the pictures of the others here for information.

[Striker]

First part to be corrected - the hull have a bad look because i use a Dremel to remove the moldel parts

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20001.jpg

I have added two small square of plasticar of the central hatch
I add a small thing where the wire is attached but damn', what an awful work i have done :(
I made the thing were the little muffler is connected to the hull

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20005.jpg

I then add lot of nuts an redo the final drive housing, using a quickly molded kubelwind part, which is not correct, but as the drive sprockets will be in front of it, and there's a plate on the drive housing, i decided to use it, and just add the bolts.
http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20008.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20009.jpg

Here you can see the original part and what i have to remove on the drive sprockets to place it on the modified drive housing

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20016.jpg

All the bold added on the lower hull

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20010.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20012.jpg

[Striker]

Here is what i've done in one afternoon, when i didn't play to the Game blitzkrieg :-)

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20017.jpg

...
What a poor english i have :(

[amba]

Benjamin,

your english is good! Only the photos are not, cause I cant see them :lol:

-Ambjoern

[Larry Bates]

Benjamin,

Your english is not so bad, I understand you. Your scratch building is good also.

Keep going. :thumb:

Larry

[Flak]

Your english is better than I ;)

Keep the great work coming....

[Guest]

Thanks, i think that what i can call "public" english is correct (i guess) but when i want to use "technical" english, like tell the name of some parts of Tanks ... that's not so easy :lol: Hoppefully, i can use others vbench to find the correct translations.

Nevermind, i have time to paste/translate other pictures :)

I cut the front plate extensions on each side of the plate.
I bent the tow bracket and glue small square of plastic to simulate square bolts

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/640/Panzer%20IV%20018.jpg

I try to slide the radio op hatch, cut a small piece of plastic on the Kugelblende.

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/640/Panzer%20IV%20019.jpg

dunno what is the name of this little thing ...


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/640/Panzer%20IV%20024.jpg

3 small piece of plastic to simulate what i supposed to be stop position on the pistol port. 2 bolts on the plate next to the motor.

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20027.jpg

I do my best to do the screws on the plate, but it's not really regular.
Thats a question i have to ask you : How can you make something so regular ? I use an hand drilling machine and it's not as good a i want :(

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20030.jpg

I make the tow cable support.

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20031.jpg

I begin to detail the front fender and use a dremel to simulate the welding line on the transmission hatch.

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20032.jpg

[Guest]

So, now, some work using a aluminium can to make the in-take cover lock

Bon alors ici nous avons les petites attaches métalliques permettant de retenir les plaques de protection du radiateur en position fermées
I have also make the welding line on the hull.
http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20039.JPG

The front fender finished : bolt, bolt bolt

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20041.JPG


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20042.JPG


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20043.JPG

Here the antenna holder mount.
http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20044.JPG

More welding line, on the turret, this time

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20045.JPG

[Guest]

Well, now i have remade the turret cuppola

I have resize it by adding two small plasticard circle, rescribe it, then added that strange little ball on the side of it
To simulate the vision bloc armor, i just added piece of plasticard - modelist is like illusionnist sometimes :lol:
http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/640/Panzer%20IV%20046.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/640/Panzer%20IV%20047.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/640/Panzer%20IV%20048.JPG

[Guest]

I like this two pictures, and now that's not ausf D for the first one, the jerrycan holder, and the helmet on the Rommelkiste:

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Photos%20de%20Ref/640/gi0001PcaAD21042006131220122321.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Photos%20de%20Ref/640/002_panzer4.jpg

Bolts bolts bolts again for the fender this time !! Guess how boring it was


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20053.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20050.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20051.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20052.JPG

And i add the electric cable for the front light

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20049.JPG

[Panzergrenadier]

Quite an extencive build there. :thumb:
Keep it up.



Siim

[Striker]

What i've done for this part, scratch build from aluminium sheet
http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/640/Panzer%20IV%20055.JPG

Here is the turret

added small plastic circle , try to correct the episcope (dunno the english for that) but not satisfied with it - add the small sight next to the cuppola with aluminium sheet.
I rescribe the part of the gun that is connected to the mantlet
finally, i add the collar on the gun and the one with bolt behind the cuppola

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/640/Panzer%20IV%20056.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/640/Panzer%20IV%20057.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/640/Panzer%20IV%20058.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/640/Panzer%20IV%20059.JPG


I lowered the handles after seeing they're to high.
Redone the closing system of the gun collar to simulate the bolt and screw
I have corrected the rommelkiste and fix it on the turret and add some welding line as Tom Cockle have made on his DAK pz IV ausf D.


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20060.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20061.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20062.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20063.JPG

[Striker]

And here is the final state of this build with all the equipment.
Add some lock on the Rommelkiste, a box with a cover on it from aluminium, done the straps on the Muffler, add some jerrycans on the left and equipment under the Rommelkiste

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20070.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20071.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20073.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20074.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20075.JPG

[Striker]

After a long stop in the weathering, i finally have some time to spend on this model :

If you think that something have to be modified, please tell me, as i plan to glue the small parts, add some stuff (jerry cans, helmet and so on) and add some weathering pigments to blend them with the AFV.

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20111.jpg


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20112.jpg


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20113.jpg


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20114.jpg

[the_dagger]

I have to say that I love the weathering so far!

[Panzergrenadier]

The weathering looks good. I like the shade of the panzer grey too. :thumb:

Siim

[Sticky]

Super effort so far - what a brave man you are!

[Larry Bates]

Wow,
Somehow I missed all the updates, nice job! Keep it coming.

Larry

[MikkoH]

Whew! Very nice updating of that oldie one! And weathering so far looks great! Keep up good work!

Cheers Mikko

[Striker]

Originally posted by Larry Bates@Jul 26 2006, 08:40 PM
Wow,
Somehow I missed all the updates, nice job! Keep it coming.

Larry
God, you're right, i realized i totally forget to post the painting progress !

So here is my personnal "Color Blind" process

I have to choose the PanzerGrau but don't know which one to use to have the best one to use.

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20079.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/Num%E9riser.jpg

And here is some pictures coming from the "Color of War" DVD, where i love the weathering of the AFV.

The advantage : Using lot of pigments

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/640/PDVD_012.jpg


I love the Pz IV on this picture

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/640/PDVD_017.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/640/PDVD_018.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/640/PDVD_020.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/640/PDVD_021.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/640/PDVD_025.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/640/PDVD_027.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/640/PDVD_030.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/640/PDVD_032.jpg

[Striker]

So i decided to use humbrol color, diluted with F petrol . I spray a first layer then lighten the panel's center. I was not pleased by the result so i add a thin layer of diluted paint to soften the result.

I then decided to test some pigments found by djiti on the lower hull. Very good result and only 2€ for 250g.

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20080.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20081.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20082.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20083.JPG

I paint the tracks

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20098.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20101.jpg

I used as an reference some pictures i take at the 2006 Saumur exhibit .

Exterior of the Luchs tracks

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Weathering/640/Image6.jpg

more grey than a steel color

Here is the interior of the Pz II tracks, that used rubber wheel as the Pz IV.

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Weathering/640/Image2.jpg

As i want to be close to this result, i do the following paint

First an earth airbrush revell color.
Then a lot of pigments using different kind of color (raw umber, sand yellow)
Then using a graphic pen, i reproduce the part used by the rubber wheel.

I finally drybrush some humbrol aluminium 56 , with a very very light touch of silver. Think that on the next tracks, i'ill used a gray color with steel drybrush.

[Striker]

a first washes using an natural umber color


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20102.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20103.JPG

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20105.JPG

I used the James Tainton technique for oxyded shuffle and i loved the result :


http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20109.jpg

[Striker]

Hi,

Here is the result with all the stuff added. Don't know if everything fits well on the Tank
I'll listen your advices.

I have to tell that i have to add more pigments on the hull so that every items looks good.

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20115.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20116.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20117.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20118.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20119.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20120.jpg

[MikkoH]

Hi! Looks very nice! One thing, those hatches inside colour is same as exterior, i.a panzergrey. Seems like with little t.l.c. you get tamiyas oldie look good!

Cheers Mikko

[MartinD]

Yup. looks good to me! A bit heavy on the pigments maybe, but that how they ran around in Russia. Don't forget to paint the spare track. It's just plan rust now. I'd a pinwas to have the links stand out.

Cheers, MartinD

[Striker]

Originally posted by MartinD@Jul 30 2006, 07:04 AM
Yup. looks good to me! A bit heavy on the pigments maybe, but that how they ran around in Russia. Don't forget to paint the spare track. It's just plan rust now. I'd a pinwas to have the links stand out.

Cheers, MartinD
Yeah, you're right, that's exactly the place where i imagine my Pz IV. This pictures inspired me a lot

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/Panzer%20IV/640/PDVD_017.jpg

After some comments on french forum, i add some pigments on the top of the hull and cuppola. Also add a touch of leather on the vision block on the cuppola hatch and some metal touch here and there.

Hope that the spare tracks have a better look that way, if not, i'll probably not used them.

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20121.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20122.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20123.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20124.jpg

http://strikerfoxx.free.fr/Models%20Album/photos/WWII%20on%20the%20Bench/800/Panzer%20IV%20125.jpg]

[MartinD]

That's alreay looking better.
Now what you might want to remove some of the pigment from the rear deck. The crew would walk a lot there, so they will be moving and scraping all the dust and mud. Perhaps a splintered toothpick will do best to make small scratches. And maybe some bigger ones with new Panzergrau.

Cheers, M

[brokeneagle]

Nice build Striker. Your large white numbers set the whole tank off nicely. ;)

[Panzergrenadier]

Looking good.
One thing that I would change, would be the color of the spare track, it couls use some metallic color, I doubt that it would rust so uniformly. ;)

Siim

[MikkoH]

I'm personally bit against those rusty tracks including sparetracks. Definitely tracks were painted on factory, there was no such metal thing that wasn't. Those tracks we see nowdays on museum vehicles have been there over 60 years so even then those are not much rusted. Well this is just my humble opinion and donn't mean to offend anyone. But sure you have bring this old lady to alive! :)

Cheers Mikko