Pz IV G 432 "HG" Sicily 1943

[Ebbe Bergman]

Hi gents!
Sorry for my very long absence from PA. This is becouse I have delited the contract with my supplier for internet due they are one of the most expensive. Today I bought/won a bidding on internet. The Pz IVG from DML and I have wanted to build this for quite some time but other things like economy distruped the plans. But here we are and I have still many other projects. I am guessing the build process will be rather quick BUT the paintjob will take some time becouse I have finaly started to plan my economy for a compressor and a good all round airbrush.
Here is my shoping list for this project:

Base kit
DML Pz IV G Kharkov.

Aftermarket
Friulmodel tracks 40mm early version
Voyager Side armour early style
Voygager turret ( shürzen??? )
Voyager P4 cleaningrod late
Tamiya Jerry can
?? Wooden boxes
? Echelon Declas LAH/HG 1943 ??
Tamiya Pz IV H ( just the turret hatch from my scrap box )
All I have gotten this far is the base kit and most of the other things comes anyway in the end of the build process like Schürtzen and accessories. I am not sure yet how I want to arrange the figures but all must have the under shirt and most of them the shorts. This might be a good sculpting project?? I am thinking of perhaps paint my own turret numbers this time as they would look better considering my poorly paint skills.
I am uploading two pictures posted by Mr Bianchi and they trigged my mind.
4 Kp HG Sicily 1943
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/bergman1980/hg1.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/bergman1980/hg2.jpg
The locals in the background looks like they still think the Germans are good people?
Becouse of the lack of internet I will take photos and upload when I can. But for sure this baby is on!
Regards
Ebbe

[Sticky]

Welcome back we missed you! Bring it on!

[panamadan]

Look at all the gas cans-a long road march is planned! Dan

[alanmac]

Hi Ebbe

I see the Tamiya jerrycans are on your list.

Whilst the newer set is very good, and the old set, which appears floating around on ebay from time to time, is bad you may want to consider the Tasca set.

It includes a PE section to imitate the wield line running down the can centre.

They are a bit more than the Tamiya ones, but seeing as how you are spending money on Friulmodel tracks you seemed happy to spend some money on this model:)

Don't know who your nearest supplier would be.

Here is a review in case you are not familiar with them

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/tasca/bego35002.htm


Good luck with the build

Alan

[alanmac]

Hi

Me again.

If it's figures with shorts you could consider the following.

Tristar set TR-35009 although it appears only one is in shorts. Nice pose though, and its injection moulded so a set for the price of one resin figure.

http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=TR%2035009

Then there is the Tank resin range from Russia. Sets T-35087 and T-35088 show tank crew in shorts.

http://www.tank-model.ru/catalogT5.htm

If my memory serves me correctly you also had a few from Royal Model figures, an Italian company. Some hold umbrellas, :D

http://www.sbmodels.net/images/New_From/Royal%20Model/images/RM413a.jpg

Protection from the Sun rather than rain I'd have thought.

Alan

[Ebbe Bergman]

John: T(h)anks! I feel good to be back with the fine gang!
Dan: I am thinking where the photo might have been taken considering both Jerry cans and larger fuel drums on the back? Perhaps going towards the southern coast?
Alan: Yes the newer set becouse the older lacks...everything and they need to match up rather well in detailness with the Jerry cans from Tank.
The nearest supplier might depend on what I am looking for. For example the wooden boxes laser cut would be bought from Germany along with the Voyager set.
Fueldrums from Sweden and Friul tracks. Well perhaps not the Friul tracks depending if the guidhorns are hollow?

Regarding the figures, Royal model figures are among the finest but they still need to be re-sculpted on the upper boddy as they have a panzer jacket? The DAK figures from Tank might work and both the DAK set from Tristar and DML would be nice. The DML is gone both in Germany and Sweden. The sitting soldiers from the Tristar set might work perfectly and one can be re-sculpted as lying on the back. Still I don´t know what emotion or scene I want to portray yet.
Regards
Ebbe

[Ebbe Bergman]

On the photos I think the camouflage on tank 431 looks rather ageed or poorly on the schürtzen but on the turret it looks more like they sprayed everything? Not sure...becouse this setup on PzIV G would be at that period rather fresh!
What would look best just a display base, cobblestone base or more fieldish like grass and stone?
Ebbe

[panamadan]

Cobblestone-just as in the photos. Add a civilain figure if you can find one that fits the scene. Dan

[Ebbe Bergman]

I was thinking of the titel "Old friends" one civilian woman with crossed arms and a look in the face that she had enough of the war, tank crew cuddle with a dog? All this on a cobblestone base...thought the civilian people looks rather happy in the photo?!
Ebbe

[alanmac]

thought the civilian people looks rather happy in the photo?!
Ebbe

Have you considered they might be happy because the tanks and Germans are leaving by the looks of things?

Alan

[Bruga]

In fact it was Sicily the most allied-friendly region of Italy!

Mussolini was about to finish the Mafia, quite a "popular" organization in some/most parts of the island... It was the arrival of the Allied and their "trusted" people (selected by American mafiosi) that occupied the political and administrative posts that reorganized the weak and previously hunted organization. It was the "prize" to have some influent locals help with the Allied advance.

Good luck with another of your ambitious projects!

I have switched for simpler and maybe easier-to-finish ideas.


Regards,

Antonio

[Ebbe Bergman]

Antonio: That was just what I was thinking that many italians where friendly minded towards the Allies at this time. I find more and more Sicily interesting and I feel it becomes somewhat over shaddowed by Kursk, Stalingrad, Barbarossa, Monte Cassino and Normandy.
Well ambitious...naaaa becouse the tanks where rather new I do not have to over work it and with some aid from youtube movies about building and looking at James Tainton´s blogg I really have found a way to do things good, not excelent but good/everage.
My next idea after this is rather less ambitious consisting of three soldiers and a Tamiya Tiger 1 sPzAbt 504 during Sicily also.

Alan: Well towards the fighting area I guess. But perhaps they are cheering becouse of all the germans there? Small boys tends to love big things with motors ;O)
Ebbe

[Ebbe Bergman]

Okay so on thursday I had planed to pick the kit up. After some resarching I found out that the kit contains the smoke discharges so I don´t need to get the Voyager set and the tracks looks like they have the hollow guide hornes so perhaps I do not need the Friulmodel tracks and that will lower the expense of the total cost.
After looking at James Tainton´s blogg I think I want to "prime" the inside of the wheels as the paint would not get there on the real thing and I think it looked very nice on his LAH Pz IV F2.
Regards
Ebbe

[Bruga]

Hi!

What about a building?

You have some "already-done" from mk35 that look nice and may suit in Sicily (all Mediterranean houses have similarities, be it south of France -Provence- or the sunny island)

http://www.mk35.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=12&Itemid=1&lang=en

Specially:

http://www.mk35.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=18&category_id=12&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&lang=en
http://www.mk35.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=92&category_id=16&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&lang=en

Plusmodel also offers nice products:

http://www.plusmodel.cz/produkce_en.php?filter_type=d

http://www.plusmodel.cz/karta_en.php?id=109
Don´t like so much... too square-looking

But... a real beauty!
http://www.plusmodel.cz/karta_en.php?id=103


Just giving more ideas... suggestions based on personal opinion. A building helps a lot to get the ambiance for a nice machine.


Regards,

Antonio

[Korshun]

Ebbe, I'll be following this build closely. Your photos most likely show units withdrawing. At the time of the landings HG was located in the south in the Niscemi/Biscari area, very close to the American beaches at Gela. HG first counterattacked on the morning of July 11, just over 24 hours after the first troops waded ashore. The guys in the photos are definitely not on an approach march. In general, both HG and 15 PzGr would counterattack sharply, withdraw to a defensive position, defend fiercely, counterattack etc.

HTH, Keith

[Ebbe Bergman]

Antonio: That transformation station looks really nice! I could imagine how it stands with perhaps a wall. On the other hand I am not sure how often the transformation station would be in the town? Perhaps often at that time?

Keith: Very interesting and giving information. The things that strikes me is that non of the have a missing side armour. The photos shows only two panzers either there are more of them and they have passed the camera or there where not any more of them? Either statment would perhaps support the tought comeing or leaving. The Jerry cans suggest only a long march and that they are not expecting enemy attacks on the road due the bensin I guess? Looking at their faces they look very dazeled or defeated?
Ebbe

[Ebbe Bergman]

Finaly I have the kit in my hands after I picked it up from the seller. We spoke for perhaps 30-45 min and I really enjoyed it. After some quick look it is a very impresive kit. So when I´m back in Varberg the build can commence but I guess it might take some time before the pictures will be posted here becouse I still have no internet at home ( cutting costs ). But I do promisse I will be productive during by absence.
Regards
Ebbe

[Ebbe Bergman]

Much has happend since I wrote last time. Still no pictures to reveal but I can try to explain what I have done.
The whole turret is done more or less. I had to hightent the rear turret roof and this was done with some cardbor from a DML box. Commanders cupola was changed so it would have the late G and H model hatch ( one piece ).
Some Aber detailing was done but very little as the most parts is great as it is. I never bought the Friulmodel tracks was I thought the original tracks where good enough. So more or less everything is installed even the turret schürzen. The only major aftermarket I need is the side schürzen from Voyager ( early version schürzen ) and the model will be primed.
Lately I have´nt that much time to build partly job partly demands from the President of my house ( fiancé ) that thought I never did anything els then build.
So we will see what I have made next time or perhaps for some show ( not sure if my things are worthy ).
Cherrio!
Ebbe

[Ebbe Bergman]

Hi all!
Update time! Here is some pictures showing my Panzer IV G this far. I used the turret side armor from Tamiya IV H model but I scraped away some of the plastic making it thinner. Some Aber detailings. I have to add the one piece hatch on the commanders cupola, crew bellongings, fuel drum and Voyager side armor.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/bergman1980/1.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/bergman1980/2.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/bergman1980/3.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/bergman1980/4.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/bergman1980/6.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d178/bergman1980/9.jpg

I hope you enjoyed the pictures and comments for things I can improve are much welcome. I will wait with the painting till I get a compressor.
Cheers!
Ebbe

[Sticky]

Looks great! You may want to revisit the business end of the barrel cleaning rod. the resin piece seems to be at an angle to the rod.

[FINbuster]

Looks good! I agree with Sticky that the cleaning rod end seems to be at a wrong angle. Waiting for a update with!

[Ropi]

Sticky is definitly right, the cleaning rod's HEAD is in the wrong angle, it's like it was hanging on the end of the rod. otherwise it's great.

[Ebbe Bergman]

John: Yes it is somewhat crockid and this was becouse I had trubble to get it right. I will re-make this later on. Right now I am on a hold becouse I will get enough money for that compressor in June so all my models that are waiting painting will be done at that time.
I guess I will order the Voyager side armor set soon but I have to look into the economy.
Thanks guys for the coments. Always nice to hear what I can improve or what I have done accapeble.
Cheers!
Ebbe

[Ebbe Bergman]

Update
Yesterday I bought some Humbrol paint and I will order some cans of air for my airbrush. That´s right I did not buy the compressor this month and I figure that I will do that when I get more money. Right now the money is spend not only in a few new kits but on other things perhaps more important.
The Panzer is primed with Tamiya primer but I will probably use one more layer becouse there are some more details that needs to be added before I use the base colour. Tracks and wheels are painted and weathered ( dusting mostly ). I was sculpting some figures but I have started two new figures for a sd.kfz 232 ( when I have money over for that one ).
Regards
Ebbe

[kkiron]

super work!

[Ebbe Bergman]

Thanks mate!
I hope I will be able to finish this off soon. The good side is that I have time to do some figures for my up coming Tigers and my Panzer IV H.
Regards
Ebbe