Jagdpanzer IV L/70

[Stuke Sowle]

This will be my next project after the Hotchkiss hits the paint booth.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=7490&img=dr9043.jpg

This beast is one of my all-time favs and it took me awhile to get my hands on this kit. However, since it has been re-issued and I can get more I've decided to break it open and have a go at it.

My model will represent an early L/70 with zimm, four return rollers, no steel wheels, etc. A group of these vehicles survived until '45 in the Lake Balaton area. There are some shots of these vehicles in a Frontline Illustration publication on these vehicles. The book includes some great shots, unfortunately the meat of the text is in Russian. :(

Here is a shot of a similiar vehicle:

http://panzerkeil.dre.hu/harcjarm/jpz/jagdpanzer4/02371.jpg

Won't be adding any PE, just an AM barrel from Eduard as the kit one is anemic at best. I do have a set of Fruils that could be used on this vehicle, but I think I will save them for a more detailed project.

Again, this one is to be kept simple and keep me modeling! :)

[James Tainton]

Dude, I just got that one too a month or so ago... maybe I'll join you... I do have the Aber sets for it though... ;)

[Stuke Sowle]

Here is a scan from the Frontline Illustration publication of the early model in the Budapest area:

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=7705&img=Budapest_Jagdpanzer.jpg

And another shot from the cover:

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=7713&img=scan0001.jpg

Proof that German armor didn't always have a life span of a few weeks the last year or so of the war.

[Stuke Sowle]

Started some work on this kit as the primer dries on the Hotchkiss. The zimm pattern on the vehicle that I want to model is different than any other pattern I have ever tried to create. Instead of raking a tool across some putty, I am going to have to stamp it.

An example:

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=7757&img=scan0002.jpg

Some of my first test attempts using different thickness styrene. I'm having a hard time deciding which pattern looks closer to the real thing. I think the tool on the right is too thick, but on the left it is too thin. Thoughts?

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=7755&img=P1090077.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=7756&img=P1090079.jpg

I'll need some more practice, but I can tell already that this is going to be a tedious process! :(

[Stuke Sowle]

Can't do any airbrushing on the Hotchkiss today as the brother-in-law who lives with us and works graveyard is sleeping next to my model room. :( So, I thought I'd really get started on this kit.

All the basic mark IV stuff here on the hull sides. Four return rollers on this one as it represents an early model.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8077&img=P1150081.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8079&img=P1150083.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8078&img=P1150082.jpg

I pilfered the muffler off of my StuG IV kit as I don't think it's ever going to see completion. This kit does not include the muffler for the early version only the later ones.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8080&img=P1150084.jpg

I then (for God's sake I don't know why) started to rummage through all my PE sets. I have an old Aber set for an earlier Mark IV and decided to use the muffler supports from this kit.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8081&img=P1150086.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8082&img=P1150089.jpg

Before I know it, I also have an Aber set of fenders sitting on my workbench as well as an Eduard set for this kit. So much for OOB! :)

Now the ass end with some zimm on it and some other bits:

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8085&img=P1150003.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8086&img=P1150007.jpg

The styrene rod is to fill in the kit location hulls for the jack block. I unfortunately don't have any balsa wood around so will probably have to modify the kit part.

I have also cleaned up all the roadwheels while watching the latest Harry Potter movie (don't ask alright!), which is the most tedious part of any Mark IV build IMO. I also have the Friuls pinned together already.. man, I love those things! :)

[Stuke Sowle]

And some more progress.....

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8099&img=P1150008.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8100&img=P1150009.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8101&img=P1150010.jpg

The zimm looks Ok to me right now. I need to "refine" it a bit before hitting the upper hull. All I used was Testors Polyester Putty and a strip of styrene.

[Tuna]

Looks awsome Stuke!!.. reminds me of working on my L/48 last summer.. that was my first attempt at putty Zim!...

That's one reason why I wanted to get the L/70 so that I could do one without Zim...

Looks great so far though.. keep those pictures coming..

[James Tainton]

looks okay. maybe the rows and witdth could be more strict?
You might want to try a tiny screwdriver at the right width. Keep going - so how many do you have started now. :lol:
couple articlesyou probably already have.
http://www.panzerworld.net/zimmerit.html
http://www.panzerdiesel.com/data/e/270.htm...6319efa5b4603b5 (http://www.panzerdiesel.com/data/e/270.html?SID=416b75330e18cc0386319efa5b4603b5&SID=416b75330e18cc0386319efa5b4603b5)

[Stuke Sowle]

Yeah, like I said not my best application to date. I just get lazy on the lower hull for some reason on all my zimmed tanks. :)

I will get more serious about it...hopefully. Honestly though, I really hate the stuff but for some reason really wanted to model this early variant in a late war setting. Last night on the ML chat room, Mirko confirmed for me that indeed many of this early vehicles were involved in the fighting in and around Budapest in the spring of '45.

Hmmmm, eight months of combat? I think that means I can beat her up a bit! :)

[Stuke Sowle]

One little blip on my path to completion of the lower hull are the return rollers. A link to a discussion regarding them can be seen here:

Correct return rollers? (http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=47207&messageid=1105882751)

Anybody have any ideas?

[James Tainton]

Well I took a look through a reference or two and (I just got out of the shower so...) I think I did see the one on the left that TC aid was wrong , in one or two photos. I will look into it further as I too have this kit. Maybe there was an early type that was replaced ? This little blip shouldn't hold up your progressas you can always add these just at the end prior to adding the trax?
(edit: or maybe those return rollers in the kit are the later version.. )

[Stuke Sowle]

Most of the early models that I see seem to have the same pattern roller as the ones supplied in the kit. However, I did find this one shot of a zimmed jagdpanzer with what appears to be the return roller taken from the DML Mark IV J kit.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8137&img=96return.jpg

If there is an early and late version return roller, then probably not a bad thing to mix one or two in there. Give the vehicle some history and personality! :)

[Andrew Hall]

Originally posted by Stuke Sowle@Jan 16 2005, 02:28 PM
If there is an early and late version return roller, then probably not a bad thing to mix one or two in there. Give the vehicle some history and personality! :)
As my ISP seems to have gone haywire, did you get my mail yesterday pm (so your am) re: those rock n rollers? One's a late J, the other's Ausf H thru' J.

Nice work with that tricky zimmerit (and I'm being sincere for once!) :)

These are good these VBench things, how much did you say I have to pay you for one again?

A

[Stuke Sowle]

Mr. Hall,

Yes indeed I got your informative email yesterday! Thank you very much for the info. Now I just have to decide how I am going to configure these bad boys.

As for the vBench, getting one is free. It is then up to you to find a photo host site. Kitpic.com has a free plan, a lite plan and a heavy duty plan. The lite plan is five bucks a month and probably is more than enough for most modelers. It also makes it a no-brainer to post pics on any site out there.

Stuke

Oh thanks for the words on the zimm. I think it looks just "OK", but we will get it refined by the time we move up the vehicle. :)

[franck]

Hi Stuke !

nice work here buddy !

i love the idea of mixing the return rollers !!! i will have to open my box one day for this Jagd L70 ;)

anyway, for the zimm : when you"ll be on the upper hull, try to do it even more thin, from the picture you've posted of the real one, it seems that the guys were quite greedy with the thickness :)

cheers !
Franck

[Stuke Sowle]

Thanks for the kind words Franck!

Not much time for modeling this week and I can't fire up the compressor again, so I did a little bit of work on this kit.

As mentioned by Andrew, and hinted at by James, the return rollers went through some changes during this time period. I did decide to mix them up a bit as well as steal some Mark IV tracks from my Friul pile:

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8391&img=P1230015.jpg

Here is just the RHS with the tracks roughly fitted just for an idea of the look. None of the roadwheels, sprocket or idler are secured at this time so the fit is a bit sloppy.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8389&img=P1230011.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8390&img=P1230012.jpg

These tracks were for my StuG IV as well, but once again I will be robbing something from that kit!

[Stuke Sowle]

At this point I started to eyeball the rear fenders (not sure why). I have the Aber set for this vehicle, but don't want to use it on this model. Again, my intent was to not superdetail this kit. However, it had started to turn into more of a project than I had anticipated.

Looking at the kit fenders..well, they look like hell. :( So I decided to try and take the step from assembler to builder. :) Using the Aber set as a template, I began to fashion fenders out of some sheet brass I had laying around.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8388&img=P1230009.jpg

This is the bits for the process arranged on the table. Unfortunately, my camera does not take close ups very well, so I don't have much for detail shots.

This was my first attempt at doing this, and the first fender was crude. It was crap actually. The brass sheet did not bend well, and the Hold'n'Fold was not doing the bends for me. The second time around I annealed the brass a bit as well as scored some lines were I was going to make the bends. I was more successfull and ended up with this bit.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8392&img=P1230017.jpg

The edge is still kinda rough, so I think I will flip it around, drill the holes and use that lip as the outside edge. I do still need to add some supports and dig around some more reference shots to get a feel for the attachment points for the back fender. The Aber instructions will also be a big help in fabricating those parts.

I will only create one rear fender as this is going to be a vehicle that has seen some time out on the battlefields of the Eastern Front.

[James Tainton]

Looks good and I think from my experience everytime you do something like this the skills will get honed.. ;)

[Andrew Hall]

Stuke doing homemade brass?!! Nah! Too much time on your hands :lol:

Here's a shot of the rear flapper fixin's from Bovingtons Pz IV


http://www.network54.com/Realm/MLpics2/PanzerIVDBOVINGTON95.jpg

[gordy]

Sorry Andrew, Network 54 blocks linked images :(

[Stuke Sowle]

Alright gang, about an hour at the modeling table and I don't feel like I have much to show for it.

I did do a lot of sawing, cutting and sanding this morning to remove some fenders from the front. The LHS will not have the fender at all, and the RHS I am going to thin down and use some Aber treadplate.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8851&img=P1300001.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8852&img=P1300002.jpg

Yeah, this baby is going to be a bit banged up! :)

Next are some shots of strip styrene I added to the sides and the remaining front fender. The kit stuff is too chunky.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8853&img=P1300004.jpg

And masking in prep for the zimm (boy oh boy!!).

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8854&img=P1300005.jpg

The marks that are covered with tape are the spots were the fender brackets are attached to the hull. I will add these after the zimming is complete.

So much for OOB eh?

Finally some preliminary work on the jack block. Nothing special.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8855&img=P1300006.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8856&img=P1300008.jpg

Not sure how much more I will get done today. Modeling time is just to damn limited when you work 65+ hours a week and have a new family. I have to get up at 0400 just to get this stuff done!

[Stuke Sowle]

Family is out of town for a few days, so I got some more time in on this one.

Continuing with the back fender, I added some more Eduard PE as well as some homemade bits. I won't be adding the mudflap...no way it would've made it this far on this vehicle.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8957&img=P2010009.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8958&img=P2010010.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8959&img=P2010012.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8960&img=P2010013.jpg

She's pretty much wrapped up now and I can move on to what I've been dreading all along......zimmerit. :(

[Stuke Sowle]

Here is my rough attempt at the LHS. Doesn't look very good, but I just don't have a very steady hand! :( I will sand down once dry to try and get a more uniform depth to the material.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8961&img=P2020015.jpg

Here is some major damage to the zimm on the same side. My jagd has been through hell and I want it to look the part. I was trying to replicate chipped off material from running into the edges of some kind of masonary. Didn't turn out quite like I anticipated...but close.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8962&img=P2020019.jpg

Now the RHS, which was my second side and is better in terms of uniformity.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8967&img=P2020022.jpg

And here is the RHS after adding some styrene to replicate the fender attachment points on the hull side.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8966&img=P2020027.jpg

Finally, the beast begins to take shape. You gotta love the sleek lines of this AFV.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8964&img=P2020023.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8965&img=P2020024.jpg

More tomorrow!!

[Donovan]

Stuke,

I too love this vehicle. I've got a pitiful Hase one for some day, but I never knew they lasted that late in the war, so now I have insiration again.

I think your zimm looks fine. Personally I like using wood putty for mine since it can easily be removed and sets up hard. It is also easy to simulate damage.

Great work on the brass bits.

Cheers,
Donovan

[Stuke Sowle]

Thanks Donovan!!

I've heard of the wood putty for zimm, I might have to try it some day.

It's been a fun project so far. Unfortunately I won't be able to work on it for about a week as I am visiting family in Idaho right now and will be going to Ontario Canada for half a week. :(

[ShermiesRule]

What is the difference between the L/70 and the L/70 Command Version?

[James Tainton]

Hi Alan
In addition to the normal equipment of a FuG 5 SE 10 radio and type Ukw. E type c1 transmitter of 10 W power, operating in the 27,2-33,3 MHz bandwidth and a 10 W.S.a or 10 W.S.b receiver operating in the same bandwidth, the Jagdpanzer IV Belfelswagen have been equipped with an additional FuG 8 30 radio station of 30 W power (type Mw.E a transmitter and type 30 W.S. a receiver) with a range of up to 80 km. The radio equipment was mounted right in loaders station. The FuG 5 worked with an antenna of 2 m length and FuG 8 in command vehicles Befehlswagen would have used a star radio antenna (Sternantenne) 1.4 m long. The crew all used an FuG Spr. internal communication system and Walther LP (Lauchtpistole) LP or LP-42 27mm signal pistol in the commanders' station. (You did ask :) )
paraphrased from Jagdpanzer IV #150-from Wydawnictwo Militaria

[Stuke Sowle]

Re-posting some shots that got lost after we moved back to the old forum format.

Some additional details on the hull sides:

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=8966&img=P2020027.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=9535&img=P2190004.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=9533&img=P2190002.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=9534&img=P2190003.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=9536&img=P2190005.jpg

Some additional fender detail:

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=9537&img=P2190006.jpg

[DOJO]

you gonna have this zimmerit?

[Stuke Sowle]

Originally posted by DOJO@Mar 10 2005, 08:44 AM
you gonna have this zimmerit?
Yes I still need to zimm the fender. Just hate to cover up that lovely Aber tread detail!! :)

Here is a shot of some bits I added on the back. My model represents an abandoned vehicle and will have most of the OVM missing....

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=10193&img=P3100014.jpg

Hopefully I will get more done after work tonight and the family is tucked away....

[DOJO]

not that happy about zim.

[Stuke Sowle]

Originally posted by DOJO@Mar 10 2005, 01:28 PM
not that happy about zim.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean? :(

[James Tainton]

Originally posted by DOJO+Mar 10 2005, 01:28 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (DOJO @ Mar 10 2005, 01:28 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> not that happy about zim. [/b]

<!--QuoteBegin-Stuke Sowle@Mar 11 2005, 11:17 AM
I'm not sure I understand what you mean? :( [/quote]
That DOJO... always such a charmer :lol:

[DOJO]

Stuke
send you PM

Sorry guy, I can type better in other language.
Äàéòå ìíå øàíñ!

[Evan August]

That's looking really nice man.

[Stuke Sowle]

I understand now DOJO. I am somewhat pleased with the zimm, it's not perfect but I think it's a so-so representation of the real thing on these. Most of my references are coming from a Russian publication on this vehicle. Frontline Illustrations I believe is the name of the series.

I think the zimm will look better once under a coat of paint and several layers of weathering......maybe anyway. :(

[DOJO]

Maybe it's just the photos.
Please ignor my messeges(prev).

Nice work! 8)

[Stuke Sowle]

I don't want to ignore it DOJO!! What in particular do you not like about it? Perhaps there is some work I could do to improve it?

[Stuke Sowle]

A couple of more shots of the back deck. I am trying to use either PE or scratch most of the attachment brackets/clamps. Just a few more bits to go on back here and then on to the upper hull schurzen...

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=10440&img=P3150002.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=10441&img=P3150003.jpg

[Finnmodeler]

Hi Stuke,
your JgIV is getting along nicely. Good balancing between OOB and PE additions. Too much PE will ruin the project, at least for me that is a rule more than exception.
Red zimmerit is a bit striking but it has it's good points, too. You can see it:) I just wish I had known a little bit more about JgPzIV before my project.

Cheers,
Niko

[Stuke Sowle]

Hi Niko,

I agree sometimes we can get a little carried away with the PE. in many cases the kit part is better than the two dimensional PE replacement!

Yeah, the red will get your attention, but still looks the same after a spraying of dark yellow. :)

I have three references on this beast, none are very good. Seems that shots of her are pretty rare.

[houdini]

Looks superb. Have you decided which camouflage scheme will be applied?

[Stuke Sowle]

Originally posted by houdini@Mar 19 2005, 11:13 AM
Looks superb. Have you decided which camouflage scheme will be applied?
In the reference shots that I have, it looks to be a monotone scheme. However discussing these vehicles with some on-line who is much more of an expert than I am, it is thought that they indeed had the three tone camo scheme so well used in '44. Because the vehicles are so old and seen so much weather it is hard to discern the camo splotches on black and white photographs.

This will be a challenge for me to replicate....

and now on to some more shots!

Got most of the bits on the backside of the beast. I really really hate this stuff to be honest with you all.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=10816&img=P3230006.jpg

I have left most of the tools off as I notice in most shots that deserted vehicles have usually been stripped of any useful material. The few that I will include I have left off for ease of painting.

Some shots of what will be the final layout for the sheet metal schurzen. The LHS has been removed (lots of damage on that side as you can see) and placed on the back deck. The RHS is still attached but is a bit skewed....

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=10818&img=P3230008.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=10819&img=P3230009.jpg

Finally got some zimm on the front fender. Can anyone confirm whether the zimm was applied on the horizontal surface of the glacis (where the transmission access plates are)? My shots are not clear enough to ascertain at this point.

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=10817&img=P3230007.jpg

Just about another hour or two of construction and she's ready for some paint!!! :)


Edit: Sorry about the writing on the roof.....wife was a bit mad at me and was exacting some revenge!!! :o

[Stuke Sowle]

Oh, and I just gobbled up another one of these kits to model this vehicle:

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=10820&img=JPZ-1.jpg

Cool looking options on this one!

[Stuke Sowle]

Some more work done:

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=11808&img=P1010031.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=11809&img=P1010032.jpg

Hard to get everything to stick together for final construction shots, so I gave up after shooting only one side. :(

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=11810&img=4415P1010047.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=11811&img=1730P1010048.jpg

http://www.kitpic.com/is.php?i=11812&img=5932P1010049.jpg

Next up: Primer!!