Dragon Pz. Kpfw. IV Ausf G

[anthony roberts]

Hi there!
Inspired by Slim's (Panzergrenadier) fine build of this kit I wanted to get mine built. The box art is one of my favorites and the model went together really well. I gave in and got an Armorscale barrel and before I could stop my hands they had ordered a set of Fruil tracks as well! The headlight cables are made from spare Fruil rod.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/robertstony/DSCF0175.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/robertstony/DSCF0182.jpg
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh122/robertstony/DSCF0186.jpg

[gibsonfndr]

Hi.
My favorite subject !
;o)
Wha happened to the glacis ?
The pictures are not very clear ...

[NAS]

Hi Anthony,

It's also my favourite vehicle...:D;) And the boxart is cool too:)

You're model looks like a very nice and clean build.:thumb:
Although the armorscale muzzle brake isn't 100% perfect, it looks very good.
I also would like to know what happened to the glacis plate?

Regards,

Notger

[anthony roberts]

Hello Notger, Gibsonfndr,

Thanks for the comments! The plate has the remains of a "Sharpie" metallic silver marker. I use it to highlight seams and panel lines and it brings out any gaps or imperfections.

I had drilled a couple of holes, (the ones for the headlight cable were too far from the sides) so I had filled them and the Sharpie marks are just to see if I had sanded them smooth.

Primer tonight and then on to the grey and snow!
All the best,
Tony

[gibsonfndr]

Hello Notger, Gibsonfndr,

Thanks for the comments! The plate has the remains of a "Sharpie" metallic silver marker. I use it to highlight seams and panel lines and it brings out any gaps or imperfections.

I had drilled a couple of holes, (the ones for the headlight cable were too far from the sides) so I had filled them and the Sharpie marks are just to see if I had sanded them smooth.

Primer tonight and then on to the grey and snow!
All the best,
TonyAh ! OK ! so that's what looks "bizarre" on the pic ! you're right this shiny stuff brings the flaws out and can be of great help.
Another thing, but then again I might be wrong, is that the gun looks long as if it were a L/48 gun instead of the L/43 ?
Am I right or is it another optical effect of the pictures ?

[NAS]

Hi Tony and Gibsonfndr,

That's was the reason why I bought both sets, the B35-034 Pz IV G set with the L48 barrel and the B35-014 Pz IV F2 set with the L43 barrel.
So this way I can take the L43 barrel from the B35-014set and the muzzle brake from the B35-034 set:)
The use of a metallic silver marker sounds like an interesting technique.

Regards,

Notger

[James Tainton]

The use of a metallic silver marker sounds like an interesting technique.I wonder if the use of a Sharpie may cause paint problems later, that is leaching of the ink through successive layers of paint? Particularly water based paint? Have you done this before Anthony- and if so have you had any issues over the life of the displayed model(s)? I just don't trust Sharpie or other felt pens- even when painting things like tires.

[anthony roberts]

Hello,
James, thank you for the comment, I try to use the sharpie very sparingly and I have not noticed any paint problems, however, I use enamels.....so that may explain why? I'm contemplating switching to Acrylics in the future. When I prep the surface for painting I will remove any areas of marker that I consider too much, of too heavy on the surface.

Notger and Gibsonfndr!! It is the L/48! I have the Armorscale L/43 barrel as well so will fit that prior to painting....

Thanks for the comments!

All the local hobby stores are out of Blacken-it so the tracks are on on hold until that arrives.
All the best,
Tony

[gibsonfndr]

Notger and Gibsonfndr!! It is the L/48! I have the Armorscale L/43 barrel as well so will fit that prior to painting....

Tony
I know this will sound as nitpicking (and it probably is, sorry I can't help it) but this kit depicts a rather early Ausf G (front plate, driver's periscope, cupola hatches etc ... so no later than December 42) when the L/48 appeared only some time around April 43 so almost when the Ausf G came to an end ... see what I mean ?
I know some of them were upgunned but then they were also likely to have the Schürzen on ...

May I ask you if there is any special reason why you decided to put the L/48 on ?

[NAS]

Hello Laurent,

Yes, very late Pz IV G's would have been fitted with skirts, when they switched over to the H production.
so no later than December 42
I'm curious why the kit can't be built as a February production model?
Regarding the front plate, from January all Pz IV's had the 30mm plates added, the driver optics were dropped from February onwards.
I personally define this kit as an early - early/late, with "early/late" being around February 43, but I think this is all a personal definition as many changes during the production were fluent, so it's naturally hard to define a time frame.

@Anthony: yes, it would be better to change the barrel to a L43 one:)

Regards,

Notger

[gibsonfndr]

Hello Laurent,

Yes, very late Pz IV G's would have been fitted with skirts, when they switched over to the H production.

I'm curious why the kit can't be built as a February production model?
Regarding the front plate, from January all Pz IV's had the 30mm plates added, the driver optics were dropped from February onwards.
I personally define this kit as an early - early/late, with "early/late" being around February 43, but I think this is all a personal definition as many changes during the production were fluent, so it's naturally hard to define a time frame.

Notger

As you said, every rule has its exceptions so we are not allowed to say "impossible" but here are a few thoughts.

- The extra armor on the front plate, introduced May 42, xoxoxoxoxoxoxo ... sorry for the wrong informations .....xoxoxoxoxoxo
- The front plate we can see on this kit does provide the cut out for the driver's periscope that was suppressed, along with the modification of the commander's hatch from Feb 43 onwards.
- It'd be interesting to see what kind of rear plate the kit offers as that too evolved in time.


So it is not impossible to build a late G with this one, only it needs a few modifications. As usual, these "rules" are only to be used as guidelines when one doesn't have evidence of the contrary not when one wants to build a model using a picture that shows "weird" details. For example we have pics of Gs with the cut out on the front plate and the two holes for the periscope plugged but these are rare and shouldn't be used as guidelines (or so I think).

[NAS]

Hello Laurent,

Are you sure that they were already bolted on before April 1943 and not welded on?
According to the Spielberger, Osprey and other books and researches, the 30mm plates were welded: 8 vehicles in May 1942, 16 vehicles in June, 16 in July, 16 in August, 14 in September, from November on 50% of the vehicles leaving the production lines had 30mm plates welded on, from January 1943 all vehicles leaving the factories had 30mm plates welded on.
Although the order for bolting on the armor plates was given earlier, the plates were bolted on starting from Arpil 1943.

And so far I haven't seen a photo of a Pz IV G with bolted on armor before April/May 1943, so if there are any photos showing vehicles with bolted on armor prior that date, I really would love to see the photos :)

It's like with many issues, never say never...;) There might be always some surprises...:D

Regards,

Notger

[gibsonfndr]

Hello Laurent,

Are you sure that they were already bolted on before April 1943 and not welded on?
According to the Spielberger, Osprey and other books and researches, the 30mm plates were welded: 8 vehicles in May 1942, 16 vehicles in June, 16 in July, 16 in August, 14 in September, from November on 50% of the vehicles leaving the production lines had 30mm plates welded on, from January 1943 all vehicles leaving the factories had 30mm plates welded on.
Although the order for bolting on the armor plates was given earlier, the plates were bolted on starting from Arpil 1943.

And so far I haven't seen a photo of a Pz IV G with bolted on armor before April/May 1943, so if there are any photos showing vehicles with bolted on armor prior that date, I really would love to see the photos :)

It's like with many issues, never say never...;) There might be always some surprises...:D

Regards,

Notger I shouldn't try to post too early in the morning as it seems that my brain still is obscured by clouds ... you're right and I am stupid..
Bolts =April 43.
I think I saw a "2" instead of a "3" ...

I'll edit the previous post hoping not too many people read it !
lol

how embarrassing ... where can I hide myself ?

[NAS]

I shouldn't try to post too early in the morning
this happens to me also sometimes...:rolleyes:
So don't worry, you're not alone ;) :D