PzKpfw IV Austf. F1

[Mackem]

The gearbox is under the drivers hatch, you would have to be VERY careful 

[Mackem]

Time for a progress update.
I decided I was moving to quickly on the PzIV so I rubbed off all the paint and started again.
I fitted the metal driver & radio-ops hatches and the front maintenance hatches.
Removed the front and rear fenders and replaced them with hinged versions made from brass sheet.
Chopped off the top of the rommel-kist and replaced it with an opening version made from brass sheet.
I then gave the whole thing a light coat of halfords acrylic primer.
Still got loads to do before I'll be ready for paint, but I must admit I'm really enjoying this build. 
Here's a few pics.

Cheers
John

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

"No hatch left unopened" eh?

Andrew Design do an Afrika Korps figure or 2, I have one here that The Blitz sent me for christmas - with a little work you could get the guy to hang out of the side turret hatch.

How/Are you going to correct the mantlet? The original HL one is hideious IMO, the Modellino kits I have for Ausf F2/G and Asuf H/J have a much better looking one (which, admittedly, is a bit of a pig to assemble!) but they are the later 'flat faced' type and not the angled one of the short barrelled Pz IV's. I tried cutting down the original HL one, but it still too 'thick' for me

[Mackem]

Hi Mart,

Not done with the hatches yet, engine deck later this week, then the vision ports. If it blows up I can
always use it to drain pasta. 
I know what you mean about the mantlet, I'm using this book as a reference : Machines 009 - Panzer IV p2
It's in russian, but it has loads of F1 photo's, some excellent scale drawings and lot's of 'blow-up's' of small details.
The mantlet looks like it could be a candidate for replacement, which means yet more brass bending, mmmmmmmmm

Cheers
John

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

If it blows up I can always use it to drain pasta. 

HAHAHA! That just made my day!

I've seen a good replacement made from brass, possibly on the Panzerketten forum(?) Right now I think I'm heading down the route of 'Dremel the stuffing out of the stock part, until its either right or I throw it away...!"
Mart

[Mackem]

The mantlet should be up against the 2 bulges (pivot points ) on the turret front plate.
To make that happen it looks as though the airsoft unit will have to go. Not to mention
most of the mantlet itself. Keep us posted on your progress Mart, it will be very useful
to a lot of us here.

Cheers
John

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

Modellino's replacement mantlet screws straight to the airsoft unit - he supplies scaled barrels so airsoft function is out the window anyway. The backing 'plate' to the HL mantlet is basically for ease of assembly as far as I can tell, maybe I can glue a pair of ears on the backside of the outer mantlet like the resin kits have
(Or maybe I just chicken out and make my F1 an F2 :-[ )

I'll post pics of my modellino mantlets vs the original HL tomorrow (just as soon as I fish them out of storage...) Until then, there's a few pics of my stalled Panzer IVH build out there that has the revised mantlet.

[tankmad]

Thats a good job you done on the Panzer John I like the weathering looks the part.
Stevie

[Mackem]

Thanks Stevie, but the PzIV has been rubbed down and primed. It will still be getting the North African
paint scheme of dunkelgrau and 2 thirds dunkelgelb then some heavy weathering, but only when I'm happy
that I've completed the detailing.

On the subject of detailing, I've fitted the engine access hatches,



Ground down the headlight led's and fitted the blackout covers. IMHO this is one of the easiest
but most effective mods you can do,



fitted some fasteners to the rommelkist hatch,



and finally, fitted the hinged baffles to the engine air intakes.



Still got lots to do, gun mantlet, front and rear fenders, radio antennae, spare wheel holder, the list continues
to grow...............................

Cheers
John

[Mackem]

Hi All,

Had a day off today so I decided to correct the gun mantlet on the PzIV.
This involved some major surgery including the removal of the airsoft unit.
After a lot of dremmeling, sawing and drilling I finally found myself with a working
gun mantlet that looks something like my Austf. F1 line drawings.





I've removed the front vision blocks ready for the opening versions, and need to fit the co-axial mg.
While I had the dremel out I removed the oversized rommelkist. I've still got to fill that hole though.



With the airsoft unit gone, there's now room to move the stock gun elevation unit into the turret.
I'll add that to the still growing 'todo' list.

More pics soon
John