Panzer IV Ausf F1 to H Build

[HERMAN BIX]

As do I
Be enlightening to see a well done back end on a IV...............keep it up mate

[Marc780]

this is such an amazing detailed build...the gas/water cans could have been empty?! or perhaps even filled with sand to stop bullets.
I didn't read all the comments but, the Germans usually painted a white cross on their gas cans that were used to hold water. Or at least Afrika Korps did. You know the British immediately copied the German gas cans when they encountered them in North Africa, and called them "jerry cans" because, theirs leaked.
Interestingly, or chillingly if you were a sherman driver: the allies first encountered the tiger 1 in north africa and even captured one in 1943. They shipped it to England and studied it thoroughly...unfortunately it's questionable how much they actually used what they learned- because the Shermans were destroyed one after another in France in 1944...and the bazooka was usually useless against the panzers.

[KTRob]

Thanks for all the kind words guys, I haven't done much lately as been busy with work, sat down tonight to add some detail to the rear end as Jarndice says its quite bare.

First mod was to lop off the track adjuster handles and then tidy up the stump with a file:

Then tidy the handles up (I had to remake one as it was destroyed during removal....) then drill the handles and the protrusion on the tensioner bodies, before gluing a wire into the handle, and fitting it to the hull. If you use a wire the same size as the drill, its a sliding fit and doesn't fall out, and its moveable too:


I added some other details to the back of the tank:



I punched out a circle of thin plasticard to form a lower inspection cover, which is missing on the HL. Then I added the small chain to tie the tow cables onto the back plate.

Also added some bolts along the rear bracket.

Finally I added a spare track holder, I have seen a few variations in photos, some appear to be factory items with a holder for three separate links, others like mine appear to be added in the field.

Going to have a go at making the rear fenders hinge next

[jarndice]

Rob, I am looking forward to seeing how you build the rear fenders, although in a way I wish you wouldn't cos it means I would feel obliged to tackle the same job on a PZ 4 myself, whatever, I wish you good luck, I am certain I will not be the only member of this Forum studying your efforts and stealing your hints and tips shaun

[EddyK]

Excellent job!

[HERMAN BIX]

Good onya Mr Rob, there had to be a way to bring more realism to the IV workhorse, I guess the rear guards will get another instalment of dolls house components again

[mike1268]

Wow, thats looking awesome!

[philipat]

Awesome work!

A couple of small pieces of styrene tube could give you the drain pipes under the tensioner handles.

I like the inspection plate cover. May have to look into some punches.

You didn't happen to make the tensioner handle by creating a paper template and then transferring that to styrene did you? Maybe scan and post the template? That error has been bugging me but I'm not sure about trying to cut it off to fix it and being able to preserve enough to reapply or make a duplicate.

[KTRob]

Rob, I am looking forward to seeing how you build the rear fenders, although in a way I wish you wouldn't cos it means I would feel obliged to tackle the same job on a PZ 4 myself, whatever, I wish you good luck, I am certain I will not be the only member of this Forum studying your efforts and stealing your hints and tips shaun

Thanks Shaun, feel free to pinch my ideas, that I think is the biggest benefit of this forum, you can pick up so many ideas to improve the aesthetics or running of the model.

Excellent job!

Thanks Eddy

Good onya Mr Rob, there had to be a way to bring more realism to the IV workhorse, I guess the rear guards will get another instalment of dolls house components again

Cheers Herman, yes more dolls house hinges

Wow, thats looking awesome!

Thanks Mike

Awesome work!

A couple of small pieces of styrene tube could give you the drain pipes under the tensioner handles.

I like the inspection plate cover. May have to look into some punches.

You didn't happen to make the tensioner handle by creating a paper template and then transferring that to styrene did you? Maybe scan and post the template? That error has been bugging me but I'm not sure about trying to cut it off to fix it and being able to preserve enough to reapply or make a duplicate.

Thanks Philipat, done some drain tubes. The punches are OK but wont go through thick styrene.
I didn't do a paper template, I ground one handle off with a dremel, then realised if I had used the razor saw I wouldn't have to make new ones, so cut the good one off and used it as a template to mark a new one on some styrene sheet.
If you use a fine razor saw they should come off OK, I could make a template from my handle and scan in for you, if that would help?

[edpanzer]

Hi rob this is great work I hope your bringing this along to the Grantham meet so we can have a proper look!!!!