Contemplating a Panzer IV build? Then...

[43rdRecceReg]

Jebes that Schurzen looks weird without the rear box

And in Denmark we say TAXA

In Estonia its 'Takso', which we could have got from the Danes at the same time we gave the Danes their flag.

That was very generous of the Estonians, Estniche But the Danes have the good sense to speak a language which is directly related to English, and from which certain alternate words replaced their Saxon equivalents. For example in Old English..'Sky' was 'Loft' 'Lyft' or 'Helm' (see German: 'Luft' and 'Himmel') until Old Norse (Danish) brought 'sky' ('Cloud') along. Only one of many hundreds of examples. Baltic languages are bizarre though, and only vaguely related to Finnish and Hungarian (Finno-Ugric), and no other Europoid language group (Latin, Romance, Germanic, Goidelic etc.). Oddly, like the language spoken by the Basques, Baltic tongues are not technically Indo-European in origin; though spoken by ethinic European peoples. If Gaelic is hard to learn (I gave up!), I believe Finnish and Baltic tongues are nearly impossible...
Good thing, we can all talk Heng Long, the Tamiya dialect, and Tai-gen, eh?

[sassgrunt]

Roy, pm sent regarding the storage bin. -Mike

[43rdRecceReg]

Roy, Do you know on what Tamiya Panzer 4 sprue the Radio Aerial deflector can be found as the Heng Long one is completely wrong and the Taigen one which is close to being correct is not available as a "Spare" part?
Its one of those details that doesn't matter until you see a PZ4 with it in place and then it just nags at me
Shaun.

Hmmm.. you and your niggles, Shaun
Well, I can't find this part listed in any sprue for the Tamiya Ausf J, and the only illustrated aerial/ antenna is a spring loaded affair situated in the left hand corner of the rear engine deck. Then again, I've not seen any actual photos of an Ausf J with this type of aerial buffer fitted.
However, if you need one...as it seems they were fitted to Ausf 'D's and 'F2's Shapeways offer this one: The others do look a bit "jerrybuilt'

PzIV aerial- antenna deflector 1/16

My guess is that it wasn't fitted to all models, nor all examples within a version. The Ausf 'J" also had aerials fitted to the turret roof. Clearly, deflectors would not be needed in those instances.

[43rdRecceReg]

..and there's another fine example here, Shaun, on:
https://www.bnamodelworld.com/military- ... 10005a2a6e
There's just one catch....

Pz IV Griffon Model PE extras

...and it's a big catch: it's only in 1/35 scale. Still, you can add these bits to your Tamiya Pz IV

[43rdRecceReg]

An afterthought. Looking at the F2 model above, it's clear that the aerial/antenna is situated at the front- just to the right side of the turret. That's a perfect position for the gun barrel bend it a tad too far, or even trap it under the turret, without recourse to a buffer/deflector arrangement. Maybe on later versions, the main aerial was located to a rear corner, where only a mild 'twang' would be inflicted on the aerial by the barrel, and not some root-snapping 'slappp...boing' It also meant that an ugly and awkward angle iron construction wasn't needed on the barrel.

[jarndice]

Roy My hero, Thanks for the reply,
The "Shapeways" fitting is the same as the Heng Long one and it is nothing like the prototype,
The particular PZ4 I am working with is an early Short Barrel "E" model.
The Taigen Fitting is pretty much exactly right.
I might have to commission someone to print one for me,
Shaun.

[43rdRecceReg]

Roy My hero, Thanks for the reply,
The "Shapeways" fitting is the same as the Heng Long one and it is nothing like the prototype,
The particular PZ4 I am working with is an early Short Barrel "E" model.
The Taigen Fitting is pretty much exactly right.
I might have to commission someone to print one for me,
Shaun.

You're very welcome, of course, Captn.
Now,... sheepishly. he writes:
I have technology for that, Shaun, ... but I have yet to find the time I need to teach myself a bit of CAD, to make the most out of my (virgin) machine. Tank building always takes top priority here... In the New year I'm determined to print something with it, if only to ensure it works ('twas a gift for a collection of Birthdays and Christmasses..). Currently, I find myself with too many irons in too many fires...and none of them making a hot Toddy or mulled wine

[43rdRecceReg]

Notwithstanding the vagaries of DHL (and UKmail..it's partner here), my package from Asiatam turned up this afternoon without warning (no detailed tracking palaver to follow- as the tracking ended in Germany; and no hint to stay indoors all day..either..for nothing, as is the case all too often for some folk).
All in all, I'm surprised and pleased.
Though this thread seems to have morphed into a Tamiya Pz IV build, at the outset I compared various pitfalls a builder should be aware of.
Here's the Asiatam Pz IV conversion kit, and my initial impressions. Eventually, it will be married up with the infamous and nightmarish Asiatam alloy hull, in it's very own thread. But not for a while.

Asiatam StuG IV conversion kit contents

I curse the lack of natural light for taking pics. We only get around six or seven hours of it at this time of year. I must invest in another desk lamp. It's great if you want to stay in bed all day, though
Here's a pic of the hull sideways on. It has a distinct swayback appearance. When I try to straighten it, it groans like someone with a slipped disc. I shall have to to put this thing in traction.
Although this looks like PE, and has that same distinctive 'nude' colour of Tamiya and Taigen PE, I think this kit might well be made of brittle Resin.. We'll see, the first time something snaps...

Asiatam StuG IV swayback hull

Now here's a closeup of some fo the detail. I have to say it looks a bit rough and ready, but nothing a bucket of Zimmerit and sculpted Plasto can't conceal.

Asiatam StuG IV a bit of detail

Overall, it can be made to look good. Just have a look at Imcq11 (Louis)s immaculate treatment. Sure, he made it look great; but I don't think I can. I'd be happy if it looked passable from.. say..the other end of the garden

[Arnie_DK]

Got one of these as well, and my project for this winter, is giving it an Aluminium hull

[43rdRecceReg]

Got one of these as well, and my project for this winter, is giving it an Aluminium hull

Ahh.. we're like-minded I see, Arnie This is intended to sit upon the Asiatam aluminium alloy hull I've been cursing for the last two years. Finally, the hull has running gear, tracks and motors in place. However, I can already see problems appearing. The warped hull won't respond to hot (not boiling) water, or concentrated heat from a hair dryer. I won't risk the heat gun on it, as it might end up as a pool of useless plastic. (I think it may be plastic, not resin.)
I'm just hoping that this kit isn't going to be the hair-tearer that the hull was
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/rc-tank ... n-kit.html