Tamiya / Heng-Long PzIV Hybrid

[grompix]

Hi Folks.
Thanks again for all your encouraging comments. Really glad you like the build.

Yeah, the turret schurtzen comes on the same Tamiya sprue as the late cupola John so I was forced to use it instead of building it all myself.  I still intend making the hull schurzen though and I'll be using large chunks of your builds for inspiration.  The baffles are just plasticard glued into place.

Here's the measurements you wanted Mart:-

[grompix]

I've started the painting process and here's some pics of the progress so far.

I used Halfords light grey plastic acrylic primer first then various coats of Tamiya Acrylics Dark Yellow(XF60) Dark Green (XF61) and Red Brown (XF64). I also use oil colours with humbrol matt enamels for washes and to dry-brush highlights on the model. I agree with Brel on his tried and tested method of weathering tracks and suspension - drive round a mucky garden for half an hour or so!

I primed the lower hull first with 'Mr Surfacer' mixed with talcum powder to get that acumulation of muck and filth texture and then painted it with XF60 mixed with some earthy colours.

I still need to pick out details with some pin washes and paint the tools and stowage. I also need to make and add air scoops on the front transmission hatches. I'm sure there are a million and one other things I've forgotton to do too.

Anyway - on with the pics so far.

Cheers
Chris 

[grompix]

Pictures taken just after the 'weathering' run in the garden.

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

Cheer's for the pic Chris, looks like my design's spot on apart from I have a *little* longer section at the back (mine's 194mm long vs 190mm - big deal !)
Ta!
Mart

[BREL]

I agree with Brel on his tried and tested method of weathering tracks and suspension - drive round a mucky garden for half an hour or so!

Chris 

well I reasoned that if you want to weather the tracks properly use the real stuff and not paint I.E. mud and dirt

[grompix]

Just about getting to the finishing stages now. Still need to fit Darkith's DBU into the cupola vision ports, make a flashing MG, a tank commander, a driver, hull schurtzen, radio aerial on left rear of hull, RC the Bosch headlight, add scuff marks and rusty bits  - did I say finishing stages?

Here's the stage I've reached anyway. Painted the tools & stowage, added spare tracks and fabricated some sprocket hubs.

One gearbox jammed up solid after running it a while. I thought it was a faulty motor at first but after stripping it down it turned out the gears and axles were bone dry. A bit of judicious lubrication and all was OK. Note to self :- lubricate any new gearbox - even if it looks like its already been lubricated by the manufacturer!

Cheers
Chris 

[grompix]

Well, I have a 1/16th scale Panzer IV that looks, runs and sounds just like the Tamiya one I wanted. Time to count the cost I think.

I originally estimated that it would come to about £398. The most expensive parts being the Tamiya DMD and MFU 05 but I wanted those because of the superb Maybach HL-120 engine sound. I've had to revise my estimate twice during the build. I replaced the HL 3-1 gearboxes with low-profile brass gearboxes as they fitted better and I opted to use Tamiya gun elevation and recoil units. This has added another £16 to my estimate making it £414 - still a considerable saving over the £600+ of a 'pukka' Tamiya PZIV. Especially considering that mine has metal tracks and better gearboxes too. 

With hindsight I could have saved an extra £35 by not buying the Tamiya turret and turret schurtzen sprues and just adapted the HL turret instead. That would have made the total £379. I wanted the 'D' sprue though because that gives all the parts for a proper PzIV mantlet and a working stowage bin too.

Anyway, here's two pics to compare. 

[grompix]

Glorious sunny afternoon today chaps so I took it out for a spin. Here's some of the pics:-

Cheers
Chris 

[Matdragon]

looks great mate, it defiantly looks just as good as the tamiya if not better!! and its internal workings are better than tamiya, so you've got better... for less!!

great job mate,

Matt

[grompix]

Thanks Matt. Here is a video clip I took in the garden yesterday afternoon. Just listen to the Maybach HL-120TRM engine sound. It's a real pleasure to hear something different to the Tamiya Tiger/Panther/Jagdpanther sound. It was certainly popular with our avian population as you can also hear on the soundtrack!

Tamiya / Heng Long Panzer IV Ausf H

Cheers
Chris