[Desert]: Pzkw. IV F1

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Thanks for the video tip! I will check it out a.s.a.p.

Last night I had a Déjà vu experience: back at the start of the previous group build, I discovered that one of the Taigen Pershings' "electronics were kaput...'metal' gear boxes...disintegrating...some of the hardware...rusting." Yep, same sort of problem this time: I pulled out one DAK Panzer IV only to find that there had been parts missing from new-in-the-box . (Now I know a bit more about what to look for than I did ten years ago.) I soon found that one gearbox absolutely jammed such that one shaft wouldn't even turn when I disassembled the gearbox . So to save money, my group build [Desert] DAK PzKw IV F1 will be a one-tank build with a donor for some parts, just as happened with the Pershing.

[PainlessWolf]

Good Afternoon, Herr Doc!
Seems the best Builds are combo Builds using parts from differing manufacturers. My DAK Pz4 build was the same way.
regards,
Painless

Weathering Complete...Rolling away from the Docks into the Blue..jpg (219.15 KiB) Viewed 1077 times

[Ecam]

I know this doesn't need to be said, but save the donor tank's parts. Gearboxes are pretty cheap...

Looking forward to what you will be able to do with this build!

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Ecam: about two months ago, I went on an organizing binge. I always scavenge hardware and parts, so I had ooh goo gobs of them. In fact, I recycled some of the old MFUs that nobody would want and, regardless, would cost more to send to somebody than just buying a newer, better, and compatible one. The same with some other parts. But yes,

"Spare Parts,
And broken hearts,
Keep the world turnin'
'Round."

[MonsieurTox]

Sorry to hear that one of your Panzer IV had problems while new. Can't wait to see what color you will use, I'm looking for the best yellow brown, I'm not sure if the Tamiya one is very accurate. I'm going to follow this build with great interest and gonna steal some ideas for my Panzer III.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Nor, Monsieur Tox, am I sure that the Taigen colors are accurate. But at this point I may stick with them as I have figures for my FAMO needing paint, builds waiting in line, and big plumbing bills coming. (nothing too serious, just maintenance after 33 years), I am sorry if I disappoint you, but you should realize that you are w-a-a-y ahead of me in all kinds of skills. If I do choose to repaint, I would look at the DAK paint sets offered by Vallejo and Mig. Ammo.

Painless: I like the stowage on your DAK PzKw IV. I do see, however, that the crew might be a bit distracted. I plan to stea---unh, appropriate---some of the ideas, esp. the water cans.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

A slight update: with help from newer Taigen electronics and ample extra parts from the donor (just like wartime, no?), the PzKw. IV is running just fine. There is an odd combination of metal suspension springs, metal tracks, steel gearboxes, but plastic sprockets, idler, road wheels and return rollers. If I were buying the PzKw IV new, I would not settle for that combination, but then, again, my tanks rarely get outside and rarely run for more than 4 or 5 minutes.

On both the build tank and the donor, the bow machine gun with its Kugelblende were drowned in place with glue at an angle as if firing across the front of the tank. So today I took a chance at getting the MG freed. I put a coat of Cyanoacrylate remover on the fittings and---whoo hoo!---I was able to pry the assembly loose and clean it up so I should be to reuse the parts. I will reinforce the backing plate for the MG, since it did break on removal, but at worst I will just use it for a pattern and make one out of heavy plastic or brass. I am lucky.

If you are familiar with Taigen V3 MFUs, you likely know that there is a tiny switch one can throw to the "off" position to eliminate the track "recoil." Nice! However, the V3 unit I put in this PzKw build has no such switch. I just is not there. Bizzare--but I can live with it, so long as the gun goes "Ka-Boom" as it does quite nicely.

[jarndice]

Doc if you drill a hole through a childs bead push the Radio OPs MG barrel through and box in the bead without getting any glue on it you will have an MG that is free to move.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Thank you: that's a good backup plan, Jarndice. The Kugelblende I scavenged is in pretty good shape, but, who knows, maybe I will need the bead trick someday.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

Here is one for laughs. You may recall from above that I was repairing the backing plate that holds the Kugelblende in place. Well...

What's wrong with this picture?

What's Wrong.jpg (588.59 KiB) Viewed 1018 times