panzer1V ausf f1. modification to later model

[Sub]

Hi Guys.. A technical question for you. I have got a panzer 1V to add to my fleet but dont like the short gun barrel so i have decided to modify it to a later spec model with the bigger longer gun barrel which i will make from metal. The question is does anyone know how long the new barrel should be at 1/16 scale . it looks quite long on the full size pics i have seen nearly as long as the tank hull. Any one able to enlighten me please.. Thx regards Sub.

[jukebox]

Hi Sub,

It depends on which version of the Panzer IV you are modelling, Ausf F2, Ausf G and Ausf J all have the longer barrelled 75mm gun, but each one is a different length!

First section of gun barrel, from mantlet.

Ausf F2: 35.97mm
Ausf G : 35.97mm
Ausf J : 32.70mm

Second section of gun barrel, from end of first section to the muzzle brake

Ausf F2: 79.57mm
Ausf G : 82.84mm
Ausf J : 106.82mm

Length of muzzle brake.

Ausf F2: 18.53mm
Ausf G : 28.34mm
Ausf J : 28.34mm

My references are the two George Bradford books, World War II AFV Plans German Early War Armoured Fighting Vehicles (ISBN-13: 978-0-8117-3341-0) and World War II AFV Plans German Late War Armoured Fighting Vehicles (ISBN-13: 978-0-8117-3355-7), both published by Stackpole Books. I can recommend getting hold of these books, they are an excellent modelling reference.

Hope this helps.

Steve

[Sub]

steve. Absolutely. Many Thx now i can build whatever variant i want to. . .excellent stuff. Many thanks again

[Sub]

Hello Folks

A couple of pics of my Panzer 4 now with the scratch built barrel upgrade thanks to Steve
( jukebox) for the info on length etc.

Now painted in DAK yellow to go with my DAK Tiger which I have just about finished.
The panzer 4 has to be totally weathered yet and detailed but its comming on.

An interesting mod I have done is to add a smoke unit filler, this was very easy to do as the standard model fills through the exhaust and is a nightmare to do as the oil goes everywhere.

As the smoke unit on this model is off center All I did was to drill a hole into the top of one of the outley pipes and extend this with brass tube and silicone tubing up to the hull again brass tube into the top hull and a bung made from plastic card, see pics.

Regards to all Sub.

[philipat]

Overall, it looks good. A couple of questions:

Which Ausf did you build? I can't tell if it's a G or a J from the photo. And, is that just the Tiger 1 muzzle break? Wonder if that would be correct for both ausfs...

Also, why add the styrene tubing to the copper tube? What should the outer diameter of the gun tube be?

Thanks.

[Sub]

Hi.

It will probably end up being a J, thats the length of the barrel I chose.

By the way it is no where near completed there is a lot to do before its converted, I put the styrene tube over the Brass tube as it looked a bit too small but now Im not too sure but its easy to remove it just slides on, yeah its an old tiger muzzel brake from a spare tiger barrel i had lying about, it is simmilar to one I have seen on a late panzer 1V used by the Finnish army.

I am no rivet counter, and if it looks ok then Im happy.

The point of the post was just to show how easy it was to extend the barrel thats all and fit a smoke oil filling point.

I will refrane from any more pics till I have finished it.

Regards Sub.

[philipat]

Okay...thanks.

It looks great! I figured I'd ask to learn some of the why behind the how.