HERMANS 'GERMAN SHERMAN' PZIV F2 'B11'

[ALPHA]

Should have waited Herman....I know you bought this one because some rep said they were going to be discontinued....But the production is full flow once again...and now come with the 2.4 rig and Lion Battery ...when I ordered mine those features weren't specified...but when it arrived I was pleasantly surprised
Thing is...I'm going to chop it up and make an Armato

After doing the M1...think I'm going to stick with the smaller WWII tanks for now


ALPHA

[ALPHA]

OH...I forgot...Another note is the rotor shield...all the RC P IVs are wrong...except for Tamiya ...On all the RTRs...it's the same mount as the P III...it should be shortened

ALPHA

The list of basic necessary mods is pretty long. Im looking at the current PzIV builds to pick out which I need to do.
I almost canned the turret & ordered a Jukenburg Vierling assembly, but again, trying to avoid importing .

I just modded mine....not that difficult...the mod came out surprisingly clean...I can still use the same internal mounts...so the turret still comes apart easily...it's kind of too bad I didn't document that....but it came out so clean no one really could tell ...the only way is to look at the space between the rotor shield and mantlet

So don't toss the turret yet...it's totally fixable ...I'm sure you could figure out how to do it once you take it apart...very simple when given a little thought

ALPHA

[HERMAN BIX]

Getting the better of the glue maniac !
Not certain of the future of the airsoft gun system. I dont need it, just what it came with. I have a real nice new barrel to instal, and the spectacular muzzle brake to go with it to pass off as a slightly upgraded F2 !
If I can get an HL recoil unit to go in, I will fit that instead. They are $12 from Tankarmy last I looked, so I will see if they are in stock.

[HERMAN BIX]

More hack & slash.............mantlet mods as per Mr Philipats lead.
Theres a lot to these IV builds even only to an F2 level, let alone further marques.

[HERMAN BIX]

Got the bin lid off in one piece, just a nick out of the corner section behind the cupola. Lowered enough to get the look, but its still huge !
Unless I get fancy with the elevation system, thats life.
The lid will glue back on and be good enough to cover the correct area. Nothing a rolled tarp or helmet cant assist with
Getting the last of the mantlet mods done, soon be on with other turret details.

[HERMAN BIX]

Turret is together.
Still needs plenty of work, but the look & feel is much more better'er !!
The mantlet mods while effective, are not perfect. The mass of plastic behind the actual shield is still to big, but as I dont have much option with the gun the way it is, then this will do. Paint & texture will reduce the starkness of the gun mount as a whole I hope.

The new barrel is a treat. Not being airsoft, its much more in scale, with the muzzle brake while not an F2 per-se,allowing for artistic licence for a retrofitted F2 with a new brake fitted infield, its much nicer. Looks like a IV now, I just cant cope with the ball style muzzle brake......................

Moved the turret hatch stops(using reclaimed originals) and secured the BB loading hatch(I wont need it)
The turret side vision hatches might stay yet, they are F2 spec, and though the picture shows B11 without them, the dates the machine would have been manufactured for the Malta invasion operation would mean it should still have them.
There are plenty of F2 pics around with apparent accurate dates associated that have the side vision hatches, which fit the Malta invasion/deploy to Russia timeline scenario, so why not eh !!
Co-ax MG still to do, brass tube & paperclip will do for this.

[HERMAN BIX]

Got only a little bit done over this Easter break. to much going on !
Hit the turret vision ports with an amazing - only available on TV offer.............THE RENOVATOR

These things are a godsend for removing material in tight spots.
A triangle head that is an oscillating sander, the 320 grit paper made short work of the plastic on each side of the turret.
I couldn't live with them being left on, historically possible or not .

Ok, infomercial over, you can come out now

All the metal hatches are filed & hinges pre-fitted.
Rear plate removed & engine vent housings removed. Ready to lower, question asked on how much.
MG fitted to mantlet (used three sections of brass tube telescoped)
Centre plate on upper glacis track mount holes puttied up & sanded.
Commanders 'rifle' sight fitted.
Lower hull ABC slot backed with styrene & puttied up.

About to begin removing the moulded hatches from the upper hull.

[HERMAN BIX]

Oh, the empty plastic bottles in the background are to try & make a suitable light lense for the bedspring T34/85 !
I have a Schweppes tonic bottle that has a nice texture to it that I will try Mr Alphas idea for vac-forming a headlight out of.

Ahem, the Gin that went along with the tonic was also quite effervescent
(hey, was 33C here today & I'm sunburnt to the point of looking like a match )

[HERMAN BIX]

These just compiled from a member of North Brisbane RC Tank Club.
Some I have seen, most not.
Good reference.
Much appreciated mate.

[HERMAN BIX]

So, I took the engine deck slope in hand. Figured that anyone looking would use an eye, so I lined it up by eye
Measured down the rear plate 4mm.
Shot a line across the vacant vent area up to a mark parallel with the longest engine hatch joint. Thats 5mm behind the vent bulkhead.
Got out the razor saw & got after it.
Cut up the pencil line until the saw started cutting into the actual engine deck moulding.
Went again flat against the upper engine deck to remove the wedge.
Seems to be looking about right.
Will remove the attachment points and install the hatches.
I reckon the attachment points can be reused by fitting cross members between the vents & securing the hull attachments to those.
Probably by screws down from the top, so the hull screws can still draw tight from below.
Lets see eh...........