Contemplating a Panzer IV build? Then...

[43rdRecceReg]

These then are the parts that form the turret ring bearing:

Tamiya Pz IV Machine Gun bag..

The four white nylon rollers go with the metal shafts to form the 4 bearings needed.
Part of the trouble with buying the kit in instalments, is that some parts- those not on sprues- are not always in the bags you'd expect to find them in. Why, for example, should the roller bearings appear in the Machine Gun bag?
Wouldn't they be better sharing a bag containing the 2x10mm shafts? Och well

[Ad Lav]

Nice to get a bundle full of new bits

Are you just short the dmd or aftermarket board now?

[43rdRecceReg]

Finally, a friendly supporter sent me some turret bits- including this Pz IV Turret Storage Bin. The constituent parts of this unit are on the 'C' sprue in the kit, and so far I've not been able to buy that. When I do, I'll return the Bin parts with great thanks for the timely loan

Tamiya Pz IV Turret Storage Bin..

Yep, the Pz IV turret looks distinctly naked without its booty...
I shall rectify that 'wardrobe malfunction' tomorrow.

[43rdRecceReg]

Nice to get a bundle full of new bits

Are you just short the dmd or aftermarket board now?

Yes! and Yes to that too, Adam. Apart from the DMD units (or Elmod), I think the only essential I'm short of now is the Recoil bracket. They only cost a few quid, but no-one seems to have one. I might give AAF Museum in the States a try.
If I had the exact dimensions, I could make one out of 2mm alloy. A surprising number of parts are shared on Full-option tanks. The same recoil unit, for example is used on almost all models. So are the elevation and rotation units.
It appears, though, that the recoil brackets are unique to each model. Bummer
I have a few parts from the 'D" sprue on loan, as well as the alloy barrel, and in due course I shall return those to my generous donor, when I'm able to source those bits. For the moment, though, the Shell is almost complete.

[43rdRecceReg]

This is how the bearings go together in the turret floor. The same method of providing roller bearing support for the turret, can be found in nearly all (?) Tamiya tanks. It's simple, and provides an effective friction free ride for the Turret.

Tamiya Pz IV turret floor bearing components pic A

Tamiya Pz IV Turret Floor bearings pic B

Tamiya Pz IV Turret Floor bearing caps fitted

As I observed earlier, it would be more logical if related components were available in the same bag; but often they're not. The bearing shafts and their rollers came from separate bags- separate sources, in this instance too; but in the Kit itself, they're also not in the same bag.

[43rdRecceReg]

The Turret Floor is also where the Elevation Motor its to be located.
These are the bits needed:

Tamiya Pz IV Elevation Motor essentials

Tamiyaphiles on the board say that it's better to replace the plastic arm supplied with the kit, with a bespoke metal alternative. Hmm...well, that's probably right, but my tanks don't cover many miles in a typical year (or metres, for that matter , nor do they go out battling, as Bugs McBunny is the only threat in my garden..and maybe a few Seabirds too.

Tamiya Pz IV fitting Elevation Motor circlip

After fitting the wee brass knuckle (part of the ball and socket joint in the arm)
There's the fiddly business of fitting the retaining circlip on the arm's pivot. With fingers growing into cucumbers with age, there's a risk of the clip pinging off into some parallel universe; so care is needed when pressing it in.

Elevation motor fitted using a pair of 2 X 8 mm screws

[43rdRecceReg]

Before fitting the the rotation unit to the Turret, it's necessary to fit the four plastic bearings that keep the turret ring from slopping around in the turret aperture.

Turret ring bearings- controlling fit of turret ring in upper deck

Turret ring bearings- fitted with screws and threadlock

Rotation Motor fitted to upper hull

When the Turret is ready to be fitted to the Upper Hull, I'll have to slacken the motor off slightly, to allow the Turret Ring through.

[Ad Lav]

Brings back memories of my build

The turret ring on the panzer iv is the only WW2 one that can't be twisted and pulled off.

[Estnische]

Thanks for the photos of all the steps Roy - so we can share the journey. I found a wonderfully finished Stug here and it was shown at the end - I'm going 'but what happened?'

Having a baby is not half as much fun as making one...

[43rdRecceReg]

Time to bond the Storage Box to the booty-less Turret
First there a little retaining lug to fit to the bottom of it.. (glued in the centre, like the bar in an 'E')

Tamiya Pz IV storage box support lug

Storage box located in place..

Storage box fitted

Now to the Turret Schurzen..

Turret Schurzen bonded in place

and this is the what she looks like now after those bits have been grafted on. It might look odd, because the hull and upper hull have already been primed and had a coat of Dunkelgelb...and yet they display a greenish tinge when compared with the turret... Hmm... I had a greenish tinge or two myself after Christmas's' overindulgence. Nah..just joking (almost )
Just waiting fro the recoil unit to be delivered. then..if i can source the recoil bracket, I can finish the Turret and paint it.

Turret update.. The Posing Panzer.