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Tamiya Panzer IV Full opt kit 1:16
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 4:00 pm
by Winalot
Hi
Being in France we are now facing another lockdown, so I need another project. Having just completed the Pershing, I would like another Tami tank, in 1:16, but I have reservations
You made have read my forum on probs with the Pershing turret rotation, and the tightness of all the wiring inside. It’s still not quite right. Can anyone offer any experience with the Tamiya Panzer IV 1:16 kit, is it just as tight inside?
I have a Tiger 1 kit full Option here, unmade, that I kinda got as a job lot but I am selling it! I allready have 3 HL Tiger 1’s that came as well, so I’d rather not make that one, but maybe beggars can’t be choosers!
Also is the difference interesting enough between the Tiger and Panzer? Guess it’s a matter of opinion.
Any advice much appreciated
Thanks
W
Re: Tamiya Panzer IV Full opt kit 1:16
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 5:17 pm
by Model Builder 4
The tamiya pz iv is a nice tank W but again there's very little room inside so everything needs to be neatly installed, the speaker box and electronics take up a lot of space once more
Cheers, Lee.
Re: Tamiya Panzer IV Full opt kit 1:16
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 5:21 pm
by Rad_Schuhart
I am planning to publish a review of the tamiya Panzer IV kit in my website next week.
I am more or less happy with it, it has better quality than other tamiya models, but the electronics are still very aged. The wiring is not as tight as the pershing.
My main complain besides the crappy electronics and poorly designed sprocket in the gearbox, is that suspension wears fairly fast and there is no way to prevent it. As origin it comes with too big tolerances and the chinesium metal they are made of does not help neither. You only can replace the parts... if you can find them...
But besides those huge issues, is a cool looking thing.
Re: Tamiya Panzer IV Full opt kit 1:16
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:14 pm
by Winalot
Thanks to both of you. Do you think it’s different enough from the Tiger? Don’t want the wife saying
“ You’ve got loads of those allready” we wont get into pairs of shoes or handbags eh.
It’s just that tank stuff always seems to be about Tigers!
W
Re: Tamiya Panzer IV Full opt kit 1:16
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:19 pm
by Winalot
Oh and PS , let me know when and where you do your review. Incidentally, I was planning on doing it as Battle of Kursk, where I think my Father was, colours I’ve seen pics of that era in Dünkelgelb and Olivegrün. I like them like that without the Rotbraun.
W
Re: Tamiya Panzer IV Full opt kit 1:16
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 6:25 pm
by Rad_Schuhart
Winalot wrote:Oh and PS , let me know when and where you do your review. Incidentally, I was planning on doing it as Battle of Kursk, where I think my Father was, colours I’ve seen pics of that era in Dünkelgelb and Olivegrün. I like them like that without the Rotbraun.
W
All what I write is in my website.
I just need to take pics tomorrow, it is already written, but so far hidden.
Re: Tamiya Panzer IV Full opt kit 1:16
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 9:39 pm
by 43rdRecceReg
I built the Tamiya Pz IV entirely from obtainable spares, and donations- as an unplanned experiment that got sort of out of hand. Then it became a case of: 'I've started, so I'll finish!' (Though a mastermind might have bought the full-option kit in the first place, as it would have been much cheaper, probably

) Still- I enjoyed the challenge.
I'm not sorry I did, however, as I learned an awful lot along the way. I also think the Pz IV Ausf J is one of Tamiya's better models. It's certainly the most accurate Pz IV on the market.
Have a look at my thread, and you can judge for yourself how many niggles you might have, or encounter, with the internal real estate.
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=23848&hilit=Contem ... &start=240
Mine is fully functional, but I'd decided to deck it out in WW2 Finnish livery, just to give it a non-mainstream look.
It's a great model tank, in my opinion- irrespective of what Rad may write

...
and it doesn't have that irritating slot-in turret mounting feature.
Re: Tamiya Panzer IV Full opt kit 1:16
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 9:59 pm
by Rad_Schuhart
43rdRecceReg wrote:
It's a great model tank, in my opinion- irrespective of what Rad may write

...
.
Not only me, there are documented cases of what I mean in several forums. I expected it to happen, but not that fast.
Of course if the running time of the tank is 10 minutes, it wont happen. But run it for 20 hours outside the salon (no need to run over mud or sand, just in the streets) and you will probably have the beginning of that suspension wear.
But that really begins since second one of the build. The outer wheels make way less pressure than the internal wheels in the tracks. In some cases you can even slide a piece of paper between the wheel and the track, not touching the external wheel.
The bad designed gearboxes in all ww2 tamiya tanks (but the pershing) is well documented and explained by the famous Daryl Turner as well.
I hope to have some time this week for publishing everything.
Re: Tamiya Panzer IV Full opt kit 1:16
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 1:12 pm
by Winalot
Thanks for your comments, as with all things, I just want to be persuaded, but as I said before, I really don’t want another Tiger, so despite Rads misgivings, think I will give it a go. Axels hasn’t got one but I’ll keep searching.
I’ve checked with suppliers in France and Germany, and it seems despite our sudden lockdown in France, I will be able to get deliveries.
W
Re: Tamiya Panzer IV Full opt kit 1:16
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 2:21 pm
by Ad Lav
I have a Tamiya Panzer IV, lovely tank. It’s nice to have different sounds to the Tiger/Panther/King Tiger and Jagdpanther - they all share the same sounds which is rather meh.
If you want some photos of the inside just shout.