Metal Replacement floor for Panzer 4?

[jarndice]

I am pretty sure I have seen an advertisement for a Panzer 4 metal replacement floor (Not the Tamiya metal tub),
At the time I had no need but it would be useful now.
Does anyone recall the ad and if so can they direct me to it.

[43rdRecceReg]

I can only think of the nightmare alloy hull from Asiatam, Shaun- the one I had to saw almost 1cm off. You have that one, though, don't you?
There's the cast one, of course from rctank.de.
..
or from Forgebear
https://www.forgebeartanks.com/store/p9 ... _Tank.html

By 'floor', you seem to be implying a readymade alloy sheet to bond to the floor of a styrene Pz IV, perhaps- if so, I've not seen that anywhere.

[43rdRecceReg]

There's also a stripped down one from Torro-de:

https://www.torro-shop.de/Panzer-IV-lower-metal-hull
Any use?

[jarndice]

By 'floor', you seem to be implying a readymade alloy sheet to bond to the floor of a styrene Pz IV, perhaps- if so, I've not seen that anywhere.

That is exactly what i am referring too,
The Asiatam disaster that we both purchased has found a home as the base for a PZ 4 Ausf B' as to the Taigen Metal hull it takes a lot of work to get right but because the metal is so soft it can be readily modified,
What surprised me was the lash up that is the Taigen PZ4 metal hull which is surmounted by the almost definitive Taigen PZ4 Turret, a job of work that is almost as good as Tamiyas PZ4 Turret,
I have a number of Heng Long PZ4 Plastic/ABS Hulls which after the battery box has been cut out could do with some strengthening hence the reinforced floor and some early Taigen Turrets which are ideal for use as part of the early PZ4 variants that were without stowage bins.
Thanks for checking what is available

[Rad_Schuhart]

You can always try pouring some bi component epoxy. It will make a nukeproof hull. I did it in my Panzer III and worked fine.

[jarndice]

Rad old friend that is a good idea and one that I had considered but for the following reasons I left it hanging,
I do not know how rigid that would make the hull Can you assure me that the hull will not flex,
How deep/What amount of twin epoxy do you consider to be suitable for the best result ?
Obviously the forward area where the gearbox mounting plate is located should be left free of epoxy to avoid raising the gearboxes,so could the epoxy floor be limited to the same level of the mounting plate or would it need to be "Stepped" thereby raising the floor behind the the plate.to be effective ?
I can see this turning into a cottage industry if this works and Dave will suddenly find those Plastic/ABS PZ 4 Hulls in great demand
Tips and Tricks stand by there may be another entry coming

[Rad_Schuhart]

Hey. Nope, it wont flex 100% guaranteed. It is harder than metal, really. Making experiments I tried to cut it with the dremel and I ended breaking the discs, go and figure.

What I did many times, first of all, is to check the hull does not leak. Tap all holes with putty, glue or whatever you can find. Then put it over a piece of paper and pour water inside. If in 20 minutes the paper is 100% dry, empty the water, dry the hull and then pour the epoxy one day later (or when you are sure the hull is 100% dry)

This Panzer III was my first ever tank: (planning to fully repaint it. At that time I even did not make my own stencils!) https://radindustries.wordpress.com/201 ... i-l-recht/

There you can see up to where I poured the epoxy. I know it does not help a lot that everything has been painted in white, but hey, you can have an idea. Anyway my experience is about 3 milimeters wont not only not flex, but wont break even if you hit it with a sledgehammer or you send it to your neighbour with the post service, lol. Anyway the heng long panzer IV is known for having the gearboxes too low, and they should be like 1cm higher, so maybe you can fix that now, lol

Check also this build, the beetle has the same tech, but this time is not paint. It is transparent and still not very easy to see but better than nothing:
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=30323

Anyway what Id do is to buy 50% 50% epoxy. that means both bottles are the same size and you mix the same amount. If you have one of those bottles which 70% are resin and a 30% are hardener it is very easy to do mistakes and it might end in a brittle or nasty gummy thing. I had nothing but frustration when I had to calculate the measures, so with ones 50%-50% you cannot go wrong.

Oh and two last minute tips, which are obvious but hey:
When pouring expoy make sure the hull is in an absolute flat surface.
And remove the gearboxes.

Don't ask me why I know that, lol.

[jarndice]

Thank you Rad that is most helpful,
I already have twin pack epoxy resin in the workshop so I shall strip out the PZ4 hull and go to work

[43rdRecceReg]

If you recall, Shaun, in pre-Covid times, Jimbo Wa gave his model a bit of real backbone with two part epoxy, and some added glitter- for effect:

...and his thread:
viewtopic.php?f=195&t=27630&hilit=resin+floor

Personally, I'd buy the Tamiya Pz IV metal hull while it's still available. Why? Well, it has the return roller shaft holes in exactly the correct position, and will permit the use of the Tamiya suspension- which is, as I can attest- superior to any rival system, and streets ahead of Taigen's flawed offering.
It's not cheap; in fact it costs a lot more now, relatively, than it did when I bought one- as parts are getting hard to come by, and some models are now, effectively, withdrawn from the market.

https://www.axels-modellbau-shop.de/kat ... -1-16.html

[jarndice]

Thank you Roy, I have got dropping the rear roller on PZ4s to a routine exercise and it combined with the price of two part epoxy is both cheaper and less of a faff,I also have enough spares to fit out at least 3 PZ4 Hulls (Suspension, Track Tensioner's Gearbox Mounting Plates etc),
Using Tamiya's suspension which I agree is better than Heng Long or Taigens Indeed anything would be an improvement over those examples of PZ4 hull space fillers but I decided against the Tamiya metal tub and suspension from the time I became aware of the price and (lack of) availability compared to Daves price for a PZ4 ABS/Plastic Hull,
IF Taigen, Heng Long or anybody made an ACCURATE affordable Metal Panzer 4 Hull I would be head of the line. I shall not hold my breath.
What I would like is for Heng Long PZ4 Bodies being made available or for Taigen ceasing to mould tools and fittings onto the vehicle and to revamp the body to match the high standard they have achieved with the Panzer 4 Turret not forgetting the engine bay slope