Heng Long / Imperial Modelbau Panzer IIIF conversion

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

For this build I will use the Imperial resin kit and some of Forgebears scrap parts (and a PzIII exhaust from Septon - cheer's mate!)

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

Step one:
Rip off all the bolt on armour from the Panzer IIIH doner chassis. Save the 2 knobbly bits on the front upper hull plate tho (what are they - part of the gearbox mounts or something?). Thin them down a bit so that they stand up as much as they did when they were part of the add-on armour plate (probably won't make too much sense until you try this yourselves, then you'll see how thick the plastic is behind the piece... )

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

Step two:
Remove the turret side doors from the donor Panzer IIIH (if you want the doors to open, if not use the resin ones in the kit). Cut the back part of the turret base plate away (the bit that forms the bottom of the turret bin) and file down the edges until it fits in the resin turret. Its not a great fit, so some work will be required here...

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

Step Three:
File the inner part of the mantlet so that it fits in the turret. The outer part of the mantlet should sit flush on the front face of the turret when the inner part is correctly positioned.

Add the detailing parts to the turret if you are not going to cut the holes for the turret side hatches.

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

Step Four:
Prise the drivers plate off and replace it with the resin one from the kit. Re-attach the knobbly bits you cut out earlier, and fill the rest of the glacis plate holes in with a filler of your choice...

[septon]

looking good mart keep them pics coming

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

typing as fast as I can...

Step Five:
You can cut off the 2 strips from the back of the hull and replace them with the metal ones from the kit, tho on reflection I wouldn't bother...
Eitherway, get a reference pic and position the rear plate by eye. the Panzer IIIL rear plate is designed for the longer late model hull, so it won't fit (and I don't have a complete IIIH handy to use as reference). Don't rely on the shape of the metal strips in the kit to help position the rear plate, as they will not help!

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

Step Six:
Prise off the turret ring guard, it fouls the turret! You'll only have to move it forward a little bit, but its still a pain in the whatsit...

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

Step Seven:
Fit metal sprockets and idlers (the kit comes with resin overlays to disguise the HL plastic parts, but I decided I wanted metal)

[Ex_Pat_Tanker]

Step Eight:

Tack on the exhaust and front mantlet and admire your handy work thus far.
Tomorrow I will tackle the cupola and maybe open the turret for the side hatches.