RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Hey chaps,

Thought I'd send along a few pictorial thoughts on a project I've been working on for a while now. This is not really a build report in any sense of the term; more the short story version of my on again/off again interpretation of the ugly duckling known more formally as the Panzer IV L/70 (A), built by Alkett, and sometimes, as a modern invention of terms, referred to as the Zwischenlosung (interim design), a term not actually used during the war according to some sources. This ungainly beast, for me at least, falls under the category, 'so ugly you can't help but love it,' something like that forlorn pup you see in the window of a pet shop and which nobody really want to bring home. Though similarly named, the Panzer IV L/70 by Vomag (V) and the Panzer IV L/70 (A) were almost totally unlike each other except in their mutual incorporation of the Panzer IV suspension system and their employment of the same gun, the 7.5cm Pak 42 Kw.K L/70. The necessity for the Alkett produced version commencing in June 1944 apparently grew out of production capacity limitations of the more common Vomag produced version. Unlike the svelte Vomag variant (only 620 mm high), the Alkett version (1,020 mm high) was derived directly from the workhorse Panzer IV ausf F. The (A) variant's high superstructure was necessitated by the fact that like the veritable Panzer IV, the (A) had its gas tank directly under what would have been the turret traverse ring under the floor. Despite high hopes for larger production, only 277 Jagdpanzer IV l/70 (A) tank destroyers were built through March 1945.

There are a few conversion kits of the (A) on the commercial market. The relatively old one by Chris Juckenburg is still available as are one or two aluminum versions that I've seen for sale on a sister site in Germany. Profiline didn't make one, but a CAD drawing prototype (A) was created by one of our esteemed colleagues here on the Forum and sent to Chris Ludwig as a possible pre-production example for one of his kits. I bought that one, but knowing how long it's taken me to build his Panther II, I decided on a 3-D produced kit I found for sale on the aforesaid site. It's similar to the Juckenburg piece: I'm not versed in the arcane lingo of the 3-D world, but I will say that whatever matter this mold is made from, I can attest the material is hard as steel (a slight exaggeration, but not by much) and requires a tremendous amount of sanding to smooth out the print lines. When I say a lot of sanding, I mean... a lot of sanding.

I've since been informed and have read here that there is a product on the market to help avoid or at least make easier the sanding process. That product is called "XTC-3D, 'a brush on coating for 3D printed parts' per its label. This product came a little late in the game for me. But, upon reading the 'how to' I would have stuck to the sanding block and Dremel anyway. I thought it best not to attempt inviting noxious fumes onto the work bench during the winter months.

The kit came with a nicely turned aluminum (aluminium to some here) barrel and brass sleeve which, when used together in the molded in trunnion blocks, make for a nice, snug fit. However, other than the sleeve and tube, the only other parts from the kit I used were the superstructure body, roof and front plate, mainly because I had softer material or better formed parts from the Teilebehälter.

The initial fit of the upper body to a standard H-L Panzer IV F2 bought on E-Bay proved to be better than I would have imagined.
The molded on transmission plate bolts are removed and replaced with brass 1 mm flat head screws and 1 mm hex bolts and the screws countersunk. The front mudguards were removed to the fender line and replaced with scratch made thin brass plate on which would be placed a hinge half. Aber treadplate (Part Number 16 069) was cut to fit from the fender line to the super structure and the mounting points of the extra track links were mounted. Using the method so well explained and shown by "uncle" Night Shift (Martin Kovac) in his inestimable U=tube presentations, I applied texture to the entire upper structure using Tamiya Basic Putty (Gray) and thin liquid cement, this time by Tamiya. However, as explained by Kovac, Mr. Cement S dries a little faster. The effect of rolled steel is subtle, but definitely enhances the overall look and feel of the large slab sides of the (A). Exercising a little artistic license, foliage/tarp hooks were placed two rows high, some roof pieces added and a bit of weld applied using Army Painter blue/green two part epoxy. A great product that's very forgiving to my many errors. The lifting hooks are simply thin sheet styrene and the small hex bolts are by Meng.
Chapter 2 upcoming.

Very nice. I love non-mainstream tanks.

I'm in the same boat cleaning up 3D printed parts. XTC-3D is a two part epoxy coating and from the reports I've read it doesn't have a bad smell. It's made by Smooth-On and they make some great products. I'm actually going to get some to try on my smaller parts where putty is too hard to apply.

SCHWEREPANZER,

A very nice, unusual build. Always liked the look of these things, even if a little odd. Carry on.

Cheers,
Eric.

OOH OOH Did some one say Panzer 4???
I do like this and having enough PZ4 bits as well as brass nuts and bolts it might just become another must build.
I use dolls house sites for the brass hinges and replacement fenders from WOZ via Shapeways
I very much like what you are doing,
Please keep us up to date with your progress

One problem (of many encountered) was the cone shaped machine gun cover molded to the 3D body. No amount of hand sanding could have gotten it removed. A Dremel-like tool with a cutting blade was applied, knowing in the back of my mind that a slip of the hand could well ruin the project at its near inception. However, it went pretty well and the offending cone was summarily excised from the front plate. It was a big moment. To treat myself for the small victory, a few 2 mm, hopefully appropriate foundry and casting markings were added to the mantlet and gun housing. The two dual bogies get their rubber saving steel wheels for a test posing. A piece very distinctive to the (A) is its unique gun travel lock. This piece was made by a friend in The Netherlands who made the 3D drawing and cast it for this build. In the picture above, it is held temporarily in place to assess location and sizing. The small piece seen on the right side leading edge just aft the brass fender is the bracket to hold the Schurzen extension to the Thoma mesh anti-armor shields this beast will carry upon completion. Unique to the Panzer IV L/70 (A) is the Vorsatz "P" or Krummlauf curved barrel machine gun mounted on the roof loaders hatch cover to afford a 360 degree radius of self defense and, theoretically, a substitute for the more common self defense weapon seen on many German tanks. The weapon was not universally accepted as a reliable substitute and in reality, most pictures of the (A) in the field show the Krummlauf port closed over and the more traditional close defense weapon mechanism in place.
Wish I had taken a better close up of the Krummlauf, but sorry, lads, I didn't. In the end, I chose not to retain the Krummlauf and added back the cover to the hatch lid and substituted the close in self defense weapon. Seen below is a half-a** shot of the Krummlauf cover in place, the hard rasping down of the sharp edge of the original gun housing and the initial erroneous placement of the front plate large foliage hooks (for some reason one of my favorite parts of the ugly duckling). The results of the "Night Shift' method of applying texture shows up well on this picture.

More on that and other subjects coming up...

She may be 'Fugly' but its gorgeous !!
Those foliage/tarp tie off points are indeed a detail to behold.
The innovative late features like Thoma and the Krummlauf are also a stand out.
Really cool last days machine that Im really looking forward to seeing come to life.

Greetz Sgt. Tankme,

I hope you'll give us all the benefit of your review of the XTC product. If it doesn't erase detail in the application, it would be a viable answer to the time consuming and not so pleasant job of hand sanding. Please keep us posted if you can.

Ralph

Thanks Eric,

She is a bit out of the mainstream and a rather international build at that, with parts coming from Germany, The Netherlands, the UK, China and with assembly in the USA. What a hobby, eh? Thanks for your kind comments.

Cheers,

Ralph

I very much appreciate the fact that our in house professor of all things Panzer IV, the honorable Jarndice, gentleman that he is, had the innate kindness not to call attention to my obvious failure to angle down the rear deck of this beast. It is one of several compromises I have had to make to retain my sanity so far in the build. BTW, the hinges are 3D prints with the the third input slot cut off.

Cheers

Ralph

It's a beauty for sure even without the sloped deck keep up the great work