Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf H Project

TBowman · Post by **TBowman** » November 30th, 2010, 11:18 pm

Hi everyone

New spot on the forum for the Panzer IV.

Latest progress

Wire cutters painted a few weeks ago. The material on the real ones I have seen and held seem to be a Bakelite type material. Has a fiberglass-like feel to it.
Kent says that they are actually made from a pressed paper with a varnish coating. I used a similar technique to achieve the coloring and look of the material that I had used on the Panthers periscope, prism housings. Not perfect but good enough. Will receive some weathering along with the rest of the tank when that time comes.

the real thing

Mounted the spare track brackets on the rear plate and the jack block. In these photos you can see the first schurzen brackets mounted. Getting excited now! :o Along with the track links brackets, I also received my rear Notek light(still not mounted) I will be making functional and some other small detail parts to add.

Tim

Kent W · Post by **Kent W** » December 1st, 2010, 11:16 pm

/Kent

cahlfors · Post by **cahlfors** » December 2nd, 2010, 9:07 pm

I'm out of words!

But you are totally wrong about the wire cutters. No human could possibly do them better - the ARE perfect!

Thanks for letting us follow this master build.

/Chris

pepppe75 · Post by **pepppe75** » December 3rd, 2010, 1:07 am

hi tim!

i totaly agree with kents cat

and chalfors.

and im allso very glad that you letting us follow this master build.

kind regards peppe.

Björn Johansson · Post by **Björn Johansson** » December 3rd, 2010, 8:14 am

Tim!
You continue to amaze me :salut:

First class work :thumright:

TBowman · Post by **TBowman** » December 5th, 2010, 10:39 pm

Thanks guys

Last night I added the locking tabs for the intake covers and the front, spare track bar. Another thing that needed to be corrected was the jack block. I had mounted it too high the first time. ::) I may go back and remake the intake covers as separate parts and without the small white metal part that is attached to them but for now I am happy.

Tim

cahlfors · Post by **cahlfors** » December 6th, 2010, 6:48 pm

The detail really amazes!

I just noticed that the spare rollers have brand new rubber linings, whereas the mounted ones have a more worn-in look. Very convincing!

Cheers,
/Chris

TBowman · Post by **TBowman** » December 6th, 2010, 9:54 pm

Hi Chris

Thanks. The wear on the return rollers is from the very limited run-time it has had. I was originally going to use the rollers with tires but changed my mind as I researched the vehicles that the 12SS were equipped with(not that they were all steel) but I like the look of them after I had machined the correct profiles.. Everything will get an even layer of weathering and dust in the final stages of this project.

Some more photos with the commander's hatch installed(sort of).

Kind regards
Tim

cahlfors · Post by **cahlfors** » December 7th, 2010, 6:02 pm

cahlfors wrote:the mounted ones have a more worn-in look.

I meant the road wheels...

/Chris

TBowman · Post by **TBowman** » December 8th, 2010, 1:59 am

Hi Chris

aha. The tires on the road wheels were not on purpose. I think the ones that are on the spares are the Blitzkrieg Armour version and the ones on the road wheels are earlier, Spearhead versions.

More experimentation with coloring, on the exhaust muffler this time. Fortunately, I had my second muffler from the Stug IV so I still have my dunkelgelb muffler too to fall back on.

This will get a coating of dust on top of it with the rest of the panzer but I'm not convinced that this is the look I want. I'm trying to get a more subtle, look and not the 'junk yard' look. Also straightened the antenna.

I'm actually doing all this as procrastination on the zimmerit. :-\

Looks funny when it's the only thing weathered. Does it look too rusty?

Here's part of my Land Rover's exhaust. More modern material but still a good reference.

Tim

cahlfors · Post by **cahlfors** » December 8th, 2010, 7:00 pm

TBowman wrote:Does it look too rusty?

Depends on the effect you are after. I think it looks very convincing, but obviously like an old muffler on a brand new tank. A little soot on the exhaust would be the dot over i, as we say here.

Cheers,
/Chris

pepppe75 · Post by **pepppe75** » December 9th, 2010, 9:39 pm

hi tim!!!

to me its looked spot on,realy nice!!!!

kind regards peppe

TBowman · Post by **TBowman** » December 13th, 2010, 9:25 pm

Thanks Chris and peppe for your input.

I spent some time fabricating the schurzen brackets for the turret and lower hull as well as a few of the schurzen. Some minor things toto still but very happy with the look. Starting to look like a real Normandy panzer IV now!

Tim

Björn Johansson · December 13th, 2010, 10:42 pm

Hi Tim
It sure do.

Great looking vehicle
thats for sure :thumright:

Enjoy it every time you post something
new.

TBowman · Post by **TBowman** » January 24th, 2011, 1:14 am

Hi everyone

Well, after procrastinating as long as I could, I decided to jump in and take care of the first steps with applying the zimmerit to the lower hull sides. After some experimentation with dying the material to get a more subdued grey(without much success), decided to apply it in the same manner as the Panther's....straight out of the container.

Here it is without paint.

and with first coat of paint.

more soon
Tim