White Washed: Pzkfw IV ausf.H
Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 26, 2004
KitMaker: 5,435 posts
Armorama: 2,762 posts
Posted: Monday, October 01, 2007 - 12:56 AM UTC
Hi all,
This will be my build log for the White Washed campaign. My entry will be a Pzkfw IV ausf. H, of course in winter camo, like the one on this pic:
Kits I'm going to use for this campaign:
Tamiya Pzkfw IV ausf. H
Fruil modeltracks
I've made a start on the hull and I'll post pics of my progress ASAP.
Martin
1/16th radio-controlled
1/35th static
Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 26, 2004
KitMaker: 5,435 posts
Armorama: 2,762 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 02:51 AM UTC
1/16th radio-controlled
1/35th static
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 6,391 posts
Armorama: 4,258 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 03:17 AM UTC
Looking good Martin, looking forward to the progress.
Cheers
Henk
The early bird may catch the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...
Manitoba, Canada
Joined: August 13, 2006
KitMaker: 1,021 posts
Armorama: 805 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 03:24 PM UTC
That panzer looks pretty mean with those tracks. Looks like the white wash is in pretty good shape too. I am used to seeing it all beat up. Is that baking soda for snow on the running gear?
It seemed she viewed guys on the same level as potatoes.
-Kyon
Georgia, United States
Joined: August 22, 2005
KitMaker: 331 posts
Armorama: 191 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 04:04 PM UTC
All you need now is to have a soldier on skis being towed.
Support your Local Hobby Store.
Still boycotting Dragon Sytrene tracks. Ick-poo!
Current project:
Looking for my mind, I lost it somewhere.
#041
Kobenhavn, Denmark
Joined: July 20, 2006
KitMaker: 10,069 posts
Armorama: 4,677 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 06:24 PM UTC
Looks good. You are making good progress on this one.
Looking forward to see more.
Campaign'oholic - 252+ campaigns completed
Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 26, 2004
KitMaker: 5,435 posts
Armorama: 2,762 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 08:20 PM UTC
Quoted Text
That panzer looks pretty mean with those tracks. Looks like the white wash is in pretty good shape too. I am used to seeing it all beat up. Is that baking soda for snow on the running gear?
No it's sand already applied with white glue
1/16th radio-controlled
1/35th static
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 6,391 posts
Armorama: 4,258 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 04, 2007 - 11:05 PM UTC
The photo of the Ausf. G ( split commander hatch, no rain gutter over the gunners sight, radio aerial mounted on super structure right hand side.) shows an interesting combination of clothing for the crew.
The commander is wearing the reversible Parka, with the dark side out. Presumably to stop the white side from getting dirty. The camouflage effect of the white site is not really needed for tank crews, until they get out for any lenght of time. A detail often overlooked. He also wears the peaked "Einheitsmutze", which was not very popular with tank crews, because the peak got in the way when trying to look through the optics or vision blocks.
The Radio operator is wearing the general issue Greatcoat, and judging by his bulky shape, he is probably wearing more underneath. Both he and the driver are waering the more popular sidecap.
Cheers
Henk
The early bird may catch the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...
WARLORD
Associate EditorWarszawa, Poland
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 1,923 posts
Armorama: 868 posts
Posted: Friday, October 05, 2007 - 02:28 AM UTC
@Martin - Ease of build Tamiya's kits gives us more time for time consuming painting and weathering without being bored and tired with working on the same model for long time. Good work so far.
Quoted Text
The photo of the Ausf. G ( split commander hatch, no rain gutter over the gunners sight, radio aerial mounted on super structure right hand side.) shows an interesting combination of clothing for the crew.
The commander is wearing the reversible Parka, with the dark side out. Presumably to stop the white side from getting dirty. The camouflage effect of the white site is not really needed for tank crews, until they get out for any lenght of time. A detail often overlooked. He also wears the peaked "Einheitsmutze", which was not very popular with tank crews, because the peak got in the way when trying to look through the optics or vision blocks.
The Radio operator is wearing the general issue Greatcoat, and judging by his bulky shape, he is probably wearing more underneath. Both he and the driver are waering the more popular sidecap.
Cheers
Henk
Great knowledge! I know who should I ask for in future
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 6,391 posts
Armorama: 4,258 posts
Posted: Friday, October 05, 2007 - 02:48 AM UTC
I have seen this photo captioned as an Ausf. H before, although I can't remember the publication off hand. It is common place to see Panzer IV's wrongly captured, sometimes quite obviously so, even in renowned books. The German practise to refurbish old tanks with new features does not make things easier, although it can make trying to work out the correct version lots of fun for all the family...
*** Edit*** see, I forgot to mention the added armour plate on the front plate. The edge around the MG ball mount and drivers episcope holes gives it away.
Cheers
Henk
The early bird may catch the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 6,391 posts
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Posted: Friday, October 05, 2007 - 03:00 AM UTC
Whilst I'm in an observant mood (who said pedantic...
) those are not actually Ostketten, but the earlier Winterketten. I would have thought that Fruil would have changed that (rather big, not to mention annoying.) error on their boxes by now
.
Just google Ostketten or Winterketten, and plenty of articles explaining the difference come up.
Cheers
Henk
The early bird may catch the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...
Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 26, 2004
KitMaker: 5,435 posts
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Posted: Friday, October 05, 2007 - 05:12 AM UTC
Ah ok I was thinking already why Fruil had 2 "similar" winter-type tracks. There is a difference after all
1/16th radio-controlled
1/35th static
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 6,391 posts
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Posted: Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 04:01 PM UTC
I just noticed something else in the picture at the top. In between the two spare wheels on the Glacis, a (spare?) suspension mount is carried. Now as this is the first time I have seen this part carried as a spare, I looked a bit closer. Look under the tank, and you can see a gap just behind the second set of wheels on the left side of the tank. Is the suspension unit on the glacis the missing set? Mine damage or just wear and tear? The muzzle break cover, and relaxed attitude of the crew, indicate that there is no imminent danger of action.
Cheers
Henk
The early bird may catch the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...
Manitoba, Canada
Joined: August 13, 2006
KitMaker: 1,021 posts
Armorama: 805 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 07:04 PM UTC
That note about the suspension would certainly be an interesting detail. You have good eyes Henk.
It seemed she viewed guys on the same level as potatoes.
-Kyon
Istanbul, Turkey / Türkçe
Joined: December 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,163 posts
Armorama: 842 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 07, 2007 - 07:28 PM UTC
Good observation!
Complementary to this, maybe the serious looking tank commander is thinking "Damn, I wonder if they take this on me? At least it still runs".
Proud Supporter of Armorama Campaigns
Virginia, United States
Joined: June 20, 2007
KitMaker: 510 posts
Armorama: 469 posts
Posted: Monday, October 08, 2007 - 11:17 AM UTC
He looks pissed i think. kind of like 'damn it is cold out and im in a tank missing some road wheels... hope no russians came around the corner!'
-Mike
Workbench:
251/1 Ausf.C. (AFV Club)
M16 Motor Gun Carriage (Tamiya)
M4A3 (76mm) (Dragon)
Firefly Ic Hybrid Hull (Orange Box)
Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 26, 2004
KitMaker: 5,435 posts
Armorama: 2,762 posts
Posted: Monday, October 08, 2007 - 11:31 PM UTC
Hmm interesting detail, maybe I'll do the same with my model
I don't have much time at the moment so the next update will have to wait.....but stay tuned
Martin
1/16th radio-controlled
1/35th static
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 6,391 posts
Armorama: 4,258 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 - 12:09 AM UTC
Well, you have got me off my behind, I have the Pzr IV E taken off the shelf (again...
) I will finish it this time... Not white wash (North Afrika, that would stretch even the most ardent 'what if..' fans..
) but a sand over Panzergrau scheme.
I'll post a separate thread on that.
Henk
The early bird may catch the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...
Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 26, 2004
KitMaker: 5,435 posts
Armorama: 2,762 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 - 01:38 AM UTC
Sounds great Henk, looking forward to see pics of your project. Thanks for all the input in this thread.
Martin
1/16th radio-controlled
1/35th static
Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 26, 2004
KitMaker: 5,435 posts
Armorama: 2,762 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 09:21 AM UTC
Hi all,
Got a question. The ostketten are as you know wide tracks which should enable the tank to drive on soft ground like snow.
Now my question is:
Could a Pzkfw IV have ostketten AND schurzen? Looks like the tracks would be too wide to use schurzen!
I do have seen some scale models on the internet with both schurzen and ostketten, but no wartime photos. The wartime pics that I have seen show either a tank with ostketten but without the schurzen or a tank with normal tanks and most of the times schurzen.
Hope someone can help me to awnser this question.
Martin
1/16th radio-controlled
1/35th static
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: August 07, 2004
KitMaker: 6,391 posts
Armorama: 4,258 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 03:30 PM UTC
Hi Martin,
No, Ost and Winter ketten are to wide to use together with the skirts, if you look at the photo you can see that the tracks are much wider than the mudguards, and the attachment hooks on the mudguards only extend slightly.
That is of course not to say that a field maintenance crew could have adapted the mountings on their unit's tanks, to widen them, but as you say, there seems no photographic evidence to confirm this.
Groeten
Henk
The early bird may catch the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese...
Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 26, 2004
KitMaker: 5,435 posts
Armorama: 2,762 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 14, 2007 - 07:22 PM UTC
Thanks Henk. In that case I'll use normal tracks and keep the ostketten in my stash for a future project!
1/16th radio-controlled
1/35th static
Cotes-d`Armor, France
Joined: August 12, 2007
KitMaker: 292 posts
Armorama: 281 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 - 05:22 AM UTC
hi
i have a photo of a panzer 3/ stug 3....cant tell which as its crossing a river with meny men on top! with both the ostketten AND schurzen . i cant scan as its in a book (images of war series, panzer divisions at war 39-45 by ian baxter)
neil
Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 26, 2004
KitMaker: 5,435 posts
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Posted: Friday, November 09, 2007 - 01:13 AM UTC
1/16th radio-controlled
1/35th static
United Kingdom
Joined: December 05, 2006
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Posted: Friday, November 09, 2007 - 02:16 AM UTC
Nice clean build so far, I like the use of the russian track as applique armour, thats a nice reference pic you have. Keep up the good work, will be nice to see this painted.
Cheers,
James
