Hi guys, I've posted pictures of my first attempt at a tank on the Armorama MSN Group at
http://groups.msn.com/armorama/sharpesfirstarmourattempt.msnw?Page=Last

This model is an OOB Tamiya Panzer IV D. I know it's an old and inaccurate kit, made worse only by my desire to put on all sorts of options that may not have been historically accurate. However, it was cheap and a good platform to try out a lot of techniques that I've only read about. Any comments are appreciated.

It's not totally complete. The driver's hatch was messed up and I had to repaint it. I will have to re-weather that and try and make it consistent with the rest of the model. I don't have an airbrush and I used laquer spray as the base colour, acrylics for detail painting, track wash and rivet details, oils for washes and drybrushes and pastels for dusting.

RichSharpe - First of all Welcome. Glad to have you here.
Nice first job. Very sound OOTB kit. My first advice is to build for yourself and make yourself happy so as far as historical aspects - don't sweat it.
I would like to offer one piece of advice that I learned here. When adding detail think of "how does it stay on". Specifically, the extra track on the front and the jerry cans inback. There are two main ways spare tracks were held on one a perpendicular bar with a big wing nut kinda thing on each end. Then a hold down clasp kinda thing. Basically two pins glued to the front plate, one with a bit of a hinge on it to hold a long flat bar that streatches across to the other side.
WIth the jerry cans an add on rope would be easy to add to hold down the can. If the tank was going on rough roads or country side they wouldn't want to loose those guys. You could also try a foil strap. Take the foil from a wine bottle and cut two thin strips to act as a tie down strap. Make a loop in the middle as a buckle and thread the two ends through the loop and fold them over and glue them down.

Again - very nice job, good solid paint job.

Bravo on your first AFV model! I think you did a nice job overall and show future promise.

My best advice at this juncture is to caution you about delving too deep into someone else's notion of "accuracy". Learn how to build the model first and master construction and detailing techniques. There are a lot of techniques and skills out there to learn. Have fun! "Accuracy" will come with that mastery in time. Many, many, modelers I encounter toss out the basic craftsmanship and skills in favor of the latest and greatest PE, resin set, or niftiest new book - and wind up backpedaling to learn basic modeling skills again when their finished models don't satisify them - or never learn that lesson at all.

Gunnie

Great lookin' tank... I only wish my "first " tank looked as good as that.. I just finished it and I DON'T think I'll be posting it.. It didn't turn out bad for my first tank and whitewash job, but I did make some mistakes that I can correct with my next builds.

DAMN! I wish my first kit looked half as good as that PzrIV...Looks really great ...The only thing I noticed wash the decals show up a bit in the pictures,but from experience this can be worse than in real life because of the flash from the camera..You are well on your way in this great and fun world of building armor...Just remember ...have fun!!

Rick
p.s. Welcome to the site!

Hey Rich,
we talked in the chatroom so I have very little to say except keep it up!
I wish my first tank was this good.
USE PE,
Andrew

Here are Rich's pics









Very nice work Rich---this is a good looking model--hope you don't mind me putting your pics right in with your post

Steve aka WeWillHold

Very nice work Rich. I'm sure that you will find enough advice on this site to make your next model a real knockout!

Thanks for the nice comments guys.

I'm sure I'll eventually get into the PE and scratchbuilding, but I just wanted to make a good basic effort on this first model. One step at a time. It took long enough just to finish a basic kit for me since I kept on screwing up and going back, and I wanted a finished model

Anyhow, how might I build scratch parts like the bar that holds the track up in the front? I wanted to do some sort of StuG in the future and I thought I'd probably have to build a equipment rack, but I really don't know how I would do that.

I picked a mono-coloured tank for this project. I don't have an airbrush yet so I have no idea how I would do camo patterns either...

Thanks for the help!

Super job Rich :-) and welcome to Armorama

I have to agree with Slodder's very sound advice..."build for yourself and make yourself happy"...worry about accuracy when and only when you want accuracy....that's what a hobby is all about. Mostly have fun...lots and lots of fun.

Richsharpe
The how to build the track holder is pretty easy
Here is an example. If you look you can see a dark yellow 'strap' going up the middle of the spare track on the front.


This is the device you want to replicate. You can get sheet styrene, sheet plastic in various thicknesses and widths at most hobby stores. OR you can use paper, heavier card stock but it would work too (business cards are good).

You would make a piece and that would rise above the track about 2mm or so and glue it to the tanks plate, do that twice with enough space for the spare track to slide in between. Then make a long one long enough to go between the two posts. Glue it on paint it with the rest of the kit and slide your spare track in.
Remember these were usually field modifications and there was no 'science' to them. So vairations are fine. You could get really fancy and go nuts but simple is fine.

Hope this helps.

Rich, this a very nice model, well done. I like the rust on the spare tracks and the weathering is good. Remember, build for yourself, it's all about having fun and building what you want to.

Keep it up mate


Roger

That's a great looking model you have there. I like the weathering kept on the light side.....nothing looks worse than overdone weathering to me. I go by the theory that too little is much better than too much. Next time you use decals, use a clear gloss under them. You can put this on with a brush just where the decal will go....it'll help keep the decal film from showing. You can use Future floor polish for this or any of the hobby brands of clear gloss. After everything's dry you can finish will a clear flat to even out the finish.
Keep it up and don't sweat it too bad if there's things you aren't happy with on your models. They can either be fixed or used as a learning experience to make your next one better.
Good luck and we'll see you around

looking Good, very good indeed for a first tank!!!!!

wow very nice piece of armor, looks great

Bender