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Building a Panzer IVJ - Part 1

Completing the upper hull with the addition of the rear fenders and engine compartment sides allowed me to add the rear fenders. This is basically the same technique as the front fenders only on the other end :)
That completed the fitting of p.e. parts to the upper hull. The lower hull was assembled as instructed, with the rear and front lower plates , suspension and other small kit parts. The kit muffler was assembled then the molded on straps were removed and replaced with Eduards p.e. parts. note that no wheels of any kind are attached yet . The upper and lower hull are complete with all the p.e. parts they’ll be getting and can be cemented together at this point.
Now back to the kit instructions to finish the upper hull. Hatches, hinges, and anything else that needs to be added before painting is added now. No tools, handles, or machine gun barrels yet. If it could be taken off the tank in real life leave it off ‘till after you paint. Put the completed hull aside and grab the parts for the turret.

I built the barrel with only the parts I needed to secure it to the turret. The hatches on this kit will be closed so there’s no point in building the entire breech assembly if you don’t need to. The turret was built using the kits instructions taking care to note where kit parts are to be replaced with p.e. (remember I marked off the parts to be replaced on the kits instructions at the beginning). Eduard parts replace the turret tie downs, rain gutters, and the clasps and braces for the rear stowage bin. I chose not to use Eduards gun ring feeling it was going to be more trouble than it’s worth. With the addition of the turret armor braces the turret was complete and the basic tank is ready for paint.