Dragon Panzer IV E 3 in 1
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Monday, September 23, 2013 - 08:18 AM UTC
After dabbling with writing a review build OOTB, I decided I needed some bench time with PE and a bit of scratch work. I've had this kit in the stash for a while and have been itching to get at it. I'll be doing it up as a DAK vehicle so I can practice a worn finish. This is the infamous E that has been the subject of much debate and polite conversation.
I've been at it for a few weeks now, and having fun putting in an interior as a proof of concept exercise. I have a few other PZ IV kits in the stash and I wanted to know exactly how much of the interior will be visible, and if all goes well, to make a set of basic plans that will be available should anyone want a copy.
More updates soon.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
United States
Joined: August 30, 2010
KitMaker: 749 posts
Armorama: 521 posts
Posted: Monday, September 23, 2013 - 11:29 AM UTC
Is this the 6264 the DAK Panzer IV E. Honestly with out an eye loop would be hard to pick it out . I just got done slicing and dicing the hull and what little pcs I could canibalize from unuse parts of other dragon IV kits to fix some of the errors. I'm just burned out that's why it's still staring me in the face . The vehicle tools are out of scale if your going to use them they are too small . If you have a 6357 the rDicker Max the tools can be used on the IV E .dont mind me I'm just rambling away .
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Monday, September 23, 2013 - 10:42 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Is this the 6264 the DAK Panzer IV E. Honestly with out an eye loop would be hard to pick it out . I just got done slicing and dicing the hull and what little pcs I could canibalize from unuse parts of other dragon IV kits to fix some of the errors. I'm just burned out that's why it's still staring me in the face . The vehicle tools are out of scale if your going to use them they are too small . If you have a 6357 the rDicker Max the tools can be used on the IV E .dont mind me I'm just rambling away .
Yep, one in the same. I decided I'm not going to worry about some of the known issues. Curiously, it looks like Dragon may have corrected some of the parts. I took the "glaring errors" with a large grain of salt, I believe that Terry's usually fine reviews may have been somewhat tainted by the events that were going on at the time, understandable, but unfortunate. Checking against my own refs, I decided I could live with most of them. This is just another fun build and I'm not going to get worked up over a millimeter here and there.
So far the kits is going together reasonably well, although the fit of the fenders and upper hull could have been better. I noticed the bolts at the back of the fenders were not slotting in properly with the cooling intakes so I shaved them off. The glacis/front plate join needed quite a bit of scraping and trimming to get a good fit too.
Like I said, I'm just having fun and getting my chops back.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
United States
Joined: August 30, 2010
KitMaker: 749 posts
Armorama: 521 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - 06:33 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Is this the 6264 the DAK Panzer IV E. Honestly with out an eye loop would be hard to pick it out . I just got done slicing and dicing the hull and what little pcs I could canibalize from unuse parts of other dragon IV kits to fix some of the errors. I'm just burned out that's why it's still staring me in the face . The vehicle tools are out of scale if your going to use them they are too small . If you have a 6357 the rDicker Max the tools can be used on the IV E .dont mind me I'm just rambling away .
Yep, one in the same. I decided I'm not going to worry about some of the known issues. Curiously, it looks like Dragon may have corrected some of the parts. I took the "glaring errors" with a large grain of salt, I believe that Terry's usually fine reviews may have been somewhat tainted by the events that were going on at the time, understandable, but unfortunate. Checking against my own refs, I decided I could live with most of them. This is just another fun build and I'm not going to get worked up over a millimeter here and there.
So far the kits is going together reasonably well, although the fit of the fenders and upper hull could have been better. I noticed the bolts at the back of the fenders were not slotting in properly with the cooling intakes so I shaved them off. The glacis/front plate join needed quite a bit of scraping and trimming to get a good fit too.
Like I said, I'm just having fun and getting my chops back.
Kimmo
. I was wondering why you removed those , did you save the bolt heads so you can glue them back in the right position. Did they not give you a fender with out the mounting points for the tool and extra items . After cutting the hull I had a spare fender from the kit 6301 the vorpanzer e so they line up . Got lucky with the cutting . The track support rollers are a bit on the big side that's up to you . Watch out how do I explain this, the track drive be careful when you glue it on. The tracks when they go into the track drive sprocket should be level with the track support rollers . Its the lowest portion of the drive sprocket that should be level .The way the kit has it the drive sprocket takes a little dip , in real life it will stress the support roller and tear it off .
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - 07:55 AM UTC
[/quote]. I was wondering why you removed those , did you save the bolt heads so you can glue them back in the right position. Did they not give you a fender with out the mounting points for the tool and extra items . After cutting the hull I had a spare fender from the kit 6301 the vorpanzer e so they line up . Got lucky with the cutting . The track support rollers are a bit on the big side that's up to you . Watch out how do I explain this, the track drive be careful when you glue it on. The tracks when they go into the track drive sprocket should be level with the track support rollers . Its the lowest portion of the drive sprocket that should be level .The way the kit has it the drive sprocket takes a little dip , in real life it will stress the support roller and tear it off . [/quote]
I'm saving the good fenders for a future project. I wanted to see how good/bad a plugged up fender looks. I didn't save the bolts, I've got hex rod so no big deal replacing them. I think the track thingy makes sense, I'll remember to be careful when I get to that stage, thanks. As to the rollers, I'm almost certain Dragon fixed a few things. The rollers seem bang on with drawings +/- pencil line and the muffler looks spot on too. In any case, I've got a spare set just in case.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - 08:24 AM UTC
Been fiddling around with Sketchup, a nifty little piece of free software. I'm drawing up a set of plans so I can do as many interiors as needed in future. I'll make a set of these available when they're complete.
The green represents Dragon's plastic. Still a ways to go, but it's looking pretty cool.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
United States
Joined: August 30, 2010
KitMaker: 749 posts
Armorama: 521 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - 12:15 PM UTC
Nice . Ever consider making resin copies ?
United States
Joined: August 30, 2010
KitMaker: 749 posts
Armorama: 521 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - 04:28 PM UTC
Hex rods . Who makes those or are they just local over there ? I never though about that but now it's very interesting , I don't recall seeing any at the local hobby shop but next time I go I will look for them .
CMOT
Editor-in-ChiefEngland - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 14, 2006
KitMaker: 10,954 posts
Armorama: 8,571 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - 05:41 PM UTC
You can get get Hex rod from Plastruct in several sizes.
I have this kit and I never got beyond looking at how many parts are in the box and sending the cactus to a modeller who was after an item for a diorama, and so Kimmo you are a brave man.
United States
Joined: August 30, 2010
KitMaker: 749 posts
Armorama: 521 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - 06:54 PM UTC
It was kind of odd that dragon would put a cactus in the kit and there were never any in the Sahara .
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - 09:08 PM UTC
What Brian said regarding hex rod. I actually got mine from Phil's Hobby Shop, for some strange reason, 3 packs of rod plus an Evergreen Odd's & Sods shipped from the States was the same as 3 packs of rod from the UK.
I am toying with idea of doing resin copies of the interior if I can get someone to do it cheap enough to be worth it, now that I think about it, Shapeways might be an alternative...hmmm. It wouldn't be in the same detail class as say TWS, but it should be good enough to satisfy most modelers who want something to fill the void. Scratching it isn't actually that difficult.
The parts count is certainly high on this kit, but that just means you get an excellent cost/hour of enjoyment ratio
As to the cactus, maybe none in the Shara, but I do recall seeing quite a few pics of vehicles parked in clumps of cactii, maybe Libya or Tunisia near the coast?
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 - 12:14 AM UTC
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 - 07:48 AM UTC
More fun with Sketchup.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 26, 2013 - 01:44 AM UTC
A little more progress on the turret.
I decided to redo the commander's seat. Dragon provides one, but it isn't really that good, and they forget to mention it in the instructions (F11 if you're taking note). I bent some rod after carefully heating it over a candle. Tee first one worked perfectly, then the next two decided to blob on me. 3rd time's a charm.I chopped the seat back off, added some strip and sanded a round profile, then added a thinner strip. I drilled holes into the turret race (too close as it turns out, plug and re-drill) to help align and keep the support rods in place. As it is, the curve and thickness of my frames are a touch too thick, but I'll live with it. Just waiting for the support plate to dry so I can shape it.
That's it for today's installment.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 26, 2013 - 09:52 AM UTC
And the latest installment of technical illustration is fun.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 28, 2013 - 08:36 AM UTC
More work on the turret. A few oopsies found here. The main and machine gun openings need slight enlarging, the metal barrel provided is actually larger in diameter so forget that action. The seams on the plastic one will all be hidden anyway, so no worries there. The co-axial mg mount sits too far in, and is not exactly as it should be either. I had glued it in place before I realized it was too short. A bit of strip fixed that, I also added a clamp for the barrel. Not much of this will be seen through the hatch in any case. Still need to make some ammo bags. Got the commander's seat in place too. The vision block holder on the left side needed some work to sit flush, a round file took care of that. The right side mount is better, but a few swipes won't hurt.
And the latest installment of 3D goodness
Just need to add the dimension callouts and make new views. If you're interested in a copy, send me a pm. I'm still trying to decide whether it will cost a nominal fee (very nominal) or a pay what you feel like paying for it deal.
If you have any questions, comments, good bread recipes, fire away.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Monday, September 30, 2013 - 03:15 AM UTC
Work on the turret continues adding some bits and pieces and bolt details. I modified the right side of the main gun mount/shield a little bit, now it looks somewhat closer to the real thing, added a locking handle and clamp plate to the mg. I started work on the ventilator cage, the idea is to thread sprue or wire through the holes to form the curve of the cage and then add loops, again from sprue or wire. Should be fun. The sharp eyed among you will notice the guard for the gun has come undone, this is the 3rd time, so I drilled a hole in both ends, shoved a piece of sprue in. This should give the glue some extra area to stick to. I'll glue it in place once everything else has been done to avoid it breaking open again.
That's it for now.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 03, 2013 - 08:05 AM UTC
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 05, 2013 - 08:12 AM UTC
No bench time this weekend, but I did manage to get the 3D model and dimensions done. If you want a copy, PM me with your email address. It's broken down into 2 pdfs, the largest is 39 MB.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Monday, October 07, 2013 - 08:14 AM UTC
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 08, 2013 - 12:31 AM UTC
A minor update, the ventilator is coming along nicely, need to add the outer rings and sand down the cap. Working with stretched sprue and liquid cement is a lot easier than messing around with super glue. Started a binocular case and added some wire clips from tape. I gave them a quick coat of paint to help keep them in place.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 09, 2013 - 06:16 AM UTC
The seemingly never ending work on the turret continues. Padding under the cupola, the cupola traverse gear and cover, ventilator cage and some bolt detail here and there. I thought I'd be able to use my circle cutter for the padding but the plastic was just a little too thick to get a nice clean cut, the mounting plate went smoothly. I ended up cutting some sheet to size and wrapping it around a marker handle to induce a curve, then cut. Filed a round notch on each end, glued in place then drilled two holes per pad. That might explain where several hours went.
The ventilator cage looks so-so, when the turret is all closed up, not much is going to be seen so I'm not too worried about it. Need to let the gear cover dry and then trim. The tube sticking up is actually drilled out for a thinner piece of rod, another hole is drilled in the cupola. Getting the rod to sit should be interesting, fortunately there's enough depth in the holes to give me some wiggle room.
And that's that for today.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 12, 2013 - 04:21 AM UTC
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
Gauteng, South Africa
Joined: April 04, 2010
KitMaker: 50 posts
Armorama: 49 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 12, 2013 - 05:08 AM UTC
Kimmo,
Your work is amazing. I am following your progress with interest.
Regards,
Villiers
Uusimaa, Finland
Joined: October 22, 2012
KitMaker: 1,194 posts
Armorama: 1,077 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 12, 2013 - 11:14 PM UTC
Thanks Villiers, glad you're enjoying the build.
Kimmo
There is a time to laugh and a time not to laugh, and this is not one of them.
