My next project is well underway and it is Italeri's Panzer IV Ausf H kit 236. The kit I have is so old that the brand on the hull is "Italaerei"

This is my first attempt at kit bashing and upgrading an old kit using parts from newer releases. My plan is to try and replicate an Early Ausf H, which was outfitted with the Ausf G schurzen. I will also be adding some non-workable Modelkasten tracks and stowage from Legend's Pz IV set. The dark parts are from the base kit, the lighter ones are from DML (primarily the Ausf G kit and the Wirbelwind) and the tan ones are from Italeri's Jagdpanzer IV L/48














There was some chopping and trimming involved to fit the DML parts; it seems there are some dimension issues between the two kits, but nothing major. I have learned a thing or two with the most important being to plan well prior to execution; I could have done a better job building this one.

Let me know what you think, thanks for watching!

Christos

Christos, it looks a fun build, like you say, having to think a bit about what to use where, rather than just following the instructions.

Are you going to use both turret bins, or just wondering which to use? I'm sure I recall a photo somewhere of a P.IV with an extra turret bin strapped on to the engine deck...

Hi Matthew,

Thanks for dropping in! I did have a look at the instructions, but most of the time I just assembled the kit by looking at the parts; nor the sprues and neither the parts are labelled/numbered anyway!

I was trying to compare and make up my mind which one to use. In the end, I decided to use the Italeri bin as the DML bin was too big for the turret.

Will post some photos later on!

Frankenpanzers rock! Good work, although I may be biased: this is my favorite kind of modeling.

Thank you very much for thumbs up Russell!

I have done a bit more work today, I think the turret is finished now and I can move on to the hull.







Thanks for wathcing

Christos

Still looking good!

Thank you Russell!

Schurzen are on!






Thanks for watching!

Christos

More progress on the beast today








Let me know what you think

Thanks for watching

Christos

Thank you Matt, glad you like it so far!

I am a bit undecided on the T-34 tracks, I might need to reorganise them as in the following photo:


It is a later variant and taken a year after the Battle of Kursk, but still I am intrigued to add the T-34 tracks in a similar fashion. On the other hand, it might not be historically accurate, need to dig deeper!

Thanks for watching, good morning!

Constructionwise, I think I am done.











Thanks for watching

Amazing kit bash! It looks as though the turret armor will collide, with the stowage on the engine deck. Also, you may want to align the fenders. If they sag, it should be down.

Thank you very much for the good word!
You are right in both instances and they are down to poor planning.
As far as the side stowage, I think I can get away with it, as many tanks were loaded with stuff that were getting in the way of something else when they were moving towards another area.
I should have done a better job on the fenders, lets just say they are not sagged, but bent upwards!

Added a couple of stuff and now I think I am ready for priming






Thanks for watching

Christos

Looks amazing. Really nice details.

Love the different look of the schutzen. Often they look very different in pictures making it obvious the schutzen were often a mix and match of different materials. You captured that look very well here.

Looking forward to see it with paint!

Hello Jesper,

Thank you very much for the good word, glad you like it so far!

It requires a couple more touches to fix some minor issues, but after that I think I can proceed with priming and painting!

Thanks for watching!

Christos

Primed and one step closer to base coat!





Thanks for watching

Christos

Base coat and camo are now applied; the colours are Gunze Dunkelgelb and Gunze Olivgrun









Let me know what you think

Christos

WOW impressive building skills! I wouldn't have the patience to do such a nice franken-job!
I really like it!
Congrats on a super job! And I am sure you had such a nice quality time building it... after all that's the whole point of htis hobby!

Pablo

Pablo,

Thank you very much for the good word, means a lot!

To be honest, I could and should have been more patient building this and had I planned this better, I think I would have done a better job.

I am glad the paint job has turned out nice, I was a bit anxious, but it looks like the tanks in my reference photos, so all good in the hood!

Catch you later, thanks for watching

It's high time I posted my latest progress!








Still a long way to go, but I am on the right track, getting there!

Let me know what you think

Thanks for watching

Christos

Been working on the Pz on and off for the last few days, so that's where I am at the moment!








Added chips, scratches, some tie downs to the spare tracks and worked a bit on the stowage with oils. I also started working on the exhaust.

I will leave it to dry and tomorrow I will apply a gloss coat and then move to pin washes, streaks, colour fading and dusting.

Let me know what you think!

Thanks for watching

Christos

I thought it was longer than just three days since I last posted! Oh well, here where she is now!













I am thinking of applying a matt coat, some dusting and off to the display case, but I am always open to suggestions, so fire away!

I think I can call this done now.

Panzer IV Ausf H 636 - 6./Pz.Rgt. 3, 2nd Panzer Division, Kursk 1943


Thanks for watching!