_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV: Axis - WWII
Armor and ground forces of the Axis forces during World War II.
Hosted by Darren Baker
DAK PZ IV D
m4sherman
Visit this Community
Arizona, United States
Joined: January 18, 2006
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,808 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 06, 2019 - 04:43 AM UTC
Months ago I decided to get a Dragon PZ IV D kit to build up as a DAK tank. At the time I had a few options, none of which were perfect. Dragons DAK tropical D was way over priced and not correct if the reviews are correct. Their straight D kit was not available, but doesn't have the tropical deck parts?

I ended up with two that were in my price range, kit 6330 upgunned to the 75mm L/43, and 6736 with the 50mm L/60. Both kits have the tropical engine deck and all the parts for the short 75mm, but both have the later road wheels. Kit 6736 comes with the early drive sprockets, 6330 does not.

As luck would have it I found a great deal on a Dragon PZ IV C, which will provide the narrow early wheels for a D.

After comparing the two D kits I noticed kit 6330 has added armor on the lower hull sides. I suspect it is a VorPanzer feature. Did upgraded D's serve in the DAK? None of the pictures I have are clear enough to show if the D's with add on frontal armor also have the lower hull armor.
AgentG
Visit this Community
Nevada, United States
Joined: December 21, 2008
KitMaker: 1,109 posts
Armorama: 1,095 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 06, 2019 - 11:28 AM UTC
Up armored "D" and "E" models did participate in North African battles.

I used a set of roadwheels from "Panzer Art" on my build.

This is before completion, but you get the idea.



G
b2nhvi
Visit this Community
Nevada, United States
Joined: June 17, 2016
KitMaker: 1,124 posts
Armorama: 1,014 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 06, 2019 - 12:01 PM UTC
Kinda reminds me of Johnny Cash's Cadillac. "Now, up to now my plan went all right
'Til we tried to put it all together one night
And that's when we noticed that something was definitely wrong.
The transmission was a fifty three
And the motor turned out to be a seventy three
And when we tried to put in the bolts all the holes were gone.
So we drilled it out so that it would fit
And with a little bit of help with an adapter kit
We had that engine runnin' just like a song
Now the headlight' was another sight
We had two on the left and one on the right
But when we pulled out the switch all three of 'em come on." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIuo0KIqD_E
TopSmith
Visit this Community
Washington, United States
Joined: August 09, 2002
KitMaker: 1,742 posts
Armorama: 1,658 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 06, 2019 - 02:36 PM UTC
I believe the DAK "D" model only lacks the narrow road wheels. I have the kit 6512 Vor panzer "D" and it comes with the parts to make a DAK "D" model.
m4sherman
Visit this Community
Arizona, United States
Joined: January 18, 2006
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,808 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 06, 2019 - 05:19 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Up armored "D" and "E" models did participate in North African battles.

I used a set of roadwheels from "Panzer Art" on my build.

This is before completion, but you get the idea.



G

Looks good. I am aware there were D's with added armor on the upper hull front. What I am not clear on is if there was added armor on the lower hull. The only clear picture is of an E.
m4sherman
Visit this Community
Arizona, United States
Joined: January 18, 2006
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,808 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 06, 2019 - 05:26 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I believe the DAK "D" model only lacks the narrow road wheels. I have the kit 6512 Vor panzer "D" and it comes with the parts to make a DAK "D" model.

Back when I was looking for a D, the tropical kits were way over priced. Kit 6736 also has everything I need for a D, and cost me less than half of what the tropical kit was going for. No vorpanzers were for sale.
ctkwok
Visit this Community
Alabama, United States
Joined: May 21, 2018
KitMaker: 197 posts
Armorama: 183 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 06, 2019 - 06:09 PM UTC
Smart man! I did exactly the same with 6736 going for a DAK Pz IV, but didn't realize the road wheels needed to be narrow, so thanks for that. It's missing the "V" parts which are the rubber trim.

I wonder if the cheapo Tamiya Pz IV D's wheel would match the width?

To answer you question though, my Peko Pz IV books with a few DAK Ds shows that they don't have the lower hull armor.
AgentG
Visit this Community
Nevada, United States
Joined: December 21, 2008
KitMaker: 1,109 posts
Armorama: 1,095 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 06, 2019 - 11:03 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Up armored "D" and "E" models did participate in North African battles.

I used a set of roadwheels from "Panzer Art" on my build.

This is before completion, but you get the idea.



G

Looks good. I am aware there were D's with added armor on the upper hull front. What I am not clear on is if there was added armor on the lower hull. The only clear picture is of an E.


I have never seen a D with lower hull add on armor in the desert.
m4sherman
Visit this Community
Arizona, United States
Joined: January 18, 2006
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,808 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2019 - 02:32 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Smart man! I did exactly the same with 6736 going for a DAK Pz IV, but didn't realize the road wheels needed to be narrow, so thanks for that. It's missing the "V" parts which are the rubber trim.

I wonder if the cheapo Tamiya Pz IV D's wheel would match the width?

To answer you question though, my Peko Pz IV books with a few DAK Ds shows that they don't have the lower hull armor.

Great, thanks. Upper hull add ons are much easier to see.

There are some things that make you go "HUH!" building the 6736 D kit. I will document my finding here as I go along.

I got a C kit for the narrow wheel rubber, and planned on building the kit as an upgraded training tank.
m4sherman
Visit this Community
Arizona, United States
Joined: January 18, 2006
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,808 posts
Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2019 - 02:34 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Up armored "D" and "E" models did participate in North African battles.

I used a set of roadwheels from "Panzer Art" on my build.

This is before completion, but you get the idea.



G

Looks good. I am aware there were D's with added armor on the upper hull front. What I am not clear on is if there was added armor on the lower hull. The only clear picture is of an E.


I have never seen a D with lower hull add on armor in the desert.

Thank you.
 _GOTOTOP