Building a 16th. Panzer IV Ausf. F
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Friday, December 06, 2019 - 09:07 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Don't dump it! This is great and you've already done so much! The Panzer IV is my favorite tank and it's so great to see one in 1/16. I'd never have the space for 1/16th otherwise I might be tempted to convert it into an H mid. Keep it up! We want to see this beast in Kharkov LAH decals or more colorful Kursk colors! Whatever you decide, you're killing it. I know you're probably looking at other things to build and other projects people are working on but trust me, the pay off will be huge with this.
There are extra parts in the kit so it could be converted to an early Ausf. G but not an Ausf.H There's allready an Ausf.H out in 1/16th. scale.
This kit gives you bouth the L43 &L48 Guns with the correct Muzzle Brakes. I'll get into that when I get to the Turret.
Regards
Donald
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Friday, December 06, 2019 - 09:22 AM UTC
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Friday, December 06, 2019 - 09:22 AM UTC
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Friday, December 06, 2019 - 09:26 AM UTC
It can be forced from either angle, but this is easier.
This finishes these for a while.
I think I'll do the wheels next.
Finished for now.
Donald
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 08, 2019 - 09:43 AM UTC
This next section is for the more inexperienced modelers,
You'll need a 1" square of Blue tape poke a hole from the sticky side as shown.
Place the Pin on the wheel back as shown then trim off the extra.
It should look like this, this saves a lot of paint scraping.
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 08, 2019 - 09:49 AM UTC
All Painted.
That's all for now.
Donald
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Monday, December 09, 2019 - 08:45 AM UTC
Here the wheels are assembled.
The reason I masked off the centers is to get the glue to stick better.
Most important be shure you have an inner and an Outer wheel haly when assembling as they will fit together two inners or two outers, and then you have trouble.
That's all for now.
Donald
The Tires just snap on, no glue needed
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 10, 2019 - 09:21 AM UTC
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 10, 2019 - 09:26 AM UTC
Finished for now.
Donald
Indiana, United States
Joined: November 16, 2018
KitMaker: 27 posts
Armorama: 25 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 10, 2019 - 10:59 AM UTC
Thank you for posting an extremely detailed and well photographed built. The superimposed text on the photographs are very helpful in illustrating your monologue.
Posting the two different drive sprockets with their respective drive housings.
Please don't stop posting. The "crickets" that you hear (Bugs Bunny / Daffy Duck reference) are actually applause.
United States
Joined: April 12, 2017
KitMaker: 24 posts
Armorama: 24 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 10, 2019 - 01:56 PM UTC
Personally my military modeling is going to the larger scale models, i.e.,1/16th scale armor, and figures. Also, 1/350th, and 1/200th scale warships. I've lurked silently on this forum for some time, and have followed Donald's 1/16th scale armor builds with the greatest interest. He's politely guided me away from buying expensive, unneeded, and mostly unseen details with his excellent build pics, and advice. I try to follow each, and everyone of his 1/16th scale armor builds, either behind the scenes, or actively. I can't wait until the next chapter, and his future builds. Good stuff!!!
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 11, 2019 - 05:34 AM UTC
I'm happy that you find my work useful , that's why I do this.
It makes me feel good to be helping.
Here are some of the methods I said earlier that I would post. I hope you find them helpfil, and of course I'll answer any questions I can.
Now to the Pics.
These are for the Front Brake Access Hatches.
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 11, 2019 - 05:39 AM UTC
Insert Hatch and using the allready Drilled part as a guide drill halfway through the lugs on the hatch.
Reverse and drill from the other side.
The reason you should reverse the sides and drill from both sides is, that if you are off a little this will self correct and you should end up with a straight hinge line. If you went straight through you could end up with a slight angle.
Of course don't forget the Pin
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 11, 2019 - 05:46 AM UTC
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 11, 2019 - 05:55 AM UTC
I had to trim the bottom edges of the Center Hatch to get it to fit
This one is getting glued in place as I want to add the Track Storage on the outside.
Watch how you place the locking handles on the hatches so they don't
disrupt the opening and closing.
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 11, 2019 - 06:01 AM UTC
I'm starting the outside.
Gear Covers installed all that detail wasted.
I'm finished for now.
I hope this is helpful.
Donald
Utah, United States
Joined: December 14, 2007
KitMaker: 3,389 posts
Armorama: 2,054 posts
Posted: Wednesday, December 11, 2019 - 06:22 AM UTC
It is a shame so much of the detail won't be seen. At least it is all documented here so there is some record to show what will be hidden.
Great nations do not fall because of external aggression; they first erode and decay inwardly, so that, like rotten fruit, they fall of themselves. The strength of a country is the sum total of the moral strength of the individuals in that country.
Ezr
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Thursday, December 12, 2019 - 09:23 AM UTC
A few more details.
The retaining clips are wire as the kit parts went on vacation.
There are 8 of these on the bottom.
There that should finish up the small details on the lower Hull.
Now to paint it all.
Donald
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Friday, December 13, 2019 - 08:37 AM UTC
Ready for Painting.
I masked off the interior so I could paint the outside.
The Running Gear
It was a real job getting the seam lines on the Sprocket cleaned up.
It's all in the paint shop now.
Everything might be delayed a while as I have a Funeral to go to monday.
Regards.
Donald
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 15, 2019 - 05:28 AM UTC
Today I have the lower Hull painted and ready for the install of the Wheels and Sprockets.
First off here is why I masked off the Bogie mounts.
It saves a lot of scraping and swearing.
Oh so much easier.
Make shure you get the Bogies all the way on.
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 15, 2019 - 05:35 AM UTC
Here are the Wheels and retaining pins and Covers.
Just install the Wheels and glue in the retaining pins.
There's a cover that goes behind the Sprocket It's used to keep Mud and other junk out from behind the Sprocket.
Install Sprocket over the cover as shown.
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 15, 2019 - 05:42 AM UTC
Glue in Retaining Pin.
There's no line up marks for the end Cover.
Make shure the Nuts line up with the edges as shown.
this is correct as I have Pics. from refrences showing this.
Here's a Pic showing the cover inside the Sprocket.
A little Paint touch up and it's on to the Track'
Finished for a while.
Donald
Missouri, United States
Joined: April 13, 2012
KitMaker: 395 posts
Armorama: 391 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 15, 2019 - 03:35 PM UTC
You're killing it Don.
I love watching you own this build. That drivers compartment looks...lifelike. It looks like a factory fresh IV Ausf F interior.
I really like your Dunkelgrau shade so far, those road wheels and bogies look great.
Any Ideas on finishing? It would look great as a IV Ausf F from the 16th or 24th Panzer Divisions outside Stalingrad in September. That's what these Ausf F's and F2's always remind me of.
Keep it up!
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Monday, December 16, 2019 - 02:26 AM UTC
Quoted Text
You're killing it Don.
I love watching you own this build. That drivers compartment looks...lifelike. It looks like a factory fresh IV Ausf F interior.
I really like your Dunkelgrau shade so far, those road wheels and bogies look great.
Any Ideas on finishing? It would look great as a IV Ausf F from the 16th or 24th Panzer Divisions outside Stalingrad in September. That's what these Ausf F's and F2's always remind me of.
Keep it up!
I'm doing it as a generic build which could be from any When.
If I do it as a specific tank all the creatures come out of the woodwork saying this is wrong or that shouldn't be there.
The Paint it Tamiya German Grey with a 1/2 Teaspoon of flat White added.
I still have to dirty up the interior so it doesn't look so pristeen
Regards
Donald
United States
Joined: October 14, 2012
KitMaker: 2,663 posts
Armorama: 2,649 posts
Posted: Monday, December 16, 2019 - 02:29 AM UTC
Hey here's what I'm working on now.
Fortunately it's easy trimming on the Track, just 4 small spots each.
There's just a hell of a lot of parts to clean up.
Well back to work.
Donald
