Just finished some work on my Pzr IV F1 conversion.
I decided to add some interior detail, as the hatches will be opened.

The resin parts are the Mig Productions set, the other bits are fuse wire and aluminium foil.







I'm going to bed now, even I need some sleep occasionally....

Cheers
Henk

Well, I have finished the basic built, and have started on the paint. This is tthe first coat, of XF-63 lightened with white. Next will be some shading and weathering, and maybe a white wash... I have the Acurate Armour Ostketten to add, so a winter version would seem (to ?) obvious.

Enjoy..







Cheers
Henk

Henk-- very nice. How do you get the metal wire so straight? Mine always has kinkes in it.
thanks
DJ

Henk smart looking panzer IV there mate the F1 is one of my faves
keep us posted

Your work is very nice. What kit did you use to start with. The details are very crisp and sharp. I really like the shot showing the commanders copula and the inside detail. What type of tracks are you using on this one? Very nice so far thanks for showing.

Henk -

Excellent build, and that is one great looking PzKpfw IV. The additional details added are that extra attention to detail that makes it something special. What kit is it based on and what PE was used? Hoping to see more of this build soon (with a couple crewmembers?).

Blade48mrd

Thanks all for your response,

DJ, I use fusewire for the wiring, in 5 and 15 amp strenghts. That is so thin and soft that it doesn't tend to kink. I either cut a piece to lenght and glue it into place or I superglue one end, let harden and then 'pull/stretch' it along to where it would have to curve. Glue and harden there, and repeat untill completed. Takes a while, but does give nice, straight results. I'm using this as an excercise for the M88A1 for which I'm going to try to scratch an interior. That one will have to be done a bit more precice than this one as it has some blxxxy great doors which allow the interior to be viewed in more detail....

Dave, this is the Tamiya Pzr IV Ausf. H kit, with the MIG Production resin Ausf. F1 conversion set. I must admit that the Tamiya kit is better than I expected, the newer issue ones seem to have improved, not least the supplied figures. I think that with this kit you get the old, original figure, and a new one and the difference in mold quality and detail is amazing..... I'm still adding bits to the turret inside, although you probably won't be able to see any of it when the thing is finished . I can't take credit for the cuppola, that little masterpiece comes with the conversion set. Made up of 19 separate parts, the good news is that MIG productions sell the cuppola separately. ( part no. MP 35-126)
The in the box review for the conversion set can be found here https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/616
I will be adding the Ostketten from Accurate Armour.

Blade, I have not used any PE on this one, apart from the claxon, which is a metal item from Elefant. As usual you can't realy see the exquisite detail, but as the saying goes ' I know it's there'... the bracket is actualy made up of two pieces of PE, with 2 tiny pieces of rubber to separate them, as per the real thing... I blame this site, I was quite happy to glue models oob and add some simple paint before I joined.... The inside is just scratched together from waste that happens to be on my workbench and some fusewire.

Kenaz, I hadn't build a Pzr IV for years, but have caught the bug a bit lately, I plan on building a small collection of the various versions of the chassis, I have a wirbelwind, I've just bought the new Academy Jagdpanzer IV (old Tamiya mold, complete with remote control holes.. still at £ 9.99 I can live with those.. I'll cover that up with mud. I haven't been to town lately when it comes to weathering, so that will be a nice project. ) Next I'll be on the look out for a Brumbear, hummel and/or nasshorn etc.... I would like one of those amphibious sleppers, but the only one in kit form is to my knowledge a resin one, at a price I can't afford. Or so tells me my wife :-) :-)


Cheers
Henk

I've started the white wash...
I'll be 'dirtying' this up with various washes, to give it a well used and abused look. When finished it will (hopefully ) look like it might have in the spring, with a lot of the white wash worn of, and covered in melting snow/mud/slush.



I painted Maskol over the Grey base coat, then sprayed Gloss White (Tamiya X-2) over the hull top and turret. I hope the gloss white will help the washes settle and flow. I have not used Future, but the thought of covering my model in floor polish just fills me with fear .
Sorry the pic's below standard, but I took it quickly with out the tripod or anything.

Cheers
Henk

Its looking pretty good

Hi Henk very nice winter camo,i like the way its not a white white more of a off white.keep us posted

Nice! I was thinking about getting the MIG conversion set, now I'm convinced! Love the whitewash, please keep posting your "in progress" pics, so we can see how that beauty turns out.

Dat ziet er al strak uit Henk

I like the paintchips but isn't the white wash a bit heavy? I mean, I always thought that a white wash was a bit transparant but I'm not for sure.

Now weather this Panzer up

Jurjen

Take the wire that you will be using and two sets of needle nose pliers.. grab each end of the wire with the pliers.. now, move your hands togetther so the wire is slack.. Gently, but firmly movr your hands outward pulling the wire taut as you do.. Do that a few times and you wont have any kinks left... Now if you want to bend it, figure out what length you will need, lay it on the table and using the tips of the needle nose pliers, bend the wire as you require... kink free wires and crisp sharp bends... hope it helps..

Mojo

The photo is not very accurate as the white is actually bright and gloss . It does look as if it covers very heavy, but that is also a trick of the photo. The idea however is that this tank received a decent white wash, which has worn off. The paint chips will be increased considerabely, and once I have finished with the washes the white should be far from white..
Oh Joseph, if you order from MIG direct, don't forget to mention Armorama.

Thanks all for your comments, next update won't be long (with better pic's)

Henk

I have finished the washes ( I think) and will now concentrate on the lower hull and wheels. I'm going to recreate ( I hope) 'slushy mud', as encountered in Russia in the spring, when the frozen ground and snow start to melt. This will also incorporate the tracks.
I will add some more grey paintchips on the hull, but they will be 'clean' and fresh, so not weathered. I also have to sort out the decals.... I hate them. Observe the difference between the crosses ( Mig dry transfers) and the turret no. ( Academy decals). I will have to find some dry transfers for the rest of the markings I think.
anyway, enjoy, and as always, your critique is requested....









Cheers
Henk

Accurate Armour Track on one side and Tamiya rubberband on the other. The Tamiya tracks are not bad as it is, much improved on the old ones.





Henk

That is a well used vehicle.
Very very dirty. Keep going.

Now the tracks

Thanks Hilbert.

Groeten
Henk

Nearly there...

I am finalising the vignette, the setting is obviously muddy, but I will not explain what it is or where, as I would like to see if I have done a good enough job, i.e. does the vignette tell the story itself.

These are some pic's of the almost finished work. I have to finish the vegitation and ground work more, and the white you see now is PVA which has not jet dried. I will also add a small amount of snow, but only the higher parts of the ground work.







I have some nice figures, but I'm not yet sure if I will add them. They are good, but I might wait with those untill I get the set with the gunner sitting in the turret side hatch.
Your musings on setting and time are much appreciated.

Cheers
Henk

Hi Henk: Don't know how I missed this build but looking back on the process is enlighting. You've done a great job, the weathering is very believable and very consistant with a tank at the end of a long hard winter. I keep wanting to go back and check out more details, well done. The base features are a nice compliment to your build and set it off nicely.
Some day I hope to get to this level!

Bruce

Thanks for the compliment Slug, I'm glad you enjoyed my ramblings on..

And you have also just given me the inspiration for that 'killer' detail I have been trying to come up with.




I will add some tiny early spring flowers like snowbells, and will now only have to think of a catching name along the lines of ' a new beginning'.
what with the spring of 1943 being a turning point in the war. But I'll have to research that a bit more..
Now I just have to wrestle Jackhammer or Major Goose for the secret of their small flowers... :-)

Cheers
Henk

Looks Really Nice Henk, But I would like to offer one comment. As I live in the great white north, no snow that close to a dirt road would be that white by spring! It gets spattered with mud and gunk etc. and it also get translucent and crusty. Just some ideas to think about.
:)

Thanks Sticky. The white along the road is not snow, it's PVA which has not yet dried. Alongside the road is a ditch, which is filled with a muddy sludge. At the moment I'm adding more layers of PVA with some paint added to try and create a wonderfull, stagnant 'pool' of muddy melt water.
I will add some 'proper' snow on the ground amongst the weeds, but just the last bits which have not yet melted.
Good point about the splattered snow along a road, I'll keep that in mind for the next one..

Cheers
Henk

wow thanks for sharing!!
Ron