Hi Gang,

Here's a quick question. Are the cleaning rods for the Panzer IV ausf J wood or steel? I don't know which color to paint them!!

Thanks for your time, John.

John
Which kit of the Panzer IV do you have ? I ask because I just picked up the Dragon kit of the Panzer IV Ausf. J. And this will be the first piece of WW2 German armor I've ever built. Maybe you could mentor me on it .
Jerry

Hi Jerry,

I'm building the Tamiya kit, which comes with the Eduard zimmerit set. It was a fun build sofar with no fitting problems at all!

If you got any questions, lemme know!!

John.

Oh I can guarantee I'll have plenty of questions.
Thanks. People like you are the reason I like this site so much.
Jerry

I think they are made from steel but often overpainted in the color of the tank (if they are mounted at the outside of the hull)

(To avoid missunderstandings: you are talking about the rods to clean the barrel, aye?)

Greetings,

ekke

Yes Ekke,

Those are the rods I mean. They have a small "insert" on the end, thats why I guessed they might be from wood with metal sockets or something like that.
Now when I think of it, metal rods might damage the rifled inside of the barrel.....

Or am I seeing ghosts now?

Cheers, John.

John, they were usually (In WWII armour never say always!) wood with metal fittings (brass I believe). I’ve seen photo with them both painted and unpainted.
More likely they were painted the same colour as the hull.

Thanks, for clearing that up, Eric!
This was the answer I was looking for.....

So, now the painting continues!! John.