OK, gradually getting to the end of a Revell Pz IV build in 72nd scale ...some of the parts are way too small for me though..!!!

I'd like to hang one or two sheets of suitably distressed side armour Schürzen on it though...

..any hints on how to do this..? ..I can probably cope with cutting out some thin plastic sheet ..but how do I go about realistically bashing it up...

any hints, links etc gratefully received...

Well, not that I have tried it my self on schürtzen but on other things
like when I've thinned a fender I chew on it and I don't know if it's
the way my teeth are but it turns out quite ok...

Regards

Sven-Åke

Neil: Unless you were planning to build a catastropically destroyed Pz IV, you'd be pretty inaccurate to bend ANY schurzen. Here's why.

They were 5mm thick metal panels, hung on a framework at the tank's side and turrets, right?

These frames were adequate but couldn't keep the schurzen in place if there was an extreme jarring --- any explosive or crushing force large enough to BEND schurzen would rip the schurzen off of the mounting frame or rip the frame off first -- make sense?

They were also face hardened armor plate. Doesn't bend well.

..thanks for your replies guys..

checked my refs - this was what I was thinking of. I guess you're right, its probably not as catastrophic as I imagined - but the panel is definitely bent...I guess I could chew it ...(great suggestion!)

Or some thin sheet brass/heavy gauge aluminium foil which will bend like metal and hold its shape.

Agree that bending is rare, maybe just a little splaying of the individual shields on the rail wil give the untidy effect you are looking for, without going overboard.

David

I agree on the light bending of the Schutzen - dont go overboard.

Alternatively you could replace one of more of the plates with plates cut from deck plates with anti skid pattern on them. This I have seen on Pz. IVs and would probably also be done on other types of tanks and SPGs.
This would create some variation.

Good luck

David.....good call ..now why didn't I think of that ..!

Thanks for the suggestion Jesper..!

Neil: That's a great pic! It really flies against my first assertion -- that was one heck of a bracket that withstood that bending!

i've seen a photo of a panther A with the third sheet from the front on the left hand side replaced by a piece of floor plate, and it makes it stand out quite well