PzKw IV Italeri 1:35 Trying to build some oldies with small budget

[Doghound]

Late in the 70-ties I bought some Italeri PzKw IV modelkits for an apple and an egg, as we say in Germany.



Really I built three tanks but I will describe only two in detail. I got copies of an engine and a transmition from a friend. The transmisssion was wrong and I had to change it a bit. Bulkheads turretbasket and some other things were made of plastc card.

Some changes of the transmission with 2-K putty. You will not see too much through the openings. their is no need for expensive items.



Now let's start with the hull. This will be a late Panzer IV. It had a fueltank where once was a small engine for the turret gear. The poor ladds had tu do it now by hand.

Let's fill the hull with some bits and pieces. You don't have to be overcorrect because the interior will be cracked up.

The white parts are castings in paster of paris. Except the engine and the gear all master forms are made of plasticard.

Edited January 10, 2016 by Doghound

[spitfire1677]

Looks like an interesting build in the offing Michael

[Doghound]

Next step was cementing all this parts in the hull. Now "Zimmerit!" It's easier applaying the "Zimmerit" in advance. I use a cheap forming mass which is washable and dries quickly in the air. No problem when you are goofing.

There is always the need to check the fiiting when you use scratchbuilt parts

When parts are missing or are bad a little scene canhelp. The right driving sprocket was broken. This I call a happy accident.

[HL-10]

Great work!

These Italeri kits may be old and not up to Tamiya & Dragon's latest, but there still good kits and some lovely models can be built out of them.

[Doghound]

Now comes the funny part. Crush it!

Most of the parts are scratchbuild and forms made of cheap water soluble molding compound I got from my dentist. Sad that you can use the forms only once.

[foxy]

What a nice mess that is.

Cracking bit of make and mend with odds and ends.

Nice work Michael.

foxy

[Doghound]

Last chance to do damage to the inner hull before it is closed.

I jump ahead a bit.
Time to do the groundplate before finishing the tank.Mostly I use nbreakfast slats for the base of tank dios. Cheap and of standardized size. That makes logistics much easier. The grade of inner demolition is enough now.

These are all details I will add to the interior of the turret. You won't see much of it when the Tank is finished.

Now the Turret and cooling fans are in stalled.

Just some more pics before weathering:

Edited January 30, 2016 by Doghound

[DogTeeth]

Hey that's a great finish, well done

[Ozzy]

Nice work.

[AndyC]

What an unusual diorama and really great work!

[Doghound]

Some update of the weathering:

[robw_uk]

oh boy thats good...

[nheather]

It is truely amazing what you have made an old and basic kit look like.

Just goes to show that you don't always need a £50 Dragon.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Doghound]

One more Italeri tank:Tthe PzKw IV G somewhere in northern Italy.

I won't bore you with the construction of the kit. It' s faitly the same act as with the "H". Only exception there is no engine needed because the engine compartment is closed.

My little dachshound was CO-author of the scene.

Dogs have their own ideas about armour!

[Yeoman1942]

I think his no claims bonus is kaput. Very realistic looking damage