Tamiya PzKpfw IV Ausf D - Hull questions - FineScale Modeler - Essential magazine for scale model builders, model kit reviews, how-to scale modeling, and scale modeling products

Moses

Member since
February 2003
From: Long Island

Posted by Moses on Monday, October 6, 2003 4:20 PM

Mail em away Ed, I am more then happy to help out bud.

"ZIM FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER!!"

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wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Posted by wildwilliam on Monday, October 6, 2003 3:04 PM

Rob,
it's not as bad as it sounds.
i am still enjoying it, and i meant it when i said i was grateful that most of the problems (and fixes!) don't really show.
it will give me some much needed practice.

btw,
i have gotten the software and cabling (?) for the borrowed camera.
so i can 'develop' the pictures on my home pc.
the faster feedback is improving my stuff.
i am still working w/ the 'close-up' features.
but i may be mailing you (Moses) some more images to host.

thanks,
ed.

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Moses

Member since
February 2003
From: Long Island

Posted by Moses on Monday, October 6, 2003 2:43 PM

Hey Ed..looks like you have your hands full bud. Tamiya's Panzer IV D is a great kit in it's own right, but is spoiled by how old the mold is. Shermie is right, Tamiya has a trend of not housing their sponsons, and that is the case with this kit. It is even evident on their newer Stug III G, which is a shame, but easliy fixed. If you plan on closing the Turret hatch or adding a figure, then the opening in the sponson will not be visible once the tracks are in. But I recommend filling it with some styrene sheet.

As for the mufflers, this was common with this kit. You can fix it by doing either of the 3 things you have described. Remember you are looking at a kit that is well over 30 years old. A little adjustments here and there will suffice.

Good luck Ed

Cheers

Rob

"ZIM FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER!!"

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wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Posted by wildwilliam on Monday, October 6, 2003 2:31 PM

edog,
my mufflers would fit fine.
as long as i was going to leave the upper hull off!
but if i put the little muffler on first, the hull top won't go on because the little muffler interferes.
if i put the hull top on first, then the muffler pipe wont reach he hole in the back of the hull, because the hull top pushes the muffler out a bit.
i will iether have to:
1) flatten the back of the little muffler, to give clearance
2) replace the pipe that connects it to the hole on the hull
3) notch the back of the hull a bit so it will clear the muffler

the last one seems a bit drastic.
the other two are possibilites.

i will be using the kit supplied tracks.
this is my first armor project.
i am trying to keep it simple.
(ho, ho!)

gee, i never even mentiponed the two holes in the back hull plate.
(by where the idler wheels will mount)
this thing is like a block of Swiss cheese! :-)
thanks for the input,
ed.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 6, 2003 1:21 PM

I have built two of these kits, and yes it does have its shortcomings. As far as those holes under the fenders, they will not be able to be seen once the kit tracks are put on. If you are planning on replacing the kit tracks with aftermarket ones that will sag, I would suggest filling the holes. The extra big key holes for the drive sprocket will also not be visible. As far as the mufflers, mine fit just fine. The biggest fit problem I had with both of my kits was the track tension adjusters on the rear of the hull, where the return idler wheel was mounted. This was molded in two parts to two different pieces of the hull, and did not fit together well at all. There is a huge gap that I did not bother to fill.

As far as what I have done with this kit… I built the first one OOTB and the second one ended up going in the spare parts box. Eventually that second one was used to beef up the old Italeri P IV which is a much better kit in most respects.

Good luck with the build. Big Smile [:D]

edog

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Edit

wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Posted by wildwilliam on Monday, October 6, 2003 1:19 PM

Sherm!
it is as i feared, then.
is that the 'sponsons' ?
i had wondered abt that.

i am really enjoying the kit. and i do appreciate how they give you room and reason to practice new techniques, while politely putting them in places that are hard to see. just in case they don't turn out well. :-)

this works out well, as i own enough Evergreen (sheet, strip, tube & rod) to open my own store.
now i get to use it!
thanks,
ed.

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shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Monday, October 6, 2003 12:41 PM

It sounds like you are gazing into the void of one of Tamiya's biggest shortcomings, the bottom of the sponsons. For some reason Tamiya still hasn't learned to fill these in on a lot of their kits, mostly their older ones but the trend still continues. Get some card stock and fill it up Ed. Especially if you plan on modelling this kit in its natural postion, laying on its side in a ditch. lol

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

Reply

wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Tamiya PzKpfw IV Ausf D - Hull questions

Posted by wildwilliam on Monday, October 6, 2003 12:34 PM

Greetings!
i continue to enjoy the construction of this kit, but as i progress,
i notice that the hull is much like a block of swiss cheese!
i have filled the three holes in the bottom, and am working on the two rectangular holes on the sides (center, between roadwheels and idler or return wheels).
i have also filled some voids where the drive sprocket mounting piece 'keyholes into the hull, coming up short of the top.

all great fun, i assure you. Smile [:)]

BUT - while dryfitting the upper hull to the lower last night
(while trying to convince myself that it would clear the smaller muffler that piggybacks on the larger one. - it won't, of course, but that is a problem for another day)
i discovered that w' the upper and lower halves joined, there is a large 'hole' on each side (left & right) of the upper hull that is not filled by the lower hull (which is mostly rectangular). it would let you look under the fender right up into the turret!

i reviewed the instructions and the remaining pieces, but i see nothing that would go in there. now, the various small holes in the hull (5, i think) are leftover from this kit's motorized days, i guess. but what purpose do these large open spaces serve?

i admit they are only visible if the tank is on it's back
(where it belongs, right, Sherm?) Big Smile [:D]

but it is going to bother me. possibly a lot.

i intendt to cut styrene sheet to fill this space.
but before i started, i was wondering abt what any of you have done w/ this kit, or a similar situation.

if my description does not make sense, i can post a picture of it, i think.

thanks,
ed.

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Tamiya PzKpfw IV Ausf D - Hull questions