Tamiya Pz IV Ausf. D - FINALLY COMPLETE!

I agree with the rest of the boys--it's coming along nicely, and the muffler is killer!

garzon - Thanks, I'm glad you're liking it!  BTW, my apologies.... I wrote grey filters and I should have wrote blue.  I used MIG's Sin Industries Blue for Dark Grey filter, but was not impressed.  It leaves a "milky" light blue tinge to the panzer grey paint.  I was expecting more of a transparent, slightly blue tinge.  I LOVE the Lifecolor Rust set....its fantastic!

Jack - Glad you're still checking this old girl out!  I appreciate the kind words about the cleaning rod cover. I used Vallejo acrylics for it, using a glazing technique I learned for figure painting.  Now if I could only find the time to use that technique on figures.....

jetmaker - My thanks!   If you love the rusty muffler you've got to try that Lifecolor Rust set.  I just followed the instructions, although I have practiced it a couple of times on other builds. 

Brian - I have to give credit to those Lifecolor paints!  No, I am NOT associated with Lifecolor paints, but one of my favorite armor builders, Mike Rinaldi, started writing about them in his magazine articles a couple of years ago so I had to try them out!  Thank you for your nice comments!

Karl - Hey doog!!  Thanks for checking it out again!  Glad you like the rusty muffler.....as long as you don't tell me "there's too much rust!"

Well, its almost done!  I touched up the tools and a few other areas, added a combination of dark brown chipping and drybrushing in a few select areas, then hit it with the oil dot method.  These will be the last photos before its all done.  I will add pigments to dust it up and then add the wheels and tracks before posting photos of the completed build.

Ernest, it's really just a beautiful finish--a "textbook" example for a gray panzer!

Ernst, that's for the info on the photo backdrops. I only started using a plain background for finished builds a year ago, for the Steel cats GB. I started with a light blue than tried white, which is much better. But I hadn't heard of photographic background paper. I will have to try that, thanks.

She is looking very nice.

Thank you for sharing your pictures and inspiring blog Ernest.

Nothing to add to what has been said already except that the exhaust muffler is XLNT.

All the best for 2014, hope you find time for many future projects 

Very Best Regards
Johan 

Hey Ernest,

I've always loved the early war armor... and having built this kit ~5 times over the years I know what a great job you've done. Superb work with the mods/updates as they add a whole new level of excellence to this kit. Wonderful job on the German Grey and weathering as well. I love it. I'm really looking forward to the finish of this one, although I see you've also started a build for Eric's GB. Been thinking of starting one for that as well, but I have 3 other builds I'd like to complete... Decisions, decisions...

Very nice progress on this one Ernest, looking forward to seeing this one come down the home stretch.

Wow, I just noticed the wash. It's perfect! You got a serious touch there my friend

All,  thanks so much for your kind comments!  I really appreciate it!  

I'm just about ready to add those pigments, but I had to do a little more work with oil paints and had to set it aside to dry completely (you know how long oil paints take to dry).  Also, I knocked over the jar that was holding the tracks and busted the completed sections into several parts and I can't figure out which section belongs where!!  That won't stop me though and I'll figure out a way to get those tracks complete!  

While this is on hold, I'm starting a couple of new builds for some GBs, but I will get back to this shortly.

After reading your comments and reflecting on this wonderfully illustrated and explinaed blog build, Ernest, I can't help but lament the fact that you'll be taking your informative and competent modeling work and disappearing into the black hole of Group Builds for the next few models. What a bummer--- your willingness to take the time to photograph, post, explain and share your methods (and the daunting amount of time and dedication that doing all that takes--I know as well!) will leave the Armor forum poorer for your absence.

Gosh I dont even do armor and Im gonna miss this thread....He shows and explains so well what is going on, I get the feeling I could give armor a go and expect good results

darn group builds  

bufflehead

 Also, I knocked over the jar that was holding ......

 Hey, that line reminds me of the scene in "Young Frankenstein" where the hunchback (Marty Feldman) dropped the right jar of brains then got the wrong one...  

....well, he fixed it. Anyway, your efforts should turn out much better though.

 Good work and a expert save on the turret blemish. It's good to have you here showing a lot of us how you accomplish your objectives.

  Keep up the good work.

Karl, Steve and Steve,

First off, I must say I'm deeply touched that you all feel that my blogs have some value and are worth continuing!   I've never really considered myself very good at the whole blog thing, but I've learned a thing or two from all the other blogs posted by FS members, especially in this forum! Thank you for your feedback and encouragement!

But worry not!  I don't plan on disappearing again into the GB Black Hole as I have often done in the past!  This build is still on my plate and I do plan on completing it very soon (I actually worked on the tracks today).    However, since I plan on building a number of kits this year for GBs, I plan on posting those same builds on the Armor forum for everyone's delight...or dismay !!  I just hope I don't turn into a blogging monster!!

Wow....has it been almost two months since I updated this? 

Sorry, I didn't mean to disappear again

.  That dreaded institution called work took over my life again the last two months.  I've barely popped in the forums to get caught up on anything, I've fallen behind on several modeling projects including this build and blog.   Things don't look that much better for the next few weeks but I have been managing to get a bit done here and there with this Tamiya Panzer IV D, so I figured I had better post an update before work swallows me up again!

If I remember correctly I had completed most of the painting, filters and washes and was getting ready to dust it up.  The tracks fell apart, but I did manage to reassemble them and I don't think I got all the link sections in the right order, but its a start.

So here are a couple photos of the dusting.  Basically its just dry MIG Pigments, European Dust with a bit of Gulf War Sand thrown in here and there.  The lower hull got some Dark Mud added to the mix.  I'm not completely happy with pigment application and will keep working at it.....

Of course during a long break nothing is safe!  Not suprisingly, both cable hooks broke off  so I decided to drill new holes and replace them with bent .020 brass rod....which I probably should have done in the first place!  

Here's a little trick:   I took a piece of 18 or 20 gauge wire that I had lying around and stripped off a couple of inches of jacket and inserted the ends of the rod that I didn't want to paint into the flexible tubing!  Voila!  Much easier than tape and easier to hold too!

I finished painting the tow cable.  It still needs some dust, which will tone down the rust and shiny spots!

I've been toying with the idea of adding a length of track hanging from the front tow brackets.  I've often seen this in photos of Pz. IVs.  Maybe also an aerial recognition flag on the rear deck......just toying mind you.  Maybe I should leave well enough alone and just finish the model already!!

I finally get a whole two day weekend coming up so maybe a completed blog is finally on the horizon?!?

Ernest,

I think everyone here can relate to your situation. Lord knows, I know what it's like to have work take over your life. I"m in a bit of the same phase here myself.

In any case, you've made a gorgeous model here so far. The weathering is looking just perfectly flattering to the grey finish. Really looking superb!!

Thanks for understanding Karl!  Work has really taken its toll on my bench and forum time this past year.  I only completed one...ONE model last year.    I remember the glory days when I could complete 2 or even 3!! ....

And thanks also for the kind words on the IV.  I did a little more work tonight.....any progress is still progress!

Ernest, I like everything you have done with it so far, including the pigments.  Is it the deep red brown you don't agree with?  

regards,

Jack

Bringing this one down the home stretch guys!  I've gotten off work early enough the last couple of days to put in a few hours work.  First I rethought the whole dust application and decided to try a technique I read in an article by Michael Rinaldi.  I sprayed MIG Pigment Fixer over the previous dry pigment applications on the lower hull and then reapplied another dry pigment coat on top of that, but with lighter colored pigments.  That was then fixed in place with another application of sprayed MIG Pigment Fixer and I redid the whole process a couple more times, each time going lighter with the pigments.  Then I topped it off with a light slurry wash of MIG European dust mixed with water and a drop of dish soap.  When dry I scrubbed off the excess pigments with some stiff brushes and then rolled a damp cotton swab over the raised areas to bring out some of the detail  The resulting look was much more pleasing to my eye!

With that done it was time to install the tracks.  The left side went on OK, but DARN IT!!  The left side broke in parts again!!  GRRRRRR!!!!   These darn tracks just kicked my behind!!  I left the tracks as is and will tackle them again tomorrow when I'm in a better state of mind!

Here's what it looks like so far:

I also managed to install the replacement cable hooks and the cable itself.  This needs some pigments to blend it in with the dusty back area.

And I decided to see how a section of spare track would look in the front, attached to the tow brackets. I'll probably add some spare roadwheels here, along with some other items.

I still need to work on dusting the upper hull.  I did apply dry MIG Pigments here, but the Pigment Fixer made most of it disappear.  I want this to look a bit dusty, but not overly so. 

I figure another few hours should bring this one to completion.  Fix the left side tracks, complete the weathering and add those extra items....should about do it!

OH WOW, that made a difference/  Wouldn't have believed just how much from your text, but the visual is great

Really nice work. Congratulations!

Steve, BarrettDuke, thanks for stopping by and leaving the comments!

I got a bit more done yesterday, but not enough to warrant any photos.  Today is chores day but I may be able to post the last bit of progress before the day is done!

Looking pretty slick with the paint/weathering. The pigment application tech you describe is really bringing realism to this tank   

Love the wood grain on the axe handle. Wish I could get that technique down

Hi Ernest,

The new approach has improved what already was very good.

This is excellent!

Thank you for taking your time to share this with us 

Very Best Regards

Johan

Looking really good there Ernest.

Very nice progress on this one Ernest, really bringing it to life.

I like it a lot,, beats my skills to dust!!!...cheers....Kenny

Hey Ernest- I just peeked in here for a look. You've got this one in great shape! I've had this one in the stash for quite a while too so I'll be bookmarking your thread for future reference.

Dave

Hey Sprue!  Thanks for checking out the IV!  I'm glad you like the weathering, lets see if I can pull off the rest of it successfully!

Raualduke -  Thanks for the comments!  The wood effects are pretty easy.  I just paint them with a tan or beige acrylic paint (Vallejo Iraqi Sand or Vallejo Hemp).  When dry I carefully paint over them with light coat of Burnt Umber or Raw Umber artists oil paint, straight from the tube.  I let this dry 20-30 minutes then use a small brush damp with clean paint thinner and slowly remove the semi-dry oil paint.  Sort of like painting in reverse.  After each pass I clean the brush, but towards the end I leave just a bit of the paint on the brush which helps create the wood grain effect.  Easily done with a bit of practice!

I'm glad you like it Johan!  It took way longer to get to this point that I planned, but now its almost done!  I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us!

Yo Bish!  Nice to hear from you buddy!  I'm still checking out your work on the Merit 88mm Flak 36!

Bill - thanks for the comments!  Its been a while since I did a simple panzer gray paint job and I'm finding out its not so simple anymore!!  I remember when a coat of gray spray paint and decals was enough to satisfy me!

Thanks Kenny!  After this one I'm thinking of retiring all those MIG pigments and let THEM gather dust for a while!!

Dave,  thanks for your kind words.   I'm glad you found this blog interesting and enlightening!  Most of the stuff I learned about enhancing my modeling skills came from these forums.  I'm just trying to give back!

No update yet guys.  Work just beat me down this week and I'm so close to being done I'll just wait until its complete to update this blog.  Take care everyone!