Pz IV madness!!

QUOTE: Originally posted by edog Lufbery, the only gripe I have about the Italeri kit is the schurzen. The build is a little fussy, but I must admit that for such an old kit, it is quite detailed. I really enjoyed the kit and hope you do too.

Bearing in mind that I've never built a tank kit, and that I no hardly anything at all about WWII German armor: what are schurzen? Are they the side skirts?

I don't know when I'll work on that kit. There are several others in the build pile, so I doubt that I'll take part in the group build. Still, I know where to ask if (when) I need help with the kit. :D

Regards,

Yes Drew, schurzen is the side skirts or side armor found on most German tanks from the Panzer III to the Kingtiger. Many different kinds.

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman Yes Drew, schurzen is the side skirts or side armor found on most German tanks from the Panzer III to the Kingtiger. Many different kinds.

I thought so! Thanks for the reply.

I studied German for five and a half years through high school and into college. But that was more than ten years ago now and I'm getting rusty.

Can anyone tell me why, on many of the Panzer IV kits I see, there are sections of the skirts missing?

Regards,

Drew;

That happened on pretty much all the German tanks. The skirts were just kind of hung on the side of the tank and they'd get ripped off by trees, bushes, etc.

Erick,

I think you can count me in on this one. Especially if it doesn't have a "formal" end time, but is just a build and tell it as you can build. Sounds fun. I'll be doing the DML J. I'd really like to find a set of PE mesh skirts to replace the "nylon" ones included in the kit. Any ideas??

Edog,, as long as there isn't going to be , and it doesn't sound like there is going to be, put me in on this on for a IVD What the heck It will be a Afrika Korps version. If nothing else I will build it and add my 2cents worth of info when I can.

feldgrau, as long as what? Did you mean a build date? I think there will be an unofficial start date, but it is going to be more like a “start at your leisure” date. I will count you in for now, good to have you aboard.

wipw, I debated buying some after market mesh skirts for my Dragon Pz IV J, but I took a close look at the kit ones and I was fairly impressed. I think I will just touch up a few details. I looked at the Eduard ones and they seemed REALLY good. I almost got them but backed off at the last minute. Hope this helps and doesn’t confuse you.

So the list is something like this now:
myself
renarts
Foster7155
feldgrau
wipw

-Any Ideas as to when the “start at your leisure” date should be?

-Do you guys have any references to add? I will try to start working an a build page this weekend.

-Does anyone have any other ideas for the build?

Edog,, Yes I was talking about the start date. I am already in the Dday build and the stug build so I will be deffinately be a building fool. Now throw in on top of the two builds My 2 weeks of active duty time and I will deffinatly be busy. But I think It will be fun.

Erick,

Since this is going to be a BYOP (build you own pace!!) group build, I'd say to just fire if off whenever your ready with the site, etc. I think this is really going to be a fun build. Modlers getting together with no pressure of a build date, but still with the incentive to get going! Thanks, again, for the idea and being willing to be the host!

You're all cruel, now I'll start another kit that I won't finish.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Lufbery Can anyone tell me why, on many of the Panzer IV kits I see, there are sections of the skirts missing? Regards,

das is ein minischurz !
seriously,i think these skirts were often attached rather loosely...
so they would come off rather than getting the tank stuck on an obstruction
(not an expert on this stuff, but i read that somewhere..)

i'd b up 4 a panzer iv build at some point...
i have a 1/72 hasegawa g i'd like 2 try 2 convert 2 an ausf j
those screen schurzen look so cool !

frosty

I will just watch from the sidelines on this one , not because it doesn't interest me , because it does , but I will be way to busy to even have a chance of finishing before october , same time as the stug , ( which I have committed to already ) I want to finish more builds , so I will do that one instead . but good luck with this one , the P 4 was the true workhorse of the reich !

frosty can join, but she has to teach us frosty-eze so we can understand the binary code that are her posts.
(nothin but love frosty)

wipw, check out screening. Looks like the same stuff in scale. Having not seen a real close detail pic of the mesh skirts I'm not too sure about accuracy on it. I did see one that used the metal or nylon screen (like for your back porch or windows) in a contest and it looked pretty good. The metal screen was stiff enough that it was able to be worked and "weathered" and not droop over time.

Mike

Sounds like a great idea for a group build
ive got 2 Tamiya 4 js and 1 new 4 H, all the other Panzer 4s i have are Mobelwagens, Wirbelwinds, Ostwinds and jagdpanzers

Ive gotto finish this Panther first

Edog, I have the ancient Tamiya Ausf H offering that has been begging me to build it for about 20 years. Looks like the time is right. I've put my hand up for the Stug build, but I think I can get into a IV soon after. Add me to the list if you like.

Just a note on the Tigermodel Design F1 kit. One of the guys in my club is using that (I'm sure it's not an F2 conversion he's using) on a Panzer IV he is building right now. Apparently the Barrel in the TMD kit is WAAAYYYYY too short. He has opted to replace that with a turned Aluminium one.

Edog I built DML's J awhile ago and really enjoyed the kit so I'll be following along. I don't have a kit and right now it's not in the modeling budget, but you never know when that prefect kit present it self. If that happens I might just jump in. I have been thinking about building another PzVI even though I know next to nothing about them.

Trevor, ever thought about braille scale? Pretty cheap. Perhaps a Panzer IV variant. Try online, you can save some money.

You know, I have never done a Pz IV. Hmmm. Come to think of it. This could be the proper time.

Have you ever done zimmerit before Dwight? I don't think you have, maybe I'm wrong. You did a Mobelwagen, correct?

My Tiger I Late version has Zim.

http://www.geocities.com/ddta_ala/Tiger1.htm

I did not put zim on the Mobelwagon as the instructions did not require them.

Eric It did cross my mind, but I prefer 1/35 because my parts box is in that scale.(not the box itself but the parts inside) and I do have a few AM Panzer parts in there.
I like to think of myself as someone with an open mind, so 1/72 is not out of the question.

I just bought the Tamiya Ausf J with the Zimmerit. Yeah, it was expensive, but it looks beautiful. I've never done Zim by hand, but maybe I'll try it next time. I'm never disappointed with Tamiya kits. They practically fall together.

RAF feel free to join the group if you ever get around to another Pz IV. Like I said, we will not have any strict build dates so hope in if you ever get around to purchacing the kit. If you have any pics of your Pz IV J, I know I would love to see them, and Im sure everyone else would too.

ridleusmc, you are right. Shake the box of a Tamiya kit, and it is built. Just be careful with that PE zim, I hear it is tricky.

Start Date:
Like I siad, this will be a very unofissial start date, but how does June 15th sound? Feel free to start anytime, but for those of you who want to try to start together, how does that sound? Let me know...

and this is the list I have so far:
petbat
wipw
frosty
feldgrau
Foster
renarts
tigerman
myself

if you hinted that you would join, and are not on the list, I am sorry. I did not want to make assumptions. If you want to be added to, or taken off the list, let me know or just hop in on the group build thread with details of your kit.

When's the finish date?

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman When's the finish date?

The way I understand it the finish date is when you finish the kit.

I have been looking at some Pz IV online. Since I'm an Allied builder I know next to nothing about Panzers, so help me out. If I have a choice I would like to build one of them short barreled ones. Is Tamiya's Pz IV Ausf D the only kit out there like that.

Funny thing, I say I know next to nothing about the Pz IV but I have more books on that tank then any other one vechical.

As far as I know Trevor, you are correct, the Tamiya D is the only short barreled that I know of.

As for the build date never ending, count me in. I think even I can I can keep up with that.

RAF, Dragon/DML makes a Pz IV F1 that has the short barrel and Italeri used to make a kit that could be built as the F1 but I think it is out of production. You should not have a problem finding the Dragon Pz. F1 though. I have not yet built the Dragon F1, but the looking in the box of the Dragon Pz. F2, the detail is much better than the old Tamiya Pz D kit. If your heart is set on a short barreled Pz IV, then go for the Dragon F1.

Petbat, I just compared my TigerModel gun with several references, and if anything, the barrel appears to be a little too long. Are you sure your co-club member is not confused, or is the kit barrel faulty?

Tigerman, the plan is not to have an end date for the build. Hopefully this build will be a laid back thread, where members can come to get references and compare models whenever they want. Seems like a few of the other builds have gotten a little caught up in the “rules” and are a little light on the building so far. Plus, just speaking for myself, I have a lot of building ahead of me and I don’t think I want a date to try to meet. I will add you to the list, good to have you aboard!!

I just got my Squadron supplement and it lists Italeri's Pz IV F1/F2 as "NEW". Is this retooled, repopped, or just new to Squadron.
Is the Italeri version any good?

Wow what a pile of booty... Can't wait to see it all built.... so hurry up!

RAF, the Italeri F1/F2 is a reissue. I am considering getting it myself. As I mentioned earlier, I have already built the Italeri H and it was a great kit. I’m sure the kit will have a lot of flashing to clean up and it will probably need some putty, but if it is anything like the Italeri Pz IV H kit, it will make into a great model.

Been awhile, when does this officially start? Should this go in the new forum for group builds?