westdr6113

Thanks for the thumbs up hdbeast. Here's the latest update. I finally got around to finishing the turret crew hatches. And the turret has recieved a few coats of Mr. Surfacer. I cut out one of the engine hatches using sewing thread. I drilled out the hindges before cutting and pinned them after I removed the hatch. Too bad the first time I opened it, two out of three hinges ripped apart. So I'll probably remove all the rear deck hinges and replace them with nylon aircraft hinges like YHR used on his stug. I used a panel line scribing tool to carve out some plastic under the molded on tools so they wouldn't look so molded on. I also used some scrap brass to simulate tool holder latches. It doesn't look too bad from a distance. I modified the tranny access hatches and once the putty dries I'll sand it down and the upper hull should be about ready for some Mr. Surfacer. I also added some chains to the front tow pins. So far the total cost of the conversion is just under the $5 I spent on three different sized chains from a local craft store. The rest is all scrap I had laying around in the shop. I didn't notice the drive sprocket location is off until I read about it in another post. I wished I hadn't because now it bothers me. But I'm not going to mess with the running gear for now. I'll wait to see what upgrades come out first. The last picture is another project I started. It's basically a practice build for a project I plan on starting next year.

hdbeast

Hey westdr6113

It's nice to see a major build like this can be done for just a few bucks, good job. Sorry to hear about the rear hatch problem, I've done the same thing myself, I just made new hinges that looked more like the real hinges from photos and that worked well but took some time to do, I think the hinge that YHR use would be close to what was molded on with a little reshaping. The Mr surfacer your using I've seen it at the Hobby shop but never used it, is it just surface primer for plastic or does it give you a surface texture?

Thanks, Gary

thomasjohnmurphy

While not as nice as yours, I took a 1/18th 21st Century Panzer IV and modified it (more electronic) I actaully have it listed on ebay now

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MESE:IT&ih=014

westdr6113

The Mr. Surfacer gives a surface texture and comes in different grades. I'm using Mr. Surfacer 500 which maybe a little thin for 1/16 scale, I've never used it on 1/16 scale before -only 1/35. It seems to work pretty good for hiding scratches and blending in seams. You're lucky to be able to find it in a hobby shop, I have to order it out here in Hawaii. I'll try to build the hinges like you said first. The tranny hatch hinges were easier than I thought, so these shouldn't be too bad. The aircraft hinges would be easier and with a little work they'd be accurate, but I don't have anymore. And I can't justify paying shipping fees for just a small package of hinges.

hdbeast

I know a little about what you have to deal with on the Island, my family lived there for eleven years (not me) my brother was a builder and some times it was easier to fly back here, northern California and buy his supplies, put them on a ship and hope he had everything he needed for the job.
Thanks for the info on the surfacer, going to see what they have at the hobby shop, I remember seeing the 500, but don't know what else they have.

Good luck on your hinges, Gary

westdr6113

Ok, so here's the hinges. If I don't have to make another set ever again I'll be ok with that[sm=spinnyeyes.gif] Basically theyr'e made out of .080 styrene sanded to shape. Then I drew the seperation line and drilled the hinge pin hole and small holes at the four corners with a pin vise. The I used thread to cut from hole to hole. This really requires three hands so i got the wife to help by holding the hinges while I cut them apart. So the hatch is reinstalled now. The upper hull got its first coat of Mr. Surfacer, and that's about it.

westdr6113

I sanded the Mr. Surfacer just enough to break up the hard edges and blend it in a little. I also gave the muffler a good coat and then stippled it when it got tacky. It should give it a nice texture. I got the whole thing primed and now it's drying. I noticed in the pictures thou that it looks like I got too much CA on the smoke candles. Maybe I can drill it out to open it up some. It's not that noticable thou unless you are taking low angles photos, so I'll decide what to do with that later. It should be ready for paint soon.

hdbeast

Looks good, are you going to use the salt method on the paint for a paint chipping effect, seems very easy to do, and looks great.

Gary

blitzkrieg65

the hinges don't look to bad, and after the get painted, they should look great! I am fixing up my Pershing right now I made a hinge myself, we'll see how it comes out, my first two efforts on two of my other tanks where ugly but they work! this is a cool build are you going to cut the battery box out it gives a lot more room and then just add a charge port!?

The blitz

gigantohawk

Wow, what a great PzIV build...westdr6113 I've been away a while and missed the start of your build, however it looks astonishing.
I don't want to hijack your thread, but Gary mentioned a Salt method for weathering and paint chipping. So I'll post a new thread "Salt for Paint Chipping Effect". I would be very pleased if you would post the method there.

Thanks,

Gigantohawk.

westdr6113

Thanks for the nice comments guys. If you thought the hinges looked ok you may have been looking at the wrong ones. I'll probably cut the battery box out later. I want to design a box that can be easily moved from tank to tank. Ideally it will hold the booster, tls, soundblaster w/speaker, a fan and the battery. Along with the switches and charge port located in the rear right corner. I'll just make a rear right access hatch standard on my tanks. I'm not sure when I'll get around to doing this though. I'd like to have this thing rolling in the next couple of days so the lower hull is going to stay stock for now. I'd don't have much time to finish it right now, but I'm already planning a rebuild for next year. I'm thinking about removing all the tools and getting some photoetched tool holders. And hopefully by then there will be some upgrades out for it. I'm not sure about using salt for chipping yet. I've only tried that once before awhile ago on an a6m2 zero. It didn't work to well for me, but after re-reading streetsquid's Panther build I may give another try. His results look good, and it is about the right "age", as oppossed to a completely rusted over muffler. Since the time period is early in the war I don't think it should be too heavily weathered.

westdr6113

Ok, so I shot the upper hull and turret with paint. It will need some touching up here and there, but doesn't look too bad. I forgot to reattach one of the lift hooks to the hull before I painted it so it kinda sticks out. No big deal. I used Tamiya German Grey toned down a little with some flat white for the basic grey finish. I tried the salt paint chip method on the mufflers, so far not too bad. The pictures kinda show the progression of the painting. I gave them an overall coat of flat brown. Then I added blotches of red brown and Model Masters rust. Then I used flat brown again to kinda dry brush the whole thing to blend the colors together. Then I added the salt. I used to much pressure at first and blasted all the salt off the pipe leading to the generator muffler. So it will need some touching up. But after a wash and some pastels it should look pretty good. I also added some wear and tear to the road wheels with a needle file and a dremel. Hopefully I'll shoot the lower tonight and get some more pictures up. Also if you use acrylics. I've found that foaming action windex works pretty good for cleaning your airbrush.

westdr6113

Here's a few more pics.

hdbeast

Coming along very nicely.

Gary

astroboycp

Nice progress.

westdr6113

I finished spraying the base coat on the rest of the tank tonight. Now I need to do the detail painting and then on to weathering. The antenna is made from .010 guitar string and a spring.

westdr6113

I finally started building my "El mod quick change box", Everything is removable from the box for maintenance. I put velcro on both sides and the bottom so I can attach the battery whereever it will fit best. Now I just have to make a little box for the switches, volume knob and charge jack. I'll put velcro on that too so I can put it where ever. It comes out to 7.5 inches long, 3.25"w and 2.25" high. It will fit in the PZIV chassis with only the loss of the second to last chassis/hull mounting screws on each side. (to make room for the battery)

astroboycp

Sure lots of hardwork put into it. Reminds me of my tank build.

westdr6113

Well I'm going to have to put this project on hold, as I'll be out of the country for awhile. I had to leave a bit sooner than orginally expected. Which is too bad- I wanted to finish this before I left. Luckily I'll still have internet so I can atleast read the forum. I'm still debating if I should have the wife send out a couple tanks to me once I get an address or maybe order a couple new ones to play with til I get back.

westdr6113

I havn't posted in awhile but I'm finally back. I've been thinking about how exactly I'm going to finish this build. I've decided to remove the el mod box and install a darkith unit instead. I figure I'm kinda too lazy to open it up and change out the box. So I'm planning on finishing this one soon and make it a "loaner" tank. Plus it will match up nicely with the t34 I just finished converting to HL electronics w/ dbu. As soon as i get this one done I can start on the wife's tank destroyer. I'll post pictures as soon as I make some progress if anyone's interested.

blitzkrieg65

Excellent good to have you back Don! I look forward to seeing how this is going to turn out and your other projects in tow!

The Blitz

westdr6113

Thanks Phil. I got the DBC installed and tested everything out. The aux muffler corroded for real while I was gone. It turned a

greenish color so that will have to be repainted. I don't think you can really see the green tarnish to well in the

pictures thou, because I was using a cheap camera. I masked off the crosses with blue painter's tape. Then I

airbrushed the crosses with Tamiya flat white with a few drops of neutral gray mixed in. The numbers were

handpainted with the same mix, but a little darker. I also painted the base colors on the tools. Then it got a wash

with a mix of burnt sienna oil paint and mineral spirits. I also added some paint chips, but I'm still thinking

about adding some more. I also made a tow cable. I got the cable from the hardware store. If you wrap the spot were

you want to cut with masking tape it'll keep the cable from fraying. I think the pictures explain pretty well how

the cable was made. Once I had the ends wrapped up with the smaller wire I covered them in CA and sprayed them with

accelerator. Then I sanded and painted them. They dont look exact but they are cheap and easy.

westdr6113

the rest of the pics


maybe not

westdr6113

second attempt

leggeron

I love how your panzer is coming along,cant wait to see the end result!