Gun Conversion
 

Hi all. Has anyone converted their HL PZ KPFW III Austf L to an Austf N ( Short barrel 75mm) by modifying and shortening the existing gun, or is it better to acquire the existing unit from the PZ KPFW IV?

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Before they came out with the L24 barrels many of use simply cut down the existing one and kept the airsoft feature. Now you have some more options, an accurate one in metal and another that recoils.

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Hi mackem I think that is a good idea if your going to fit a long barrel to the panzer4

regards pete

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Best way is to get a long 75, covert your Pz IV to an f2 and move the short 75mm to the Pz III. Hardly any work other than removing and replacing screws. New ones on the market now with recoil etc.

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Thanks to all for your advice. I was sure my next purchase would be the Stug III but it looks like I'll be purchasing a PzKpfw IV. What the hell! I'll get them both ;)

RE: Gun Conversion
 

You know just my two cents, the first couple of battles I had against on of those snub nose barrels I found it hard to tell when the little barrel was aiming at you! I got blasted a few times by countchacula DAK & RCU member before I wised up!;)

The Blitz

RE: Gun Conversion
 

I made mine by mixing the turret of a Pz IIIH, the hull of a Pz IIIL and the barrel from a Pz IV - the barrel still isn't entirely right and I suspect that you'd be better off just cutting down the IIIH's instead.
You'll also need to rub down the back of the lifting eye on the top of the drivers compartment ever so slightly (just visible sticking up beneath the gun barrel in the picture) - it catches the corners of the mantlet.

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Here is my conversion: [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5790829/mpage_1/key_sturmpanzer%2CIII/tm.htm]Sturmpanzer III[/link]

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Nice Hybrid! Beats all those little ones running around on the highway! :D

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Thanks! It certainly looks better than my first attempt, where I grafted the whole gun and mounting of the PzIV onto an unsuspecting IIIL. As you can imagine I was feeling pretty good about how easy the conversion was and how it would look once painted - until I went back to the web to pick a paint scheme and realised that I'd got it all wrong [X(]

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Hi all. I had some time on my hands this morning so I decided to do the gun conversion by cutting down the existing barrel.
It looked sort of ok but not that realistic, no taper etc.
After a hunt around the house I found a felt tip pen of the right diameter with a very nice taper.
Anyway, here it is in postion on my almost completed Aust M.

PS. Are they ever complete? ;)

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Here's the rest of the Pz IV (just in case you were wondering why I would be crazy enough to buy one just to cut off the gun barrel :D )

What did you use to make the zimmerit, ArmChairGeneral? I started trying out Testors Contour Putty, but that didn't spread out well at all. I'm currently trying Milliput (which has the advantage of being almost the correct colour, at least from what I have read) but that seems to have a very small window between being too soft and breaks up when 'contoured' with a screwdriver, and being so hard that I'll need to sue myself for "workers comp" as a result of repetative strain injury!

RE: Gun Conversion
 

That paint job is amazing, Mackem! As you say, they ain't ever complete...
I'd still suggest either scoring the Pz IIIH mantlet assembly on evilbay, or scratch-building the extended recoil assembly like ACG did with his - Purely in the interest of providing you an excuse for future upgrade, of course :D

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Thanks for the compliment re paint job. It still needs quite a bit of dark (mud, earth) weathering.
I used the Dragon PzKpfw Austf m as the basis for the conversion as it comes with the option of schurzen and spaced armour.
This pic is from [link]http://www.missing-lynx.com[/link] in the german WW2 section of the gallery.
If you retain the spaced armour on the gun mantlet it seems to hide the recoil mechanism, but it also appears that the HL spaced armour mantlet is too wide.

RE: Gun Conversion
 

you mean this one? http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/german/dnpz3.htm
That example is a 'kit-bash' (albeit a very impressive one) The Ausf N models had the earlier style mantlet, without the spaced armour (but with the Ausf L style spaced armour infront of the drivers compartment).
pics here:
http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pz8.htm

Hope this helps.
Martin

RE: Gun Conversion
 

I guess I should qualify that statement by pointing out that the IIIH mantlet ain't perfect either, but its closer to the look of the real thing.

Like I said before, great job on the paint and detailing - I'm just making suggestions for those rainy days :D

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Many thanks for the pointer Ex-Pat [sm=thumbs_up.gif]
Do you know I have read that page many times and never took any real notice of that Austf N photo!
Armchair general says that removal of the spaced armour mantlet from the HL is pretty tricky.
So I guess I've got 2 options, make a proper Austf M, or blame that gallery on missing-lynx for my current Austf M.

Like I asked earlier, are these things ever finished?

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Patience young Padawan, snag a surplus IIIH turret assembly on evilbay.co.uk you can...
And then your Pz IIIN, it will be complete...

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Good idea, will give that a go. :)
Shame the HL Stug III isn't available on evil bay yet, could have grabbed myself one of those while I was on.
Again, many thanks for the pointers.

RE: Gun Conversion
 

If you want a proper Ausf M you need the long barrel back (and probably a stick-on exhaust system?), you certainly have a paint scheme thats closer to an M than the N based on what I know...

I'll be back home in England to visit family in a couple of weeks, so if you decide you want the longer barrel I can pack one of my surplus barrels and post it up to you for free - just pm me to make arrangements.

RE: Gun Conversion
 

That's a brilliant offer, and one I can't refuse.
I'll PM you my address details tomorrow.
Again, many many thanks. :D:D:D:D

PS. The high level exhaust is already fitted.

RE: Gun Conversion
 

Allways happy to help a fellow Brit ;)