Armor/AFV: Large Scale
1/16 and Larger Armor Modeling
Hosted by Darren Baker
Building A 1/16th. Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. J
KevPak
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Posted: Saturday, January 30, 2016 - 10:13 PM UTC
Great job so far - I've been following your build with interest since I made a similar build in 1/35. The ammo rounds look fantastic although they would probably all have been either steel or brass cartridges (not mixed) since ammo lots were delivered from specific manufacturers which made the cartridges either one or the other (so a specific factory would only make brass or steel cartridges at a particular point in time, not both). Of course, a particular vehicle may have rounds from two different allotments but I think that is unlikely since I think that they only got resupplied when the older batch was almost gone.

The radios also look great - are you planning on hooking up all the cables to the various subcomponents?

OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, February 01, 2016 - 10:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Great job so far - I've been following your build with interest since I made a similar build in 1/35. The ammo rounds look fantastic although they would probably all have been either steel or brass cartridges (not mixed) since ammo lots were delivered from specific manufacturers which made the cartridges either one or the other (so a specific factory would only make brass or steel cartridges at a particular point in time, not both). Of course, a particular vehicle may have rounds from two different allotments but I think that is unlikely since I think that they only got resupplied when the older batch was almost gone.

The radios also look great - are you planning on hooking up all the cables to the various subcomponents?



I used the mixed Ammo load to give the build some contrast.
This is a very late model, and at this time the Ammo selection would have been hit or miss on what was available or could be salavegageg from disabled vehicles.
As for the wiring, I did it for the Ausf. H build.
You can't see much of the radios once everything is closed up. So no .
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, February 01, 2016 - 10:22 PM UTC
The rear most Bump Stop isn't mentioned in the instructions.


There is a Track Pin Pusher located on the rear side of the hull, this was used to push the Track Pins back in if they started to work their way out.
This track is the same as the track on Trumpeters Ausf. H kit.
The Ausf. H should have washers & wire pins to keep the pins in place. They don't, Aber has a set of correct pins but they want about $140 U.S. for them. That's way too much.

The Rear end.

I shaved off the 2 strips for mounting the Jack Block, I have made a new block out of wood, the plastic one supplied with the kit has no detail on it at all.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, February 01, 2016 - 10:36 PM UTC
The front end ready for paint.


I assembled the spare track for the front plate with the mounts in place, using the track to position the mounting piece in the correct place.


There is a lot of cleanup needed on the Idler Wheels.

But when finished they do look realy nice.


I'll be working on the Drive Sprockets & Bogie units next.
This might take some time.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Wednesday, February 03, 2016 - 10:42 PM UTC





The base coat is finished on the lower hull,
I'm working on the wheels next.
The Sprocket went together well this time , no problem with it, unlike the one in the Ausf. H build.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2016 - 11:06 PM UTC
I have the wheels painted.


I painted the rub area on the inside with Steel Metalizer , the outside is panzer Yellow & the Tires are Tamiya Nato Black .

Now to clean them up and assemble them.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Friday, February 05, 2016 - 07:02 PM UTC
The Tires are a press fit onto the wheels.



Next is to fit the inner and outer wheels together.

Just a little liquid glue around the seam needed.

The almost finished road wheels, they just need the caps.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Friday, February 05, 2016 - 07:13 PM UTC
I installed the wheels on the bogie units with the pins provided .
If you are careful with the glue and only apply it to the inside hole where the pins go the wheels will rotate .

The back of the bogie unit, I masked off the gluing area before painting it saves a lot of paint scraping.

I installed the caps on the wheels then installed everything on the hull.


I'll be working on the track next, no big deal there just a lot of clean up. It's the same as on the Ausf.H build.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Saturday, February 06, 2016 - 08:15 PM UTC
I'm still working on the Track clean up, this is really turning into a big job.
The set of track with this kit has a lot more work to get it cleaned up.Especially the middle connector on some of the track shoes.

There is no just trim off the Sprue attachment points, you have ti carve the middle lug to shape or it won't fit.
I didn't have this problem with the Ausf.H build.

This is going to take some time.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, February 08, 2016 - 10:51 PM UTC
I have the Track assembled and installed .

First the assembled Track.


Painted and lightly weathered .


Installed
I used 98 links on each side instead of the 99 called for in the instructions. 99 links places the Idler in the far rear position.


Make sure to place the Track Pin heads on the inside of the run closest to the Hull.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, February 08, 2016 - 11:04 PM UTC
There was a curved plate fastened to the side of the rear hull that was used to push the track pins back in if they worked their way out. The track pins didn't have fasteners on the outside end of the pins on this model, the Ausf.H had washers with a piece of wire to hold the track pins in.




That's all for now.
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Tuesday, February 09, 2016 - 05:14 PM UTC
I hinged the side hatches on the turret, here is how I did it.

First I drilled the hole in the hinge part that mounts on the turret shell so it goes down the center.
Second I mounted the parts to the turret shell.
Then I inserted the hatches in the hinges to make sure everything lined up.
Finally I drilled through the hatch parts using the turret parts as a guide. (Pictured Below)


Cut and insert the hinge pin.


If you are careful you get operable hatches.

Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2016 - 10:11 PM UTC
The pics. should be larger, they did something with their cloud.




OldWarloke
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Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2016 - 10:25 PM UTC




OldWarloke
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Posted: Thursday, February 11, 2016 - 10:31 PM UTC
I temporarily installed the brace



This makes it easier to install the box at the correct spot.

Hey guys are you seeing these Pics. in a larger size?
Micro Soft did something with their cloud, and I have to learn all over about posting them. For me they are coming out at almost full page size.
Donald
TankManNick
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Posted: Friday, February 12, 2016 - 12:33 AM UTC
Pictures seem 'normal' - i.e. not page size to me.

Impressive amount of detail here and useful for 1/35 build too I would think. I like the opening hatches to peer into the interior!

What metal finish did you use on those rounds? Looks very nice.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, February 15, 2016 - 02:17 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Pictures seem 'normal' - i.e. not page size to me.

Impressive amount of detail here and useful for 1/35 build too I would think. I like the opening hatches to peer into the interior!

What metal finish did you use on those rounds? Looks very nice.


The Ammo rounds were finished with Metalizer Polished Gold , & Polished Aluminum over a base coat of Gloss White enamel .
Donald
OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, February 15, 2016 - 02:20 AM UTC
Now continuing on I have some of the Turret interior finished.




The assemblies for the Turret Floor Ammo Bin

OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, February 15, 2016 - 02:36 AM UTC





OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, February 15, 2016 - 02:41 AM UTC




OldWarloke
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Posted: Monday, February 15, 2016 - 02:46 AM UTC


Ready to close it up.
Donald
Thirian24
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Posted: Monday, February 15, 2016 - 03:32 AM UTC
Great work Donald.
Ultra_aussie
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Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 - 04:01 PM UTC
Impressive build ! Love your work.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 - 08:18 PM UTC
Thanks Guys

Today I closed up the turret and pinned the doors on the turret side skirts.
After trimming the two tabs on the front of the top slightly, I got an excellent fit.




This fit was a lot better than the one on Trumpeters Ausf.H kit.
OldWarloke
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Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2016 - 08:25 PM UTC
For the Turret side skirts , I first drilled the outside part of the hinges with a #79 drill bit, inserted the next panel and using the pre drilled hole as a guide drilled the second.


If you are careful you should have workable hinges.


For their mounting brackets I added some bolt heads to the bottoms of the brackets, just a little extra detail.


That's all for now.
Donald