PANZER IV BUILD no 012

[michael hilton]

Well done Nick....still following your build.....and enjoying every moment.
I think when the paint goes on, the build starts to come alive.

Your attention to detail is first class.

Regards...Mick.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Nice Photo's of your work Nick.
I like the leather straps,did you make the buckles yourself?
You must get that running gear ordered,I am looking forward to your vidio's
of your Panzer 1V on that rough ground you use.
Hoping it hasnt been built on yet.
Cheers
Phil

[Nick Farrugia]

HI Mick
thanks for looking in hows the, ahhhum jagd going , you will have to send some pics p.message would like to see .
HI Phil
i made the buckles from the brass edging off the tred plates . I am trying to save as many coppers as i can so i can order the extras at the end of the month or middle of next ,still got loads to do to keep me busy ,they have bulldozed the ground i was using but they have left a bit to play on if they havent fenced it off by then hope not the plane is to have the pz111 ,half track and pz1v all running together if possible
all the best to you both ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nick

[michael hilton]

Hello Nick, ok, the 'whisper who dares' is nearly completed. I will take a few photo's tomorrow and PM you.

Best wishes, Mick

[Nick Farrugia]

HI to all
i have been painting the hull with the final top coat so have taken all the tools and bits off for the moment .I have made a start on the shurtzen armour around the turet ,it was a bit of a pain to put it mildly but i am happy with the result so far.

the brackets were hard to get right with all the angles on the turet ,but i think i,ve got it reasonably ok, the rear piece i made in one piece and rolled it to get the shape it was easier to do it this way for me and fit it ,the brackets are as close as i want to get them ,they are not 100% corect but i think they look ok .

next is the doors and hinges and the catches to hold the doors open ,this will take some time to do and finish then, i will paint it with the final top coat and move on to the hull plates.
regards to all ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nick

[Derek Attree]

Hi Nick
I like the skirts and the brackets.
What type and size material did you use for the brackets ?
I am still toying with doing something on the STUG.

Derek

[John Fitzsimons]

Great work. well done. Will you do mesh hull shurzen or solid?

[Ray Brown]

nice job nick. looking great. again, your poioneering is making it easier for me. i removed my turret bit & brackets & did as you suggested (big hammer persuades many thiings) and with a bit of elbow grease the turret bin is now in place.

question. you have a piece bolted on to the barrel housing. that piece isn't in the kit. what did you use to make one & does it need to have one?

cheers
ray

[michael hilton]

Thanks for the PM Nick. Nice work on your Panzer.
I think once you start painting, the build really takes shape.
Keep the photo's coming......best wishes, Mick

[Nick Farrugia]

HI to all i have managed to make the doors hinges and latch for for the doors today so when i get time i will fit and take some pics.
HI Derek
i used two mm thick steel plate ,galvanized,had to buff up the surface to get a key for the paint ,it was what was available.
I wanted to use steel and not aluminum because i didnt want it too damage easy and flop around too mutch the brackets are made from the same material cut to ten mm wide ,i used some 1.2mm steel strips to use as a template to get the shape of each bracket and then copied it in the thicker material ,it was arkward but i think it was worth it ,i am thinking of may be doing some for the pz 111 and having seen your pics of the stug111 i would do it ,i think it would look even better than it already is ,hope you go with your stug is a favorite off mine. ,,,,,,,regards,,,,,,,,,,,nick
HI John
i did think of doing the mesh type of side skirts but decided not to ,couldnt find a ready supply of the right type off mesh and the brackets on the hull are differant from what i can see and ment it would stop me being able to remove the top hull easilly ,having to undo some of the brackets ,so decided not to do mesh and will do the solid plate made from the same material as the top,its going to be heavy .
HI RAY
Glad you sorted the bin out (if in dout give it a clout ) The end cap on the barel housing i made from 2mm aluminium you dont need to put one on if you dont want to ,but their was one there .(what you could do is go round the end 2 mm in from the edge with a junior hacksaw blade and just cut a line about half a mm deep and then it will look like its got an end cap on and just add the four bolts ,its up to you hope i have explaned this ok ,all the best ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nick
HI MICK
it realy takes on a new form when the paint is applied you realy can appreciate and see things better ,thanks for looking in
all the best ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nick

[John Fitzsimons]

Glad to hear it's putting on weight. I was thinking it was a bit light.

[Derek Attree]

Hi Nick
Thanks for the info.
I get 2mm steel strip from B&Q they do it in 6mm and 10 mm widths and I have
used it on my Panther and the stug for the rear stowage frame rails.
It is mild steel and it bends well and solders well too it also takes the paint well
Hope that helps.

Derek

[John Fitzsimons]

I got some nice steel sheets 500mm x 250mm x 1mm. Also in B&Q. Should work well.

Squires are good also. They supply plastruct lettering also. They have some mesh also but not sure of the size.

If you are looking for decals a contact I have from another forum is setting up to make decal sheets in whatever numbers and colours you choose including unit markings.

[Steve Lewington]

Hi Nick
I got into our fabrication shop last week in college and started on some side and turret armour.
All in 1mm mild steel nice and easy to work with and can be annealed to harden but this is not really necessary.
I have also made a load 9mm wide 1mm thick strips for the mounting brackets all cut to size on a Collins guillotine (simples yes).
If you would like a set or any parts thereof give me a shout.
You can have the side plates in one piece or cut to size all you will have to do is solder the mounting brackets on.
Just let me know bud and the next time I`m in the fab shop you will get priority treatment.
Loving the build she is looking good.

Regards

Steve

[Nick Farrugia]

Hi to all
thanks Derek and John for the info on materials will have a look and get some bits in for stock (next project )
HI Steve
thanks for the offer but as i,ve started with the material i have got i will have to carry on ,just to keep it looking allthe same but thank you for the offer ,it sounds like your going to be busy in that fab shop with out taking on orders
I have fitted the doors and the catches to keep them in the open and given it a primer coat ready for the top coat
i am very happy with the way its turned out i was a bit worried if it would all line up properly ,it is why i havent put the strenthening fillets in yet so it would alow me to tweek it if it was nessasery but only a slight tweek was needed on one side to get the doors level

if i have time this weekend i will be putting the fillets in and then the final coat of paint ,this last pic is just an over view of what its looking like now best wishes to all ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nick