Dragon Jagdpanzer IV L/70(V) Finished! 8-18-05

[wbill76]

After all the complexity of the little Sdkfz 222 build, I decided a simpler project is in order. Dragon's 1/35 kit #6397 Jagdpanzer IV L/70(V) should fit the bill there nicely. Will be replacing the kit's static Magic Tracks with Model Kasten workable SK-27 light pattern tracks as I won't be fitting the side skirts, so all that wonderful sag on the 3 return rollers will be visible.



Should be able to dive into this one here shortly!

[Leon]

Looking forward to seeing you start the JP Bill!

[Tojo72]

One of their best and most enjoyable kits Bill,did one with a whitewash a few years ago.Really want to see your handling of it.

[wbill76]

Thanks Leon, glad to have you along!

Anthony, I've always liked how Dragon's Pz IV family of Smart Kits go together, so should be fun! No turret, no interior to speak off, so should be a relatively simpler build if nothing else. This one's been sitting patiently in the stash for a while now but it's number finally came up.

[deafpanzer]

Of course you have my attention... always thought this one is one of the most sexy looking armor!

[dupes]

Nice!

I'm assuming that Dragon packages this with "standard" Magic Tracks, no?

[wbill76]

Figured you'd pop up eventually Andy!

May 11, 2015 18:49:16 GMT -5 dupes said:

Nice!

I'm assuming that Dragon packages this with "standard" Magic Tracks, no?

The kit-supplied links are of the Magic variety Dupes that are the correct lightened pattern and would do just fine on their own for accuracy-sake, they just are static and not workable. I was trying to get by with an extra set of workable MKs that I already had on hand but that turned out to be a non-starter.

[dupes]

They do have the lightened tracks? Interesting. I didn't realize they made multiple sets of MTs. I'll have to pay attention to what I'm using when I steal them from kits in the future!

[dierk]

Aah, the Guderian Duck - unflattering name given to it by tank crews, because of its awkward steering characteristics caused by its front-biased weight due to the gun and thick front armour.
Watching this because of who is building it

[elco]

Bill!! this is your change to beat that disc camo

This is a real nice kit to build, followingalong!

[wbill76]

Dupes, there are all kinds of Pz III/IV family of Magic tracks out there depending on the kits in question, so definitely have to pay attention as to what goes with what and when!

Dierk, glad to have you along for the Duck's waddle! You're right about the nose-heavy nature of the beast...I was reading a couple of action reports in the Spielberger Light Jagdpanzer where they commented on the steering/handling and the need to avoid using them as 'dug in' elements by infantry units needing a morale boost.

Elco, I thought about doing disc camo on this one since it's very tempting due to all the large/flat sides but will probably do the box art scheme instead. I've got some other candidates in mind for disc camo in the stash though, so never fear, it will happen one day! Glad to have you along for the ride.

[wbill76]

May 12, 2015 5:40:50 GMT -5 elco said:

Bill!! this is your change to beat that disc camo

This is a real nice kit to build, followingalong!

You're an evil influence Elco...after seeing what the masks could do on your Panther, I decided to go ahead and take the plunge and give the Uschi masks a shot with this JP IV and placed an order on his site for them. It's all your fault... My excuse to the wife will be that they are reusable!

[deafpanzer]

Way to go Bill... dots will make it even more sexier!

Karma +1 goes to Elco! LOL

[tonylee]

Come on Tex show me how it should be done.

Uncle Tony

[Deano]

Nice looking kit which will look even nicer after the Bill effect

[dupes]

Mmmmmmm disc camo!

May 12, 2015 12:09:45 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

Dupes, there are all kinds of Pz III/IV family of Magic tracks out there depending on the kits in question, so definitely have to pay attention as to what goes with what and when!

I really had no idea. Pretty much assumed that they had made a 40cm set and called it good. Do you have any idea how many different sets there really are?

[elco]

Jeeeeh way to go Bill. Looking forward to it., glad i was able to assist you

With a little practice you really can pull of a great disc camo. If i can help in any way just let me know!

[wbill76]

Andy, I hope so, we'll see!

Tony, I remember you building this one up, will do my best to get as good a result as you did with yours!

Deano, glad to have you along!

Dupes, they've produced at least 7 different variations as Magic tracks for the Pz III/IV family. 2 of those were 36cm or 38cm though for early-war Pz III (E) and Pz IV (A-D) and one was the Winterketten. The other 4 covered the range of 'standard' 40cm tracks, the only one I think they haven't done is the crimped-horn cleated variety.

Elco, will keep you on speed dial in case I run into trouble! I ordered both the full stencil plus the smaller dots stencil for hard to reach places, between the two and a little practice runs beforehand (and considering when best to paint stuff due to all the junk on the rear deck and hull), I should be able to do a half-way decent job I hope.

Every kit has to start somewhere and with a Dragon kit that's usually the road wheels! Step 1 calls for the assembly of the wheels, sprockets, idlers, and return rollers. Since I'm going to be building a vehicle built early on (pre-Nov. 1944) in the production run, I opted for the A14-A13 style of return rollers. I left all the road wheel halves unassembled for now so it will be easier to paint them later and sanded down the mold seams on all but the spare rubber-rim wheel pair that installs on the engine deck. The kit also provides a spare steel-rim wheel, so I assembled 5 of them as well. Dragon employs a 3-part process to build up each wheel half that provides a really nice result for this type of wheel but does take a little care when cleaning up the parts and gluing them together. So with that, we're off!

[Leon]

Glad to see you getting the wheels out of the way Bill!

[wbill76]

Me too Leon! A necessary evil when it comes to German vehicles I'm afraid.

[Tojo72]

Ahh,a little roadwheel madness.

[TRM]

The obligatory wheel shot!! Sweet stuff Bill!! Love the kit! Looking forward to seeing you push your way through it!! More fun now that the wheels are out of the way!!

[dupes]

Seven sets!! I don't recall seeing any markings on the MT bags...is there any way to tell them apart by the packaging? Obviously winter/ostketten look substantially different, but not so much the other types.

[Wes]

Im in for this ride Bill.

Look forward to what you do with it.

[deafpanzer]

AHHHH! Typical Dragon instructions... starting with the dreaded wheels first! LOL Looking good professor!

[wbill76]

Anthony, it could be worse...it could be a Tiger or Panther!

T, always good to get it out of the way first. That and the tracks are always what takes up the most time on these Tank Destroyer types.

Wes, glad to have you along for the ride!

Andy, like clockwork with a Dragon kit.

[wbill76]

May 12, 2015 21:30:43 GMT -5 dupes said:

Seven sets!! I don't recall seeing any markings on the MT bags...is there any way to tell them apart by the packaging? Obviously winter/ostketten look substantially different, but not so much the other types.

They don't mark them or distinguish them in any way on the bags, the assumption being that they belong with the kit so don't need any way to tell them apart! The only way to tell them apart is visually. I use this handy little Model Kasten cheat sheet myself to keep it straight and just tag the bags myself when I don't use them but set them off to the side. HTH! So far as I know the variety labeled SK-22 is the only one that Dragon hasn't done in the Magic Track format.

[BJ]

Way cool.. bookmarked this.. And Nice, TY on the Kasten Pic.. I never saw that in any of my kits. Saved that one for sure.

[dupes]

Seriously, had no idea. This sheet will come in handy for sure! Who knows now what I've put on what vehicles...traded off a lot of Tamiya rubber bands for MT sets a while back thinking that they were all the "standard" 40 cm tracks.

Great chart!

[afvfan]

Of course all the careful planning with the different style tracks went straight out the window when a vehicle had a track change. Then it just boiled down to whatever style was on hand from supply, or whatever style the factory was working with at the time of the refurb.....but it is nice to see the variations brought out.

It is surprising that Dragon makes the distinction between types with the MTs.It would have been nice if that attention to detail had been carried over to their instruction sheets.