Tamiya 1/48 Pz. Kpfw. IV Ausf H

[TRM]

Hey Fellas,

I had the opportunity to grab Tamiya's 1/48 Pz. Kpfw. IV Ausf H recently. The thought was to have a little fun slinging some paint and not be bogged down with a long drawn out building process prior. Hence the Tammy kit! I actually picked up the kit from our friends over at Armorama...by the time I am done, I will probably toss together a build review/feature type thing.

If you are interested in checking out the kit, Jim Starkweather put together a decent walk-through of the kit:



So I guess it's off to the races! Here are a couple of quick shots of what I have to work with.





This kit is pretty much the same as Tamiya's previous releases of the Pz. IV in this scale but with one added sprue containing new side-skirt armor and a couple of other small parts.



As you'd might guess, Being a Tammy kit this just easy to work with. A quick look at things shows me a few EPM's to contend with...but nothing to write home about...all part of the game I suppose.



Clean up has been quick to start with and the suspension went together like a breeze!



Always wanting to get the monotonous stuff out of the way, I did manage to tackle cleaning up the wheels!



I decided to try and give Tamiya's Zimmerit set for this kit a whirl...



Looks to be something I can work with.



Okay then, back to the bench! I don't think the construction will take too long, so with any luck, I might even get to slinging some of that color soon!

Thanks for stopping by!!

[dupes]

Neat! What's the zim made of? Looks translucent kind of?

[TRM]

Some sort of polypropylene type film. Adhesive back to it. Downside is the pieces need to be cut out individually ...at least they give you the correct lines to do so. A bit goofy near the bolt heads...but still workable!

[Leon]

Off to a good start Todd! The zim looks pretty cool.

[dupes]

Cut out individually? All of those pieces? Blech.

It must take paint ok, but waiting to hear how it works for you.

[wing_nut]

Looks great Todd. What about using a punch to knock out a tiny hole for the bolt heads?

[TRM]

Thank Leon!! It looks like the Zimm will do the trick on this one!

Dupes...yeah, the cutting looks a little daunting, especially on the tiny ins and outs, but with a sharp knife it only takes a minute to cut out the more intricate pieces. The fact you don't have to try and apply the paste yourself in this scale...priceless!

Thanks Marc Funny you mentioned that...I am blogging the build on the Big A as well and just got done suggesting the same thing to someone who asked about the set. Drilling the holes out leave some residual material that needs to be cut out and pressed down after the install. The punch is a onetime deal!

[wbill76]

Looking like a fun project so far T! Pulling up a chair for this one. So far so good!

[TRM]

Thanks Bill! Good "clean" fun! Glad to have you along for the ride!!

[tobias5555]

Good start. I´m looking Forward to see paint on this Tamiya Zimmerit.

[TRM]

Thanks Tobias! Hopefully things will move right along and the paint will fly soon!

[deafpanzer]

Count me in!!! One of my fav Pz IV variants... built a Tamiya of course in 1/35 several years ago and the kit was 30 years old. LOL

[TRM]

Thanks Andy! Even some of those 30 year old kits are still great! The price ain't to bad either! Thanks for coming along for the ride!!

With any luck, I will have some sort of update a little later on tonight!

[wouter]

Ah, another T fast build I reckon! Seems like ages I've seen you do a panzer...nice one!

Cheers

[Wes]

Great start T. I look forward to more.

[DeafStuG]

Nice start build with 1/48.

[TRM]

Thanks Wouts! I like the quick stuff a lot...I need to find someone who like to build as much as I like to paint!

Thanks Wes!! Appreciate it! Don't think you need to wait too long...........

Thanks Jeremy! Not too bad of a scale!!



Okay then...as I mentioned somewhat before, I like a quick build sometimes...This Tammy kit has lived up to the 'shake-n-bake' stigma! For me, that term is of endearment!!





Quick and Dirty...just how I like it! There were some EPM's on the inside of the turret Schützen, on the sides of the brackets for the Schützen as well as under the fenders and the inside of the tracks. Ask me if it bothers me...the answer will be nope! The brackets cleaned up with a light sanding, the inside of the Schützen wrap (similar to a chicken Cesar Wrap...but different! ) I just filled and sanded and although I have not gotten to the tracks as of yet...I suspect anywhere from a light sanding and weathering might do the trick on this one!

The Zimmerit went on fairly well.  I was able to cut out some small sections to try and give a chipped effect.  I chose not to employ the sections given for the exterior of the Schützen.   I thought enough was enough...LOL!!  I am strongly considering not using the side skirt armor either.  Tamiya did do a nice job on the newly molded one-piece setup, but just not felling it this time around! 

The barrels were a last minute thought and procured from RB Model...great look in this scale, cheap and from Poland to the US in 5 days...could not go wrong!

This would be off to the booth for some primer, but not wanting to temp fate with the amount of rain we are getting, I will hold off until it passes!! As always, Thanks for stopping in for a bit!!

[Leon]

Zim and barrels look great Todd!

[Tojo72]

Dressing it up real nice.

[TRM]

Thanks Leon and Anthony! I might be pushing my luck if I said I was going to try and prime later...the weather man said the rain was going to shut off like a light switch in a couple hours and the sun will be out....oddly the temp came up already sitting at 64 right now! For New England in late October...I will take it!!

[dupes]

Nothing wrong with quick builds! Fast doesn't have to mean "bad".

Looking real good - that funky zim seems to have worked out very well.

[wbill76]

GO burn some sprue to appease the weather gods Todd! Looking forward to seeing it with paint on. The 1/35 stick-on zim often gets knocked for not having a lot of depth once painted so I'm curious to see how the 1/48 fares.

[DeafStuG]

Looking good.

[TRM]

Thanks Dupes! Nothing bad about quick builds at all! Means the paint and weathering comes about sooner!! Something I might be able to take my time with.

Thanks Bill! Just trying to keep them Gods...and the demons at bay! Thinking the Zimm is going to hold up under the pressure!

Thanks Jeremy!



Sometimes all you need is a dry day to keep things moving! The rains subsided and things dried out enough and I was able to lay down some primer.



I will set aside a little time this afternoon I think to mess with a top coat of something, but it's a start!

[dupes]

Paint! Paint! Paint!

[TRM]

A little real world work first...but that's the idea Marc!

[Leon]

Primer is looking good Todd!

Are you going for the box art base coat?

[TRM]

Thanks Leon! Was thinking somewhere around there! Still hate camo! LOL!!!

[wbill76]

Just in time for Halloween AND the time change, take full advantage!

[TRM]

LOL...yeah Bill...almost time for the freak show! Meaning my camo job! As for the time change...rarely effected by the difference. I get up early and go to bed late...an hour here or there gets lost in the shuffle!!