Pz.kpfw IV E DAK

[JimD]

May 24, 2015 6:28:37 GMT -5 wing_nut said:

I'll sit in the aisle seat in case I get up to get candy or pee or something. Don't want to bother anyone.

Yay. Now I can tell my wife I'm not the only one who sits on the aisle by choice. Lol

[desertrat]

brilliant work so far, looking forward to the paint.....

[elco]

Thnx for the comments.

I made new pics with the building fases









If the kids let me it must be possible to finish the build today.. But i don't think they let me

Anyway..the end is near and the primer bottle is lurking in the shadows

[dierk]

Looking good - you made short work of the 1000+ parts.

[elco]

I toss out the tracks and a good start during my holiday last week sure helped

[TRM]

Nicely done there Elco!! Best of luck squeezing in the time around the little ones!! Looking forward to start seeing the color come about!

[wbill76]

You've been making the most of your bench time for sure Elco! Looking really nice with all the sub-assemblies together (and apart!)

[sturmbird]

May 21, 2015 12:00:01 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

Looking forward to this one! This is an evolution of the original 'Super Kit' IV-E and that means that the parts count on it is over 1000 including the tracks but they build up nicely with a fully working suspension.

I found one in a 25% off pile a year or so ago, and really liked the kit. Goal was a DAK track, but would like to find another to do an Eastern Front track. I also think they upgunned some of them later on.
gary

[Leon]

Looking good Elco!

[Wes]

Oh wow that is sexy. Cant wait for primer.

[elco]

Yoo guys thnx, tracks are in back-order so i have to wait. When i got them i can finish the build and continue posting update's.

[Leon]

Got plenty of snacks and beverages,so i'll be waiting!

[wbill76]

Hurry up and wait stage due to the mail is never fun! Hope you don't have to wait too long for the tracks on this one.

[elco]

Yesterday i saw i ordered the wrong tracks, 40 instead of the 36 versions but it was not to late to change it.. pfff

Hope to update this topic soon

[wbill76]

Jun 16, 2015 5:49:54 GMT -5 elco said:

Yesterday i saw i ordered the wrong tracks, 40 instead of the 36 versions but it was not to late to change it.. pfff

Hope to update this topic soon

Are you sure about the tracks? I'm fairly certain that the Ausf E's all had the 40cm track size since the wider sprocket was introduced with this Ausf when it started production in October 1940. Only the early A-Ds had the 38cm tracks and many of the D's in particular were retro-fitted with spacers and/or new sprockets and switched over to the wider tracks for the later campaigns.

[elco]

Comparing the tracks I first ordered these



But the kit tracks looks like this



Looking at the Friuls i came to these



Am i so wrong?? I have no clue what are the correct ones now

[BJ---Rest In Peace]

E would be 36cm but new drive sprocket from my understanding Then went to the 40cm wider drive sprocket and tracks on the F
Top Track

[wbill76]

There's a distinction that needs to be made...36cm tracks were only fitted to Pz IIIs. 38cm tracks were fitted to Pz IVs (and there were two types of 38cm, those with short guide horns fitted to A-C, and those with tall horns fitted only on D-Es and the two couldn't be interchanged).

40cm tracks were standardized for both Pz III and Pz IV and the initial 40cm tracks didn't have the little oval side fittings for the ice grousers as shown in BJ's last photo (which is from the Spielberger Pz IV book and a great reference for all things Pz IV), they essentially looked the same as the 36 or 38cm links but were wider at 40cm.

I'm not sure that Fruil's ATL-02 set that Elco posted is accurate scale-wise for use as 38cm tracks. That 2cm difference in 1/35 can be just enough to cause pitch issues with a full run in my experience and may require some modifications to the sprocket teeth for them to fit correctly vs. the kit-links. ATL-03 is the correct 'initial' 40cm type but has the problem of possibly being too wide. The mystery deepens! Especially since it doesn't look like Fruil has a 38cm track type...so ATL-02 is their only possibility. The Easy Metal tracks that you selected Elco were definitely not the right type for this vehicle though, so that's something at least for you to hang your hat on.

If you want a workable alternative that does accurately create 38cm tracks, the Model Kasten set SK-57 could provide you with that although they are styrene and not metal tracks like the Fruils.

BJ's correct in that the Ausf F is the first one, not the E as I originally thought, to be fitted with the 40cm tracks as a standard feature beginning in June 1941.

[BJ---Rest In Peace]

All the PZ IV track variation will make your head explode.. But I do agree.
Model Kastens.

For some reason never been a fan of the Metal tracks.

[elco]

Thnx for the comments ans lessons in PZ tracks

I think i'll stick with Friuls and give them a try even when they not the correct ones. If it doesn't work out at all i'll figure out what to do. Strange they don't have the right versions

[JimD]

Reading the info on the tracks made my head explode.

That aside, the Panzer is looking great. I can't wait to see you lay some paint in that bad boy.

[wbill76]

Jun 16, 2015 23:16:08 GMT -5 elco said:

Thnx for the comments ans lessons in PZ tracks

I think i'll stick with Friuls and give them a try even when they not the correct ones. If it doesn't work out at all i'll figure out what to do. Strange they don't have the right versions

It will be interesting to see how they compare to the kit's static links once you get them. It could be that Fruil just labeled them 36cm out of convenience and a desire to not have to distinguish between the 38cm and 36cm varieties...but you won't know for sure until you actually have them in hand.

[Marcel du Long]

Am i so wrong?? I have no clue what are the correct ones now

The correct ones are the rubber ones provided with the kit which you don't have to assemble bit by bit.
They offer you a pleasant, constructive and relaxed experience and are easy to paint and weather.

Have fun with your Friuls assembling.... 

Marcel.

[elco]

Yeah, crazy world sometimes huh Marcel

[elco]

Hi guys,

Update time! Finaly i got the Friuls and assembled them last weekend. They fit like a glove so the right choice is made

Today was primer time, like always i used Vallejo black primer in a couple of thin layers.



Lifecolor panzer grey out the CM set is used a basecoat, HS and creme white from AMMO is used for the interior.





To create the chipping effect warm a old flat brush is used with warm tap water. I prefer not to use a lot of water and whipe of the brush a couple of times to keep a better control on the HS and paint. To create the scratches i use a toothpick etc,







Next is a couple of pin washes and thats it for the interior.

Basecoat is already sprayed so it is decal time and after that HS and the sand color

Thnx for tuning in!

[wbill76]

Nice to see this one back on the front burner Elco! Looking good with the chipping.

[panzerjager2]

OUTSTANDING WORK.......

As a postscript, can someone in their own delicate way, explain to me a man with 40 plus years of studying German armor what the differences are on a "vorpanzer" is it just the narrower track and early design return rollers??? or am I missing something.
Again please don't let my stupidity distract from the outstanding work

[elco]

Thnx Bill, yes finaly. Delivery of those tracks took way to long

[elco]

Jul 25, 2015 18:49:45 GMT -5 panzerjager2 said:

OUTSTANDING WORK.......

As a postscript, can someone in their own delicate way, explain to me a man with 40 plus years of studying German armor what the differences are on a "vorpanzer" is it just the narrower track and early design return rollers??? or am I missing something.
Again please don't let my stupidity distract from the outstanding work

As far i know it is just the addition of the extra panzer plates on front of the hull and tower.



didn't use them for this build

[Leon]

Nice to see this moving along again Elco! The primer coat and the interior look great.