Panzer IV DAK

[Sir JJ]

When i built the Bruckenleger, i said that i was going to add the interior into a Dragon kit. When i got paid, i got the Panzer IV DAK version and added the interior to it and stratch built some more interior. Here is what i've done.

[Geek44]

Looks like the Ausf. E three in one kit I built JJ...nice work, the interior looks good. I had trouble with only one area of this kit and that's with the part that holds the turret in place. The part you cemented to the lower hull that you've had to cut the hole in the floor plate for. I found that the arms holding the turret floor in place are a whisker too short...I was risking an overly tight fit so I ground out the part entirely. My turret sits only with gravity.
With the interior parts Dragon supply, it'll look smashing mate. Well done.
Peace.

[Whiterook]

O boy o boy o boy o boy o boy o boy o boy!!!!! I have been sooooo wanting to do a DAK ANYTHING, but really want to do an armor piece. When I pick my subject, it'll be a long term project for sure, for I want to explore every nuiance and full potential opportunity; so my friend, you've opened Pandora's Box with this one, and prepare thyself for a barage of questions as you procede!

First, could you post a pic of the cover art...just so I can get a reference? Second...on the floor section Geek44 spoke of, I take it that was part of the other kit? Are the vertical and top horizontal pieces scratchbuilt? Looks like you have some scratchbuilt bits supporting (and raising) the engine; as well as on top of part of the engine area to support the turret ring? What else is scratchbuilt thus far (in the pictures above). What material is the scratchbuilt stuff...evergreen?

This is all new stuff for me, and the kind of self-help I'd love to see gained from this portion of the Model Forum. Perhaps...and I know I'm being a pain here so please forgive...you could provide a running dialogue on what you saw as a plan of action during the build, the problems you anticipated and how you solved them, as well as any surprises. You are obviously a superior modeler, and I'd love to learn from you.

Thanks for tackling this subject. Be patient with us colts...we mean well

[Sir JJ]

here is the kit me and nick has used: there are a couple of reviews and shows clearly the parts that are in the box.

Dragon 6264 Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.E (3 in 1)
Panzer IV Ausf E 3 in 1 kit Review by Cookie Sewell (DML 1/35)

the floor was scratch-built using ordinary plastic card. but what i did was i looked through my spares box and found the photo-etched fenders for a dragon ferdinand, cut them up and used as the flooring. the rear fire wall was made from plastic card as well. the gearbox, radio, and compartment at the front came from the trumpeter bruckenleger. it's no-where finished yet but most of it will be hidden

in the following pictures are the ammunition bins i've fabricated from plastic card and spares from the spares box. i spent hours on the internet this evening looking for the interior of the Panzer IV. i've just given it the coat of white, now i've got to wait for it to dry then i can weather it.




what i'm going to do is to have the Panzer IV with all the hatches open including the ones at the front for the transmission, the drivers and radio operator and the turret hatches open as well. the Panzer is going to have a track that's come off and the dragon 8th army infantry figures going past.
6390 - British 8th Army Infantry EI Alamein 1942

if you've got anymore questions, all you have to do is ask.

[Geek44]

Just as an add to JJ's post Em, the Dragon kit is the best tank kit I've ever had the pleasure to build and it has precious few problems or omissions. It comes with two lower hull parts, one has extra armour moulded on. There are several stowage configurations to mess with and anything represented by photo etched brass is also simplified in styrene...you can use PE or not, or as I did, a mixture. The kit is also a spares box in itself...two sets of tools. There's also the famous Guderian and cactus that I'm sure you're familiar with and decals for six vehicles. Three Eastern Front and three DAK. I found it a challenging build but that was partly because I hadn't built a vehicle in a long time and also planned to try some new ideas out. My main criticism is that the provided figure isn't really very relevant in the sense that not many folks plan to feature Heinz Guderian in a diorama next to their Panzer IV. A simple commander figure might have been more useful. A beautiful kit and well worth the money...which is probably comparable to Tamiya's very old and worn Pz. IV offering anyway.
Peace.

[Sir JJ]

it's also a very complicated kit. for example, there are 18 parts for each boogie and there are 8 bogies so as you can see, there are 96 parts just for that. i totally agree with the figure. why put the general there instead of a crewman? i can't see why they did that. that's another thing dragon do to disappoint me, why can't they add a figure or two in the kit rather than sell them as a seperate kit? tamiya always supply a figure.

[Geek44]

I liked the idea of the articulated bogies...in that the suspension works. Great for dioramas, but I had trouble with it. I had a hard time working out how the parts should fit together from the instruction sheet and when I did, I found myself reattaching bogies as I built because they kept falling off. The gluing surface isn't large but I got there in the end. But it is complicated and next time, I'll spend more time just perusing the instruction sheets...they're big, busy and hard on the eyes...I left out more than one part because I overlooked it on the sheet. In the end, I found myself ticking parts in red pen on the sheet after it had been attached or 'accounted for' in some other way. I found that a great help.
Peace.

[Sir JJ]

i've done the weathering of the ammo boxes and now i've got to do the fine details. the turret interior is complete and glued up ready for the top coat of paint. here's some more pics.

[McCoy]

Nice JJ!
But please tell me why you're optin' for the turned aluminium barrel instead of the moulded one that have riflin'?

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by McCoy

Nice JJ!
But please tell me why you're optin' for the turned aluminium barrel instead of the moulded one that have riflin'?

Good question. I'm planning one of these myself and am curious why you made that choice.