Panzer IV Ausf.H

I'm so pleased to be back building AFVs and in particular the next tank in my 1;35 scale German Panzer project, this one being the Airfix Panzer IV Ausf.. I know @Topcat_Ern did a great built of this one last May in the Normandy 1944 colours, so I thought I'd have another go at the whitewashed look of an Eastern Front version. Unlike that Panzer III that I recently built, which was white over German Grey, this Panzer IV seems to have had the site applied over Dark Yellow, which will be different.

This 2019 Airfix release is based on a 2018 Academy kit and looks really nice. It also has rubber tracks which I don't normally like, but with the armoured skits fitted, you'll not see too much of them.

The first task in the instructions is to drill all the clearly marked out holes for the ancillary bits and bobs later. It's surprising just how long this takes!

Fitting the chassis pieces is the next very simple task ... but I've halted at a decision point surrounding which rear plate to fit, as there two options with no explanation - intriguing! My Osprey New Vanguard guide on the Panzer IV has a drawing of an Ausf H with what looks to be the more detailed drive ends, so I’ve decided to fit the more detailed part G42 for no other reason than that. The same book was also used to decide on the correct ‘cast idler wheel’, the one with the narrower double set of spokes.

This kit seems to have a number of these random decision points. Oddly, such options would normally be easy to decide on as they tend to follow a final scheme; not however, as far as I can see, this one! The next decision point is the type of return rollers to fit. The two options look to be either rubber or steel tyred versions, the latter, I believe, being a rubber saving ‘upgrade’.  Checking through my 1979 collection of Bruce Quarrie “Panzers in Russia” WW2 photo albums, I came across a photo of a PzKpfw IV H and supporting infantry where the Panzer clearly has the rubber saving steel return rollers and so parts H60 & H62 were selected. 

With the wheels installed, superstructure constructed and dry fit to the chassis, it really does look a solid, well designed kit. The challenge facing me now is deciding on which version of bullet splash guard to fit! I’m thinking the more elaborate one with seemingly more protection. 

I've fitted that bullet splash guard with the extra raised section - all the better to protect the crew from projectiles making their way through the join between turret and superstructure. I understand that bullet splash was first seen as an issue for tank crews during WWI. It occurs when a bullet hits an armoured plate, does not penetrate, but fractures into tiny pieces of sharp metal that flies in all directions at high speed. I never stop learning with this hobby! 

Work on the Panzer IV now focusses on fitting tracks and building the body of the tank. There is really so much detail in this kit, it's fantastic. You'll see from the above picture that I decided to prime the lower drive train area. I did this before fitting it to the superstructure as I wanted to get good coverage in those hidden recesses between the wheels and around the tracks which I sometimes find challenging once mudguards etc. are in place.

Next, I move onto building the skirts and the turret. I believe, having fitted these to the Stug IV, that I can leave the skirts detachable as they should hang nicely off those spiked rails, which means that I can fit them later which is vital if I'm to be able to get to paint the detailing on those tools and spare wheels.

The construction is complete and I’ve really enjoyed building this kit; there’s just so much detail to enjoy. I’ve also found a 3DGizmo German Tank Commander that fits without surgery! I do like having a figure in my tanks.

I decided to apply the chalk white winter camouflage over just the dark yellow base coat rather than apply the addition camouflage colours of green and brown, as I felt these would just get lost. I then distressed the white surface with a Humbrol weathering brush and added grime with set of oils and finally a little snow effect to bring the temperature now to that of winter on the eastern front!

While the Airfix painting instructions suggest this Panzer IV was part of the 3rd or 20th Panzer Division, my research has identified it to more likely to be a tank of the 4th Panzer Division, 35 Panzer Regiment. Both the 3rd and 4th use the Berlin bear emblem, but it’s the official shield symbol that belongs to German 4th Panzer Division that clinches it for me. Quite interestingly, the addition of crossed swords below the emblem was apparently added in August 1943 after the Generalmajor and commander of the 4th Panzer Division, General Erich Schneider (1894-1980) was awarded the Knight's Cross.

One final post from me on this Panzer IV is an embarrassing correction. Someone pointed out to me that I’d attached the Turret Schurzen upside down! Considering the number of Panzer IV pictures I had studied and the time it took me to decide the correct way to fit these, I was stunned and shocked to have made such a school boy error!

So, I carefully removed them from their brackets and using a cotton bud I removed the varnish I’d applied with thinner. I then soaked them, decals down, in a solution of DecalFix for a good hour. 

Carefully using a blade I was able to tease the decals free and rotate them to the correct way up. Unfortunately the bear is handed and so I had to swap them between parts. Now if anyone has used decal softener you’ll appreciate this is no easy task, as a well softened decal is as fragile and temperamental as wet tissue paper! 

Final corrected shots of the Panzer IV