Building the Tristar Panzer IV D Tauchpanzer |
| By Glenn Bartolotti |
| Started: | Dec 8, 2006 | | Updated: | Feb 10, 2007 |
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I will be building in this Blog the very nice Tristar Panzer IV Ausf. D "Tauch". I will be using Saul Garcia's review found here: http://www.track-link.net/reviews/k1757 I will use this review as my guide and I will be referring to it as I build if needed. The instructions are much easier to follow and read than the DML Panzer IV Ausf. E kit which are very confusing.
My plan is to build the kit as a Ausf. D, not the Tauchanzer version. I will build the kit in the 15 steps the instructions show. I will show a scan of the assembly step from the instructions and a photograph of the assembled parts for that step. |
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| Final - Touches | Feb 10, 2007 |
I add ground pastels with turpenoid as final weathering here you see it added to the muffler as rust and it dries dead matte. I use ground (into powder) pastels with turpenoid for dirt and mud also. The tools are now painted on the tank and any ofter small detail also.
This finishes up my BLOG.
Thanks... more |
| Weathering Starts | Feb 7, 2007 |
The decals have been applied and now covered with Testors Lusterless flat finish and left to dry a few days.
With a burnt umber wash of artist oil thinned with turpenoid it is used as a spot washes around all the raised surfaces and inseams (photo top).
I made a wood beam out of balsa and glued... more |
| Paint and Decals | Feb 4, 2007 |
| The model has a really easy paint scheme of Panzer grey. For my Panzer Grey I mix model Master white and black to make the grey shade. I start by mixing a dark color then add more white to it and paint the highlights which are the panels, doors and raised surfaces as this replaces the dry-brushing step... more |
| Finishing Construction | Feb 1, 2007 |
| he last steps, 13, 14 and 15, cover the vehicle tools. This is also when almost all the photo-etched parts get used. The vehicle jack is a multi-piece affair but can not be shown extended. The tools are well done and have separate clips, from photo-etch or plastic which get added to each one. I found... more |
| Steps 12 and 13 - The Turret | Jan 16, 2007 |
The turret is completed in steps 12 and 12. The front and side visors are separate parts, no provision is made to show them open. The turret side doors, and the cupola hatches, can be shown open or shut.
The instructions show a bracket on the back to hold part E-8 but there is none on the turret and... more |
| Step 11 - Turret Main Gun | Jan 12, 2007 |
| Step 11 has one begin turret assembly starting with the main armament. A full breech, including casing catcher with newly added texture, is included. The option of using the antenna deflector is offered. Tauchpanzer modellers must choose one front plate, B-30 for combat mode or straight Ausf D, or part... more |
| Step 10 - Rear Hull Details | Jan 7, 2007 |
| The underwater valves are added here for the Tauchpanzer, but I am building the regular Ausf. D so skipped this. Note that the inner sides of the mud flaps have had rivet detailing added. I have added Mr. Surfacer 500 to the muffler and the rear bottom to simulate dirt build-up. |
| Step 9 - Tracks and Suspension | Jan 4, 2007 |
| Here we see the ModelKasten influence. Although the tracks are not fully workable, they do have hollow teeth and are the correct 36cm width. Be careful as they are handed. The track pins should face the outside of the vehicle. These tracks also suffer from a little flash. If I found the tracks snapped... more |
| Steps 7 and 8 | Jan 1, 2007 |
| Step 7 has one add the glacis and front towing points. Depending on the version being built, add a locking clamp or the stud or none at all. The next Step 8, add the engine deck door and rear vertical plate. The hinges have been corrected on both hulls as well as the doors. Again pay close attention... more |
| Step 6 - Front Plate | Dec 29, 2006 |
| Step 6 assembles the driver's visor which is a multi piece affair and can be positioned open or closed even though it is not mentioned in the instructions. There are two front plates, one is specific to the Tauchpanzer. Whichever is chosen, the machine gun housing which is left over can be used... more |
| Step 5 - Upper Hull - Part 1 | Dec 20, 2006 |
| Step 5 begins with the upper hull. Here, we see the first mention of the four different ways of completing this model. Two complete upper hulls are provided. The second hull, on Sprue I, has a different tread pattern on it than the original hull, A1, with its dot pattern. While optimized for the Tauchpanzer,... more |
| Step 4 - Suspension Units | Dec 18, 2006 |
| Step 4 is adding the suspension assemblies and drive/return wheels to the hull. No mention is made that one must remove the half moon shaped tab from the back of the bogie mounts (S1-24 and S1-25). Not doing so will make fitting them to the hull impossible. Part S-31 is shown inserted backwards and is... more |
| Step 3 - Front and Rear Details | Dec 15, 2006 |
| Some of the small but not all the pieces in the kit like bolts and other small parts are on small sprue trees just like you would find in a Model Kasten track set (inset photo), you cut them off and glue in place. As I looked at this photo I noticed I attached C-6 upside down but was able to correct... more |
| Step 2 - Lower Hull | Dec 11, 2006 |
| ... more |
| Step 1 - The Running Gear | Dec 8, 2006 |
| Step 1 (photo) is building the wheels and suspension. I have noticed that part S-28 is really S-11. Construction is straight forward. Detail is very good, but I prefer the DML plastic as it is easier to clean up off the sprue. The suspension works well and is easy to assemble. Just remember part S-28... more |
