Pz IV J Initial/Early photos

I thought that some of you might be interested in the photos of the new Pz IV J Initial/Early



















Best regards,

Notger

Looks way cool Notger , I love it !

I have the Bergepanther of the 653 from Cyberhobbies & I see they give you credit in the instructions ! Out of curiosity did the R&D find any information about what happened to the donor vehicle for the Pz IV turret ?

I imagine you had a fair hand in the R&D of this kit too ? How common was the mesh insert behind the turret side hatches ?

Jenny

I knew it had to arrive some time. I just wish it was a late model.....still to come I suppose.

Look's like a very nice kit

Hi Jenny,

To be honest, I was only half involved in the model as I have no clue ab out Panthers, only about Pz IV
Unfortunately I don't know what happened to the donor vehicle.
The model is based on the few photos of the original vehicle. I also don't have the history of the s.Pz.Abt. 653.
If I remember correctly there should be somewhere a book about this unit, so maybe there is a little more about the historical background, including the fate of the donor vehicle.

I'm sorry for not being able to help you much and answer your question.

It's kind of difficulty to say how common the mesh is, as on most photos the area is just not visible.
There are several war time photos and some photos of surviving vehicles which show the mesh or at least the hooks/brackets for attaching the mesh.
But, as I said, on some photos it can be seen, but most photos just don't show the area/most photos don't show the turretbin-skirts from above.

Best regards,

Notger

Nice kit!!

Are all those WIP list at the bottom the kits you are building at the moment!

Regards
Noel

Hi Notger , I have the big book of the 653 , I have read it from cover to cover many times (it is my favourite book of my favourite unit ) but it does not mention the fate of the donor vehicle , only that the turret was fixed forward .

Jenny

Hi Noel,

No, not all are actually sitting on my modelling desk, many of them are still in development. One, the IV J from the top here, should be available in a few days.
But I'm still waiting for my ordered Atak-Zimmerit to arrive as I still have the Pz IV H waiting to be built

Jenny,

Could you please tell me the exact title of the book and the author? As you have wrote it more than once, I guess that it's very good Does it also have some good photos?

And excuse me both please for my late response!

Regards,

Notger

Jenny Croft wrote: but it does not mention the fate of the donor vehicle , only that the turret was fixed forward .

Jenny

You've piqued my interest. What are you talking about here.

Hi Noel,

No, not all are actually sitting on my modelling desk, many of them are still in development. One, the IV J from the top here, should be available in a few days.
But I'm still waiting for my ordered Atak-Zimmerit to arrive as I still have the Pz IV H waiting to be built

You really do like PzIV's! In your opinion, which Dragon Pz IV kit would you rate as a 'MUST BUY"?

Regards
Noel

Hi Noel,

In your opinion, which Dragon Pz IV kit would you rate as a 'MUST BUY"?

It might depend on what exactly you mean. Do you mean in terms of accuracy? Or do you mean in terms of historical/operational importance?
I personally think that all the new Pz IV and Pz IV variants are very good. And so far I haven't heard of any complainings about any mistakes.
So that would leave you the choice, whatever you like more
When it comes to the appearance and the historical importance than the Pz IV F2/G is my favourite as it was the first tank that could effectively deal with the T-34 and was also the first tank that could deal at the same time with the Grants in the desert.
All Pz IV tanks which followed, like the IV H and J, were just a little uparmored and featured the skirts and some other improvements. But for a vehicle which was designed and constructed years before the WWII started, it could still held its own until the edn of the war against the main tanks of the allies, like the T-34s and Shermans.

So when it comes to the kit accuracy, I think that you can take any model you want the most. It's up to you

Regards,

Notger

Damn,

This always happens to me! I have already started building the "J", converting from the "H". OH well, that's life!

Bob

Thanks Notger!

I've got my eyes on these but can only buy one!





My aim is looking at the PzIVG (Kharkov). Heard it's a very good kit.

Regards
Noel

Hi Noel,

First of all, all 3 kits you have shown are good. I have them all too
They are, of course, almost the same. They differ by the important changes which took place at the Pz IV development.
For example he IV F1 has the shorter gun and three different engine hatches. The #6360 F2 kit has the long barrel with the global muzzle brake, the IV G #6363 has the two-chamber muzzle brake with the turret without the vision ports and it has the parts for the add-on armor.
And so on.
As I said above, it's up to you
You can build the Pz IV F1 as an DAK vehicle in the desert, or as an vehicle at the start of Barbarossa, or as as old veterans at the battle of Kursk, or as an captured vehicle by the russian.
The Pz IV F2 would fit perfectly into a scene for the drive towards Stalingrad during the operation "Fall Blau"(case blue), or also as an DAK vehicle during the battle of El ALamein.
Or you can build the Pz IV G as an vehicle during the battle of Charkow in February/March 1943 as an LAH or Totenkopf vehicle.
Or as an vehicle from the 1.Pz.Div. in Greece in the summer 1943.
Or you can buy some great aftermarket decals from Echelon or Bison which offer a lot more very interesting vehicles and camouflage options....

I'll see, I need at least 5 more Pz IV F2 and G's for all the nice options too....

And as I said above, all the three kits share many of the main parts, as they were almost the same.

I hope this helps?

Regards,

Notger

NAS wrote:Jenny,

Could you please tell me the exact title of the book and the author? As you have wrote it more than once, I guess that it's very good Does it also have some good photos?

And excuse me both please for my late response!

Regards,

Notger

The book is called "The Combat history of German Heavy Anti-Tank Unit 653 in World War II" by Karlheinz Munch ISBN 978-0-8117-3242-0 & it is superb . It describes from the early days as Stug Abt 197 to its reformation as one of the most formidable units of modern warfare , with the mighty Ferdinand / Elefant & then to the even mightier Jagdtiger , famous of course for its oddities , the Recovery Elefant , the only Serving Porsche Tiger VK4501(P) , the Bergepanther with the Pz IV turret , another with a flakverling , the T-34 flakverling & T34 munitions vehicles .

The book has hundreds & hundreds of cool photographs & I reccomend it highly.

There are only two pictures of the Bergepanther with the Pz IV Turret .




Jenny

Jeez, Jenny, where do you get all this stuff???????

Bob

Hi Jenny,

Thank you very much for the scans from the book! I think I will get it for Christmas. It looks realy like an very interesting book!

Here are some photos of the parts of the new IV J:































Regards,

Notger

Hey thanks for the info/photos..looks awesum Cant wait to get that gem.

Stop teasing me !!!!!!

I still need to get the Pz IV ausf H , Wirbelwind, Ostwind , Jagdpanzer IV, BergePanzer IV , Stug IV, and now the new ausf J early !

I'm still hoping Dragon brings out a new Late Brummbär !

Grtz

Kristof.

PS I you didn't notice it , I love Pz IV's and all the variants

Thanks for the info , .......... there goes another handfull of money

Only problem now is where to put this on my 178 page gotta have list .........

Hello folks,

as I have been asked at a german forum for some more clearer detail photos of all the little weld seams I have made some photos yesterday and I thought that some of you might be interested in them too?















This here is the underside from the fender:

PS I you didn't notice it , I love Pz IV's and all the variants Cool

Kristof, I guess we have the same passion

Only problem now is where to put this on my 178 page gotta have list .........

Cheyenne, I see that we both have the same problem....

Regards,

Notger

I love the little tack weld on the 5th photo , nice !

Jenny

Superb detail! Plastic is really at it's peak! Does it get better?

Regards
Noel

Noel-Petroni wrote:Superb detail! Plastic is really at it's peak! Does it get better?

Regards
Noel

It's hard to imagine how, isn't it Noel. What a great time to be modelling .

Ian.