PZ IV Ausfunrung H,  Sd.Kfz 161 /2, 

4°PZ Division, Panzer regiment 35 Poland 1944


It is the Revell kit, once again that is used to represent this mid-production PZ IV. It does not stand out compared to the most recent production and is more accurate in many aspects. It is mounted "from the box" with modifications to match the model that served as inspiration

The photoetch parts come from a Part kit, very useful to detail the Revell kit, as well as the photoetch and the Shurzen. The rommelkiste is shown open, as well as the fuel door. 

Panzer IV Ausf F1, Sd.Kfz 161

The PZ IV F1 is the last PZ IV to be equipped with the short barrel. It differs from its predecessors by several improvements: The armor is increased to 50mm, the tracks are widened, the tension roller is modified, the side hatches of turret are with two doors, the upper hull front plate becomes again rectilinear and the system of fixing of the machine-gun is improved.
At the origin the designation was ausf F, and not F1 But in the course of production, the OKH asked to equip the new PZ IV with the long barreled  7.5cm L43, more effective on the T34.  This new series will take the name of F2 (and will turn later in ausf G), the F becoming F1. The PZ IV F1 was Produced to 462 units, from April 1941 to March 1942. 

The Hasegawa model shows its age and seems outdated since the arrival of other productions on the market. It was nevertheless the only plastic model of PZ IV F1 at 1/72 for a long time. 
The main problem of the Hasegawa kit, the very bad vinyl tracks will go directly to the garbage bin, and will be replaced by a better hard plastic set from an old Esci kit. 
The EP set is from Eduard, the Preiser figure. 

PZ IV Ausf J Late, Sd.Kfz 161/2

the PZ IV ausf J will not cease to evolve and this kit presents a late version of it, which does not constitute an improvement of the engine, but a simplification in order to save resources and production time.  In August 1944, the exhaust pipe was replaced by two flame suppressors. In September, as on all the machines, the zimmerit is not applied any more and the schurzens of Thomas type, made up of grid, replace the plates of side armorings of body. 

In October, the system of opening of the trap door of the tank commander is modified: from now on it opens horizontally, like on the Panther or the Tiger II. The traction hooks at the front are now simplified and consist of an extension of the side armour plate of the chassis. Finally, in December, in order to reduce production time, one of the four return rollers is removed and a new hook is mounted at the rear of the body to allow the use of a tow bar.


Sturmpanzer IV "Stupa"
Sd.Kfz 166, 15cm StuH 43 L/12

The "Sturmpanzer IV Stupa" is an assault cannon intended for infantry support, based on the Panzer IV chassis and used by the Wehrmacht
The "Stupa" is wrongly designated "Brummbär", this error being due to problems of comprehension of the German appellations by the services of intelligence of the Allies.  Conceived at the beginning of 1942, it is a question of adapting a superstructure with thick armor (100 mm on the front, 50 mm on the sides), sheltering a howitzer of 150 mm resulting from the SIG 33, on a chassis of Panzer IV. Production began in May 1943 and continued until March 1945. A total of 298 Sturmpanzer IV were built

The Trumpeter kit is fancy, incomplete and not even at the level of quality one can expect today. The kit will nevertheless be improved, and will represent a hypothetical machine, supposedly based on a late Ausf J chassis. So, it's just ucronyism, as much as the decoration, based on the kit's manual and not on a picture of a real Stupa.

Nashorn

8,8 cm PaK 43 (L/71) auf Geschützwagen IV

Sd. Kfz. 164


The 8.8 cm PaK 43 (L/71) auf Geschützwagen IV (Hornisse then Nashorn) was developed as an intermediate solution in 1942 to respond to the appearance of new Soviet tanks such as the T-34 and was armed with the powerful 88 mm gun whose anti-tank role had been demonstrated. The total production of the Hornisse and Nashorn amounted to 494 vehicles, most of which were built in 1943, although production continued until 1945. The Nashorn was delivered to the schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilungen (heavy anti-tank battalions), six of which were eventually equipped with 30 Nashorns, namely the schwere Panzerjäger Abteilungen 560, 655, 525, 93, 519 and 88. 

The Revell Kit was used to replicate the Nashorn. It is a good kit that needs no comment and has been assembled without major modifications, except for some over-detailing. Dragon has also released a Nashorn kit of comparable quality.

Möbelwagen


3.7 cm Flak auf Fahrgestell Panzerkampfwagen IV

Sd.Kfz. 161/3 







Following requests of armoured units for an anti-aircraft weapon capable of Following  armoured vehicles on all terrain, it was decided to produce an armoured vehicle carrying the new 3.7cm flak 43 L/60 on a PZ IV chassis.  Production began in early 1944 at the Krupp-grunson factories. In April 1944, the first 20 units were produced and joined their units. Production continued until March 1945, despite mobelwagen was considered as a temprary solution before the arrival of other flakpanzers better designed to their anti-aircraft role. Between 250 and 240 machines were built and joined armoured units  mainly on the western front.
The PZ IV hull is not fundamentally altered. The casemate is enlarged, the pilot's and radio stations fully closed and equipped with horizontally sliding hatches to allow the opening without being hindered by the shield of he gun. 

The machine gun is removed and replaced with a simple firing port
The gun is installed in the central compartment protected by a shield and folding panels allowing a medium-altitude or low-altitude shot, or even against ground targets, when the panel are totaly opened. This is the main defect of the Mobelwagen: In  road position (fully raised panels) or anti-aircraft fire at medium altitude (half-down panels) it has a very high silhouette that makes it an easy target and earned it its nickname of môbelwagen "moving van". In low-level firing position or against ground targets, the panels are completely lowered, and a part of the  crew is no longer protected. Another feature: A device, connecting the rear panel to the antenna, allows for the drop when the panels are lowered 

the PZ IV revell (Ausf H or J), will be used for this conversion and the hull can be build Following the instruction sheet. Then begin the surgery session: the top of the revell kit will be separated into 3 sections. It is necessary to arrive at the sharpest and straightest possible cut. It is best to cut gradually with a brand new blade. 
-The front section, cut to 1.5 cm from the front edge of the crate and which is put in place without further delay.
-The rear section, cut 1.8 cm from the rear edge, will be added to its flanks and the rear pieces of the fenders. Once the glue is dry, the back block is glued together, as well as the back panel.

The space between the front and rear block is then filled with a rectangle of plastic card. The sides of the mudguards are irregularly thick. This problem is solved by sticking a thin baguette (2mm) of aluminum foil along the entire length of the fenders. The casemate is then mounted: the sides and roof of the driving position are made of fine plastic card (0.5mm) the front part is that of the Revell  enlarged with the same plastic card

Armoured panels are made from the plastic card. The side and rear  panels have a firing port. These are pierced with a large drill the hatches cut into a cluster section,  the handles are made of aluminium. The various hinges, handles and latches are made from  stretched sprue. On the outside of the side panels two devices are used to keep the panels horizontal when they are open. They are reproduced by shaping a piece of aluminum paper on the non-sharp side of a cutter blade. The front and rear panels are glued first, perpendicular to the crate. The side panels are then glued together: they rest on the front and rear panels, and are not perpendicular. Finally, the latches that hold the panels are made of stretched sprue and put in place. Beware, two positions are possible depending on whether the panels are in the road position or shooting at medium altitude. . The 72 rivets that dot the machine are pieces of stretched sprue

The 3,7cm gun provided by Hasegawa in the ostwind kit will be used. It is mounted on a chassis made of stretched plastic and plastic card. The cannon and the thin plastic mask are severed. The barrel  is a needle taken from an empty glue tube, the mask is made of aluminium, the bolts are engraved on the inner face with a needle. The sheet protecting the shooter is made of foil, its plastic card holder of 0.5mm. Various details of the kit are improved, and completed. 
Finally, the most complicated part: the shield will be made in  plastic card. Only the guner  protection will be made of aluminum. The various hinges on the inside are remnants of a photocut board. The rivets are tiny sections of stretched plastic sprue placed on the tip of a cutter blade: The shield will only be placed on the room after painting. Similarly, the piece will join its lookout after painting.

Leichte Flakpanzer IV 3cm
 "Kugelblitz"

The Flakpanzer IV Kugelblitz is an armoured anti-aircraft weapon developed in 1944, and was scheduled to begin production at the end of the year. The attrition of the german industry at the en of the war has  limited the manufacture to a few units. It is now known that at least one kugelblitz took part in the last battles, after a wreck was recently  dug up in a forest. The Kit is the Maco that uses a Revell chassis. it was set up to represent not a prototype but a serial copy, as they could have been built if production had actually started. the same approach was followed for the decoration: a pattern that was - or should have been - applied on German armoured vehicles, according to a directive released during the  winter 1944-1945

Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind

Sd. Kfz 161/4


The Flakpanzer IV "Wirbelwind" is a German self propelled anti aircraft weapon based on a PZ IV Hull. It was designed in 1944 as a successor to Mobelwagen. The Panzer IV's turret was removed and replaced with an open-top, turret that housed a 2cm Flakvierling 38 , a quadruple mount of 20 mm cannon. Its production  was carried out by Ostbau Werke in Silesia. 

Between 87 and 105 Wirbelwind were converted from refurbished Panzer IV Hull,