More replacement early war panzers, this time the 'medium' company of which most panzer battalions had one until 1943. Generally two or three platoons of Pz IV and a platoon of Pz II until the TOE was revised.
Two Panzer IVs and a Panzer II. Models all from Battlefield 3D.
A plain grey Panzer II F with the open hatch option and a PSC tank commander. I've decided 3rd company wil have plain white numbers and this is number 33.
A Panzer IV D with the very characteristic stepped hull front, short barrelled 75mm gun and the aerial deflector rod under it. A nice model with just two parts, hull and turret. Most of the stowage is moulded on already.
A fairly plain engine deck with spare wheels on either side.
Nice track droop moulded on, lovely tracks on all the models actually. The jerrycan rack is moulded on. Just number 3 on this one, and plain grey. I just couldn't bring myself to paint a Panzer IV in grey and brown. It was an absolute pig to get that balkan cross in, I had to cut it to fit around the stowage.
Yes, I did paint all the tyres on the road wheels. Although the effect is subtle, it does make a difference. At some point I'll go back and do all the desert German tanks tyres, which will be a big job.
The other one is a Panzer IV E, which shares much with the D but is more heavily armoured. You can just see the plate clumsily welded across the drivers compartment which overhangs the hull front step to protect that section too. Unfortunately the model shares a lot of elements of the Pz IV D, particularly the very distinctive jerrycan rack, so at first glance they look very similar although it does have spare track on the lower front hull.
The engine deck is very different to the D though, with air grilles instead of plain hatches. Number 12 on the turret bin, perhaps the company CO has decided to number the tanks sequentially (typically they had three platoons of four Pz IV in the medium companies, plus a platoon of Pz II).
Slightly different arrangement of vision ports on the turret but otherwise looking very similar to the D. Same problem with the cross as on the D, thanks to that little box moulded onto the hull.
Both the Pz IV were two piece prints, just the hull and turret with the tracks moulded on, which is why the drive and idler wheels are a bit more clumsy than on the Pz IIIs.
The vehicle on the left is what they are replacing, my old Peter Pig Panzer IVs, which I think is an F1 looking at the exhaust. A perfectly decent model and fine size-wise, just a bit crude compared to newer ones.
Good looking replacements. What becomes of your armor removed from service?
ReplyDeleteWell, I had planned on donating it or selling them, but at the moment it is just sitting in a different storage box. I've realised that my Bergepanzer III 'turret' will only fit the PP hulls, so I'll have to hang onto one of them unless I heavily re engineer it.
DeleteNice! Yes, the Peter Pig is an Ausf F, the two part turret side hatch is a key identifier.
ReplyDeleteNumbering was normally Company digit, platoon digit and vehicle within platoon. While there is variation, generally the digits were ignored from the front, so “3” is the third tank in it’s platoon, while 12 is the second tank in first platoon.
Thanks, I thought it was an F. There are so many variations on the 'standard' numbering scheme that I allow myself considerable latitude, partly determined by what is on my decal sheets.
DeleteHi Martin,
ReplyDeleteSplendid additions to the motor pool! Battlefield 3D have done a cracking job with those sculpts—the track droop and moulded stowage look superb, especially with the effort you put into hand-painting those road wheel tyres. A very fine replacement force for early war operations.
Cheers, Andy
Thank you, the tracks are one of the best things about more modern models. PSC had some lovely tracks too. Wrt the rubber tyres, I splash the paint around a bit, then drybrush the front face of the wheel with the base colour which hides the splashes.
DeleteNice replacements. Painting rubber tank road wheels is a pain!
ReplyDeleteNeil
Thank you and yes. I'm not looking forward to doing all the DAK tanks, but it needs to be done.
DeleteThe PzIVD’s are very nice. Good to see one with the turret bin which were retro fitted for Barbarossa. If you are not too fussed they D can soldier on into 1942, although I suspect there were very few left by then.
ReplyDeleteI would have liked the option for a binless D, but this one is fine.
DeleteYes I see the binless D is only listed for 1/72 and up. Maybe ask if he can try a print in 1/100 or modify the one with the bin.
DeleteI presume the Piggy tank is metal and so there is quite a difference in heft. Thank goodness for 'panzer grey' what a sensible colour for the wargamer compared to all of that camo :-)
ReplyDeleteFor road wheels, my last attempt was with thinned paint and a wet brush and that seemed easier to apply and looked a bit more worn.
Yes, the metal one are very solid. Back in the days when metal was cheap and tanks weren't hollow! I usually go with thinned paint too so it looks more like dark grey rubber and the undercoat showing through gives a highlight.
DeleteThey are the business!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes, James
Thank you. I just need to write a scenario to use them now!
Delete