Small Scale Military Headquarters

Apologies if this has been discussed, I searched around but I didn't see it mentioned.

So I picked up the XD Panzer IV Ausf. H
on ebay. This is a neat item!

I have a few questions:

1. So it didn't come with the armor skirts? Seems a bit odd, since the rigging for them is right there. I've seen one pic of it with them, but most of the pics don't have them, including pics I've seen of it packaged. Mine came packaged, but I'm wondering if this was a QC problem with some shipping with missing parts, or if maybe mine were tossed with the box materials by accident...

2. When did this come out? Was it US release, or only in Europe? I see Badcat seems to have one on the way, but I can't tell if that's an exclusive VERSION, or if the whole thing was always a limited release.

3. Isn't it just a really great tank?

One of hte many things that moved me away from the hobby was the XD line drying up. I mean, when I left a few years ago, there were pics of new marines and some BoB stuff, and now it's like three or four years later, and as best as I can tell, this stuff has only recently been hitting pegs! I never thought I'd see another tank in this line, let alone a partial die-cast one. Great, great item.

Law

Hello,

1)It did not come with the side armor plates despite the rigging is there. So is not a QC problem nor missing parts.

2)I think was late 2004 or early 2005 can't remember but certainly was either in 2004 or 2005.

3)The Panzer IV tank was the backbone of the German armor units. General Rommel can't got enough of them.

All of the above is correct - the Panzer IV was a US release and literally came out around new years day 2005.

You picked such a great time to "get out" if you are into figures and armor like I am, and even a better time to get back in. Only this year did figures really start to pump out, and this year alone we got a LOT of them. Armor, on the other hand, things still aren't very good. We expect a King Tiger from 21st in the start of 06 but other than that it looks pretty glum. I'm hoping at the least we get the S2 or S3 version of the Panzer (with skirts) in the meantime. The one with skirts you see online is the Euro exclusive - not S2 or S3 of the US version.

What I suggest you do get if you have been away for a while is the bbi Sherman - different version M4, tons of extras and an awesome tanker. Plus engine access On that note, let's hope bbi surprises us with something new that rolls....

heh,heh,heh ..

Well, we are also awaiting official word on 21st's next armor release! I can't wait to find out what tank it is!!

Remember, the schurtzen equipped MK IVs shouldn't be too much longer to show here in the US in numbers. The camo on those is insanely realisitic!

-Ski

Believe it or not ? I think it's going to be a "Tiger-II". The "new" Panzer IV w/"schurzen" should land here by next spring-06.

Hey Law:
Everything the board members told you concerning the Panzer IV is correct, to the best of my knowledge. Furthermore, I've seen pictures in books of Mark IVs driving around with just those side armor frames with no side armor hung on them. Looks ugly as hell but I guess it is accurate. So don't despair: your S1 21C Mark IV is legit! As others have said, ensuing versions will the side armor.

donnieboy wrote:Hey Law:
Everything the board members told you concerning the Panzer IV is correct, to the best of my knowledge. Furthermore, I've seen pictures in books of Mark IVs driving around with just those side armor frames with no side armor hung on them. Looks ugly as hell but I guess it is accurate. So don't despair: your S1 21C Mark IV is legit! As others have said, ensuing versions will the side armor.

You can see one in action without the schurtzen in my profile album:

http://community.webshots.com/photo/941 ... 7394bWMuPO#
http://community.webshots.com/photo/941 ... 7523RRysRC#

-Ski

I`ve always been a Big fan of the Panzer MK IV Ausf H myself & so i`m looking forward to getting some of these bad boys

As for the skirts,well they can be custom made won`t be difficult to do & also make the 3 or 5 skirt sections each side too.

So I`m looking forward to getting a few myself.

Ja
Steel Bonnet

I was toying with the idea (get it!? ahhh, ferget it) of making some skirts out of cardboard.

But the problem is, I don't think I would be able to do something with enough detail. Even if I really gave it my all, and bothered to make them in sections, I still think I'd eye the "official" skirts with envy.

AH well... it was enough to get the tank. I can live without the skirts. There's a decent amount of die-cast in this thing, and I really love the design on this one, so I'm happy. I shouldn't really be getting 1:18 anyway, I told myself I'd limit my purchases to 1:32 after FOV started showing. Too many cool items in that scale to pass up, and space (not to mention money) is limited....

Thanks for the help guys!
Law

Hey LAW,

Why not consider using Plasticard or even tin (both light & would hang right. Tin would also give you that steel effect for dents & scratch paint work.

Just a thought mate.

ja
Steel Bonnet

heh,heh,heh ..