Small Scale Military Headquarters

Been looking at the Pz IV Js and two keep coming up.

one is reported to look like this:


which looks great...but might be a repainted 1/32 to show what the 1/72 could have been...If this is a real 1/72 offering by FOV who is a trust worth vendor to buy it from and not end up with the crap verison that is shown below.

then this badly tooled one also comes up(more than the good looking example/photo than not)


No weathering, bad panel gaps on the front armour, the skirt brackets are horrid, it's just a subpar tooling esp if the top model exist.

Sometimes I wondered if FOV 1/32 scale AFVs and 1/72 scale AFVs are made by a different companies. Even with too much painting, I still love all 1/32 FOV AFVs. However, regarding 1/72 FOV AFVs, not so much. I will just list the following complains:

A. Details are not crisp compare to Dragon Armors and Hobby Master. Yes. FOV armors are cheaper than other companies. But, these days, if you shop around, you can find cheaper Dragon Armor tanks.

B. Rolling track/wheels. I suppose it can be an advantage. But, because they have to use rubber/soft plastic for rolling track, it ruins the look-and-feel of tanks. The track looks like a rubber instead of heavy metal track.

C. Rubber track again. I certainly do not play with tanks. For no apparent reasons, many of my 1/72 FOV tanks track broke. Maybe it dried out. It certainly is annoying.

The only time I would buy 1/72 FOV AFVs would be when they are on “fire sale.” Otherwise I would stick with Dragon Armors and Hobby Master.

tparkhere wrote:Sometimes I wondered if FOV 1/32 scale AFVs and 1/72 scale AFVs are made by a different companies. Even with too much painting, I still love all 1/32 FOV AFVs. However, regarding 1/72 FOV AFVs, not so much. I will just list the following complains:

A. Details are not crisp compare to Dragon Armors and Hobby Master. Yes. FOV armors are cheaper than other companies. But, these days, if you shop around, you can find cheaper Dragon Armor tanks.

B. Rolling track/wheels. I suppose it can be an advantage. But, because they have to use rubber/soft plastic for rolling track, it ruins the look-and-feel of tanks. The track looks like a rubber instead of heavy metal track.

C. Rubber track again. I certainly do not play with tanks. For no apparent reasons, many of my 1/72 FOV tanks track broke. Maybe it dried out. It certainly is annoying.

The only time I would buy 1/72 FOV AFVs would be when they are on “fire sale.” Otherwise I would stick with Dragon Armors and Hobby Master.

vinyl and rubber "band" tracks break all the time, even with 1/35 model kits, that's why I switched to using Fruilmodel white metal tracks, which are individual links held together with .20 gauge steel pins I make. plus the weight of the metal gives the model the right look and sag IMO.

Rubber/Vinyl tires have the same issue, plus vinyl has issues with alot of glues and paints.

The one posted image with the dark wheels appears to be photo shopped. Also, if I recall correctly, 21st also made the exact same paint scheme in the 1/18 line and the top photo almost appears to be that model rather than the 1/32 version. Perhaps that accounts for the better visual appearance.

I found that the 21st PZKW IVs needed a bit more detail like the bar across the spare track on the front of the hull. Most all their model tanks seemed a little "flat" looking, making them great subjects to do weathering upon.

The over all appearance of the models were also enhanced by giving them a wash or thinned down black paint. I use a Floquil Black thinned to a watery consistency and applied with a larger soft brush. Some light dry brushing with a mud color helps bring out the details.

The 21st tracks always seem to hold up for me. Many of the PZKW IVs came with the same tracks they used on the US M41 Bulldog tank. I swapped the US tracks with some older models with german tracks from my son`s collection( as he played with them and ran them into the ground anyway) but I never tried the metal tracks. They sound like an interesting idea.

I have more problems with FOV tracks on my Stuarts breaking for no reason other than possible O-zone deteriorization. I have the 21st 1/48 tanks to and the tracks simply fall apart with age. They messed up on that plastic batch formula or something with those tanks

TJ

well I'm hoping for a bit of ebay luck with this one.



least I can make a proper 130.Panzer Lehr Rgt, Pz IV out it, with a little work(adding Zimmert)

Nice. I just took a quick look at Squadron`s site and they still list Revell 1/72 tanks, all except the one you are looking to get...

TJ

yea both the ausf.H and ausf.J Revell made are OOP.

They trade hands on the secondary market..20-40 normally..which Europe(Germany) being the country you can find them easiest.

I'd like the ausf.J(since I wouldn't have it Zimm it for Post Aug.44/Early Sept.44)

but some putty and a Xacto saw might work for 1/72 patterns.

kriegslok wrote:Nice. I just took a quick look at Squadron`s site and they still list Revell 1/72 tanks, all except the one you are looking to get...

TJ

The Revell Panthers are some of the best on the market, with details you don't get with other companies, like on the Pz V G, all the hatches can be model open or closed.

I just go the new Revell Sdkfz.251/9 ausf.C, the low profile short 75 on the 251 half track, to do a Panzer Lehr model(from Panzers in the Bocage decals by Bison) and it's looks to be a super kit from just opening the box and inspecting the sprues.

I have not done too much in 1/72. I have built a few models for various displays. I did a Revell Panther as a load for my FOV HO tank transporter. Nice kit, I agree. I have some old Airfix HO vehicles that have to be some of the worst kits I have ever made. Their casting wasnt too good back then.

Most of my small stuff is 1/87 since I use it on HO military railroad models. I have a train of 35 or so flat cars with 60 M4 Shermans and support vehicles. Took a lot of Roco and their sucessor company, Herpa to amass and detail enough tanks for the train. I have to get it on my friends layout to get some decent pictures of it...

TJ

ended up winning the Revell ausf.H for 17.70 shipped on eBay.

When it rains it pours it seems.

Got the Pz IV H kit on Ebay for 17.
then I got from a Missing Lynx member/producer of 1/48 custom conversions. A Revell Pz IV J, A Dragon Hornet/Rhino TD, a Old Esci Pz IV and a bunch of Hasegawa spares/unused parts for 26.00 shipped.

The ausf.J and Nashorn(which is going to be redone as a Hummel Ammo Carrier w/o a gun) is worth that price all..the other stuff is just sprinkles for the sundae.

http://www.tots48.net/ForSale.html

Bob's going out of 1/72 scale sale.

plus he's selling this stuff for 1/48 scale

1/48 Scale Iron Division Prototypes Up for Grabs!!!
Unfortunately I'm running out of space in our small home and need room for new projects. I have a few of the original Iron Division prototype built models that I'm selling off. These are the ones many of you saw in the old product listings and they're going cheap! Some of the ones going are:

M4A1 (Hobby Boss base) with the early T-23 Turret
M4 Composite (Tamiya Base) with the 75mm High Bustle Turret
M4 DV with early turret
M4A1 Small Hatch with modified low-bustle turret (I think, gotta check)
Mercedes Benz 3000S Cargo
Mercedes Benz 3000S Radio Truck

There are some good deals on 1/72 stuff in there..all items are shipped via USPS Priority.