Trumpeter Geschutzwagen IVb *COMPLETED* 07-21-08

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Started in on my latest, the Geschutzwagen IVb from Trumpeter.

Work started with this kit where it normally does, with Step 1, however this kit’s Step 1 doesn’t start with the usual road wheels, sprockets, idlers, etc. but rather jumps right in on the lower hull. There are several sub-assembly steps that need to be done as part of this step. The bump stops need to be constructed from 2 separate parts as one sub-assembly and the front tow pintles are a 3 part sub-assembly as well.

The suspension elements come next and are 5 part assemblies for each one. The instructions spread this over both Steps 1 and 2, with Step 1 dealing with the left side and Step 2 with the right side. I went ahead and built the assemblies for both sides at the same time. I didn’t realize until after I’d built all 6 though that I’d made a big error.

The error was caused by the instructions. The parts call-out for the base of each suspension element that attaches to the hull in the pictures is the “standard” square type for the Pz IV but the parts number is for B17, which is the semi-circular type that’s right for the Geschutzwagen IVb. I trusted the picture over the parts number and dutifully assembled everything with the standard square part…not realizing that in the same step diagram that shows them attaching to the hull, that the right semi-circular parts are shown there.

This meant tearing apart the previous assembly in a careful way as the circular end caps were still needed. This required some careful use of liquid glue and tweezers to deconstruct them and reassemble them with the correct semi-circular backings. As a side note, the “standard” assembly would’ve allowed the suspension to articulate but the semi-circular design is rigid with no movement. Too bad as the articulation was a neat feature that should have been carried over but wasn’t.

Step 1 and 2 also install the four walls and flooring for the fighting compartment. I installed all of these parts together at the same time to get everything lined up properly and insure a square fit. The wood lattice piece for the front of the compartment fits into two grooves molded into the hull tub for a nice tight fit, a nice touch to keep everything aligned IMHO.

To round out Step 2, I installed all the suspension elements to both sides and assembled and installed the idler mounts as well. The final drive housings and sprocket mount arms were also installed with each final drive getting its 5 added bolts as individual parts. These come molded on a bar, B18, and I used a strip of blue painters tape and a #11 blade to carefully remove each bolt head which was then glued in place with a touch of liquid glue.

While only 2 steps completed today, they still covered a lot of ground.

2

Bill is back in the game! That didn’t take long. This should be very interesting since it’s a rare subject and a Trumpy kit no less. I hope for you that Dragon’s new offering doesn’t best all your hard work.

3

Thanks Tigerman, I have the pleasure of building this one since it was provided to Armorama as a review sample. I’ve done the In-Box Review already, now have to build it up to evaluate the fit/molding. No telling on when the DML kit will come out in terms of release date, but the Trumpy kit already has some issues regarding accuracy that the DML kit will not likely repeat.

4

WOW, I didn’t even know this was coming out!

I’ll definitely be interested in this one! I’ll be picking it up as soon as it’s available from DML!

5

This is a cool one right here i was checking it out the other day thinking of getting one it looks like a baby dicker max heh at first i thought i was looking at a pzIII chassis until i read on and saw it was a shortened IV, i will be following with interest Bill [:)]

6

GREAT! Finally an armor related thread!

I looked for this at my Local Hobby Store yesterday while they were having a ‘tax free’ sale, but it wasn’t there yet. I’ll have to order it online.

Looks good so far Bill!

7

Cool subject Bill, was it used in the same role as a stug pretty much?

8

Doog,

It’s one of the “stealth” releases by Trumpeter that was announced some time back, I believe at the Nuremberg Toy Fair. No telling when DML’s will come out but it’s got box art and a kit #, so likely in the next couple of months.

Ron,

It’s got a lot of commonalities with the Dicker Max and was part of the same development program for self-propelled artillery. The dimensions on the hull in terms of length are the same as on a Pz I believe it or not! When I first pulled the hull out of the box my reaction was “it’s tiny!”. [(-D] It had a lot of modifications done to the Pz IV hull in addition to being shortened, it had modified suspension, a different engine, and rearranged the driver’s compartment a bit as well.

Panther,

I received it as a review sample direct from Stevens International, the distributor for Trumpeter in the US, so that means it should be going out to the LHS supply chain already. Shouldn’t be long, provided your LHS stocks Trumpeter releases, before it’s on the shelves.

Specter,

The intended role was as a self-propelled artillery platform for the leFH 18/1 10.cm howitzer as opposed to an assault gun. It was much more thinly armored as a result and had the open top turret. The maximum armor was only 20mm, enough to stop small arms or light MG fire but not much else. Ultimately the design was abandoned in favor of the simpler and easier to produce Wespe.

9

Back in the game? Did I miss something? I didn’t know you were out![%-)]

Good looking progress Bill.

Curious about the Trumpeter kits. So far I have only built DML kits and working on my 1st Tamiya. I know what to expect with a trump a/c kit. Deep heavy rivets, curved piano hinges, as found on the 1/24 Fw190D-9 I built. And totally fictitious detailing in a couple of spots, most notably the ribs inside the LG door. It’s like they never bothered to look at a real bird. How are Trump armor kits compared top the rest f the field?

10

Nice! it’s great to see more of your work ceep us updated!

[:)]

11

WN, I think tigerman’s just commenting on the fact that I had a brief hiatus with the Jagdtiger build a couple of weeks back. I usually work on the weekends and as soon as one build finishes I always start another. [;)]

As far as Trumpeter armor kits go, they can be hit-or-miss. Their KV-1 and KV-2, K5(E) Leopold, and the BR52 locomotive are considered to be their best kits, followed by their Sturer Emil while the rest fall along the spectrum of decent to bad depending on age of the kit and the vehicle in question. They don’t use as much slide-mold technology as DML for example so their level of detail is often not as high all things being equal. DML seems to be deliberately going head-to-head with them on all their subjects, probably because they are both Chinese companies and direct competitors.

Stick Man, thanks for the comments, more updates to come late today. [;)]

12

Work continued on today with Step 3 which deals with the road wheels, sprockets, idlers, and return rollers. The sprockets and idlers went together without any major issues but not so with the road wheels. The issue I encountered had to do with the holes for the mount arms. In varying degrees, the holes were not centered in the hubs, the worst example is what you see below. Not all were this bad but most of them were slightly off center. Fortunately there’s a couple of extras since the full road wheel set isn’t used and the worst two I set off to the side, like the one below, for use on the spare wheels that mount to the rear of the hull since the problem won’t matter there.

I made the corrections as best I could using a circular needle file to get the holes as centered as possible, enlarging them a bit in the process. This produces some “play” when they were test-fit on the suspension arms so I will have to be very careful when it comes time to install them that they all sit level. The hub caps were installed as well to round out the step.

Step 4 calls for the construction and installation of the ammo racks and charge boxes. These go together smoothly but the installation of the racks is a bit vague. There are locater holes provided for the charge boxes and judging from later installation diagrams and the pic on the side of the box top, the ammo racks need to sit flush up against the hull sides, so they were installed accordingly. This step also calls for the installation of the running gear but I left that off for now, only installing the return roller hubs.

Steps 5 and 6 deal with the track construction and installation, that will come later so these were skipped for now. Step 7 adds the brake hatches and the transmission access panel as well as the front Notek light to the glacis. The slot for the post and base of the Notek light is too small and as I was test fitting it using a pair of tweezers, I suffered a freakish accident where the post had just enough tension on it that it catapulted into oblivion. I heard it land somewhere on my paint and tool shelf but 30 minutes of fruitless searching turned up nothing, so I instead went to the spares bin and scrounged a PE base and a post from an old Pz I build and pressed them into service. The glacis was then installed to the front of the hull where the fit was quite good, only a little finger pressure needed at the front to get a solid join all around.

Next up is the upper hull assembly and installation, based on what I’ve seen so far I think I may go ahead and install that before painting the interior since everything will remain fairly accessible and I can get a solid join on all mating surfaces before painting.

13

Can’t wait to see this one when I get back, Bill!

Make sure you PM me when it’s done and send me the link, cuz it’ll probably be buried by the time I return!

Looks great so far! I want one for sure!!!

14

Thanks doog, I’ll be sure to do that. Have fun and travel safe! [tup]

15

Hey Bill, great looking progress on this wierd looking swine. They sure messed with the beautifull Pz IV didnt they. Keep the progress up fella, love your stuff.

…Guy

16

That makes sense, still a cool subject

17

Thanks Guy for the comments. In terms of what they did to the Pz IV, the modifications are pretty extensive. Shortened hull, modified suspension mounts to make it lower to the ground, different engine and exhaust system, different engine deck design, modified driver’s compartment, etc. the only thing that ID’s it as having once been a Pz IV are the leaf-spring bogies! [(-D]

18

Hey Bill, even though I already know how this one’s gonna turn out,Excellent of course,I’m still looking foward to you’r play by play for this build.I’m telling ya when I pick up one of the kit’s you’ve already done I probaly won’t even use the instructions I’ll just use the WIP.As always looking foward to seeing the word “Done” in you’r post title.

19

Thanks panzerguy for the comments, glad you find the WIPs helpful. I try to write them so they help others coming after to know or avoid the potential pitfalls/fixes so they at least know what they are in for when they choose a kit. I don’t mind being the guinea pig if it helps others have a more enjoyabe build, thanks for following along. [tup]

20

Looking nice, I’ll be following this one also.