Panzerbeobachtungswagen
IV H
Resin Conversion for Revell PzKpfw IV kit
Armo 72537
1/72
Price at purchase: 12.50 Euro
This is a true multi-media kit: it includes resin parts, photo etched
brass, turned brass and turned aluminium, all packed in a cardboard
box and complete with a nice instruction sheet with pictures (in black
and white) of the completed model.
But first
of all, do not be surprised. This kit does NOT represent the Panzerbeobachtungswagen
IV Ausf H, but the Ausf J. Why ? Because, it does not have the muffler
for the auxiliary engine on the back (the transverse mechanism for
the turret of the Ausf J was by hand, while in the H it was powered).
So what do we get ?
1. Resin
parts for
- hull (basically everything except the bottom plate). The upper hull
was badly warped in my specimen, but Armo actually tells you in the
manual that this is to be expected and how it is to be solved. Still,
I am not sure whether it will work out for this large piece. These
(and most other) parts are copies of the corresponding Revell parts
(with some small parts already fixed to it), but with a very fine
Zimmeritt pattern added to it (see pictures). It also has the housing
for the additional antenna on the right of the rear plate. Strangely
enough, the bogies on the port side are all tilted, as if the tank
was driving on a washboard. The starboard side has the axles on the
same level.
- Rear fenders with Zimmeritt.
- Turret. This is a one piece casting, apart from the mantlet. It
also has Zimmeritt applied to it, and the necessary modifications
to the roof for a Beob.Wg. All hatches are moulded closed. The small
rod is supposed to represent the observation periscope.
- Mantlet and gun housing with Zimmeritt.
- Some small parts that I haven’t been able to place yet.
2. Etched
parts for
- small fittings
- turret Schürzen with attachment, but not for the hull.
- A very complex subassembly for the distance indicator (backlight)
No pieces are provided for a star antenna.
3. Turned brass for the return rollers. Very, very nice
4. A
turned aluminium barrel, unfortunately without muzzle brake.
Because the main identification feature that allows you to tell the
Beob.Wg. apart from the PzKpfw is the StuG copula used on the former,
and this is fixed to the turret, which has Zimmeritt applied to it,
you are basically forced to build a Beob.Wg. with Zimmeritt, which
was only carried until September 1944.
Also, if you want to add Schürzen to the hull, for instance the
aesthetically pleasing Gittenschürzen (Thoma Schürzen),
that were introduced in September 1944, you better get them elsewhere
(Part for instance). But you already see that the possibility of having
these two features (Zimmeritt & Thoma Schürzen) on one vehicle
would be extremely rare, if built at all.
So what
production model is it then ?
The Zimmeritt squarely puts it into the September ’43 –
September ’44 bracket. OK, I know, the Ausf J only entered production
in February ’44, but you never know you want to backdate it
to an Ausf H. In that case, take into account that a single prototype
of the Pz.Beob.Wg. IV was built in January 1944, and it only entered
series production in April 1944, when the Ausf J was already installed
on the production lines. Now, a number of overhauled Panzer IV’s
were rebuilt as Beob.Wg. so it is possible.
It still has the old style of side armor plate, without the tow eyes
in the extended sides, and four return rollers which makes it a pre-October
1944 model. (The four return rollers make it a pre-December 1944 model
anyway.)
The turret has Pilzen for the jib crane. These were introduced in
June ’44, but were also retrofitted.
You are going to use the welded idler of the Revell kit, which was
partially replaced by the cast idler in October 1942, and the horizontal
muffler which was also partially replaced with the vertical Flammentöter
exhausts in August 1944.
It has no pistol ports or vision ports in the turret doors, and the
vertical rectangular filler cap for the radiator (on the engine deck),
so it should be post April ’44.
So, taking
into account regulatory retrofits and partial implementation of some
modifications, but not the possible field modifications or use of
old stock, the model should make for an Ausf J produced between April
and September 1944. If you believe the Pilzen were factory installed
that narrows your time slot to June-September 1944, and so on.
Conclusion
The real strength of this kit does not lie in the resin parts, how
nice they might be (although they avoid the tedious Zimmeritting work),
but in the photo-etch and turned pieces. If you look at the price,
those pieces alone would set you back for the same amount. Still,
it’s a pity you don’t get a muzzle brake.
Apart from that, you can always just steal a StuG III copula somewhere
and do the Zimmeritt yourself. The complete StuG III from Revell is
cheaper than this kit, for instance, and with most conversions for
the StuG that are on the market, you would have an extra copula anyway.
That copula, the extra antenna mount and the periscope are basically
all you need if you want to build the Beob.Wg without Zimmeritt.
So, in closing, if you need a Zimmeritted Beobachtungswagen, and you
are lazy, go for this conversion. If not, it’s easy enough for
a DIY job.
References
PzKpfw
IV, Osprey, New Vanguard 28
PzKpfw IV Ausf G,H & J, Osprey, NewVanguard 39
Panzerkampfwagen IV, Panzer Tracts No 4
Panzer IV SdKfz 161 Vol 1, Kagero, Photosniper 16
Panzerkampfwagen IV, Dainippon Kaiga, Achtung Panzer 3
Der Panzerkampfwagen IV und seine Abarten, Motorbuch Verlag, Militährfahrzeuge
5
Rob Haelterman
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