Death of my jagdpanzer IV (Rated R - it's not pretty)
December 18 2007 at 11:33 PM
Greg Hessig (no login) from IP address 69.228.222.255
Here are my results of the Bandai jagdpanzer IV Faxon conversion effort. First, I removed the .015 strip from the front and replaced it with a .010 strip so the front hull angle didn't cover the transmission hatches, and it was looking good enough(should've stopped here). Instead, I used the superglue remover (which dissolves some of the resin & made a mess) and took off the top superstructure (also part of a fender in the process). Trying to saw the sides on an angled hull was a nightmare with my primitive handsaw and no vice. Death soon followed. It appears the rear engine deck would have been to high compared to the top superstructure even if I had cut it straight on both sides. Money was superglued in the back as a counterweight to the heavy resin front. Just my experiences if anyone is planning this one in the future.
You win some, you lose some.
email me your address and I have 4 extra roadwheels and 2 guidewheels I didn't use. I can fit them in an envelop and mail them to you. I can still save the lower hull and fix that fender. I'll ask Steve Faxon if he has another top superstructure leftover. I think if there is no sawing and instead adding the plastic strip it will work. I was also thinking adding Zimmerit and mud would cover up all blemishes.
GregandLeap@sbcglobal.net
My loss record exceeds my win record over the last two years. I guess it is because I have been trying some semi-crazy conversions and I have had some bad luck like you. The good thing is I haven't run out of ideas yet.
If you replace the missing fender piece with appropriate thickness styrene sheet and then mount (what's left) of the superstructure in the correct position fore and aft, port and starbord, up an down ith some plastic tabs, you c-o-u-l-d go back and fill all the resulting gaps with a large and creative dose of Milliput. Just trowel it flat to match the angle of the plates, sand lightly after it dries and add back the texture with a little Mr. Surfacer. Weld lines can be impressed as it dries
Now that would be a modeling fish story
Konrad
PS -
Panzer Tracts has a book with 3-view plans of this vehicle that might help in positioning the superstructure.
Thierry Draye built one and sent in a few in progress shots that might help with the next attempt. Send me the address info and I can get started on sending you a replacement part.
Thanks Steve for getting back to me so quickly and helping out again. The one glitch I was trying to work out is the front hull should not look like a straight line across, but the front superstructure rather dips down along the contours of the fenders as seen in this pic below. Miliput and styrene fixes sounds great. I have that. Thanks for attending the funeral everyone, BUT
soon I will bring this monster back ALIVE!!!!ho-ho-ho ho
One more thought... First, Maybe cutting off the fenders at the engine section. Then, let the top superstructure sit down lower to touch the front resin hull. Lastly, attach the front fenders coming off the top superstructure (raised up slightly).
The gun manlet would match in the right place that way, but Would the fenders then match in line enough along the side between front and rear of the superstructure? (see pic, or crime scene chalked body)
3 more pics for discussion. (Side-View)After cutting away mid fender, Maybe glue a styrene strip along bottom side of the superstructure to make it look like a continuous fender?
