Panzer IV ausf. D – step by step

Model kit of Panzer IV ausf. D was produced by Tamiya, in 1:35 scale. The mold is made in the seventies, but I didn’t encounter many problems with assembling. The kit is containing 3 figurines, also, which is nice, it adds some life to it.

As you can observe from the pictures above, driver hatch needed some attention: a combination of Mr Surfacer 500 and Mr Dissoled Putty, then sanding. After assembling, I was experimenting with steel texture on some surfaces, like turret and hull upper plate, with a mix of Mr Surfacer 500, Mr Dissolved Putty and some drops of super-glue (cyanoacrylate glue).

It followed washing with technical alcohol, priming with AK 757 black primer and microfilter and pre-shading with Tamiya white (X2). Then painted with german gray (Dunkelgrau) RAL7021 from MIG.

After uniform painting I was applying the second color (camouflage pattern), Dunkelbraun RAL 7017, also from MIG, in 1/3 proportion, with light borders (no masking used).

Then I apply a satin varnish to prepare the model for decals.

After a second coat of matte varnish, I’m painted the remaining details, like tools, periscopes, etc. I added a few scratches with acrylic pencils from Faber Castell (mostly gray, white and black). This was followed by a third coat of varnish and the model is ready for final step: weathering.

Weathering was time consuming and produced a little discomfort for my folks (the odor of weathering products was powerful in the first day of drying), but the final result was worth it – I think. I used washes, plw’s and other weathering products from MIG and Tamiya, pigments from Mr Color and Abteilung 502.

It took me about one and a half month from start to finish, mostly in weekends and a few hours from time to time in the evening – when was possible.