Panzer IVd Diorama

[RCPlym]

I haven't done much in the way of armoured things, but I'm seeing some pretty inspirational work here. 👍👍👍 

 

[Gazzas]

Very nice looking dusty tank, Ernest!

[Madmax]

Lovely work Ernest! Cool oil paint technique - has a certain Rinaldi touch... 👨‍🎨

[Greif8]

23 hours ago, Jim Barry said:

Love seeing a pedestrian model/subject work so well. 

 

14 hours ago, Martinnfb said:

You have a unique touch Ernest.  Of someone who can relate to the real aspects of machinery of this kind. The weathering is spot on. 
 

Cheers

 

Martin

 

14 hours ago, RCPlym said:

I haven't done much in the way of armoured things, but I'm seeing some pretty inspirational work here. 👍👍👍 

 

 

13 hours ago, Gazzas said:

Very nice looking dusty tank, Ernest!

 

3 hours ago, Madmax said:

Lovely work Ernest! Cool oil paint technique - has a certain Rinaldi touch... 👨‍🎨

 

Thank you gentlemen!

 

Jim - I am doing my best to do the subject justice.  My figure painting is going to get a work out on this build as it will have more figures then I normally do for a build.

 

Martin - I knew all those hours spent on the wash rack would come in useful someday! 😄 I did become very conversant in "dust" and "mud" during my career and now I can actually use the knowledge and experience on a project to weather it accurately.

 

RC - thank you again!  I am trying a couple of new (for me) techniques on this build and always wonder if I am really getting it right.  So it is nice to hear that I am doing something right.

 

Gary - more dust will be coming before this bad boy is finished!  Your comment about living out of the back of a 5 Ton during Desert Shield/Storm reminded me of the old joke about 5 Ton math.  When going to the field a 5 Ton can transport 16 fully equipped soldiers, but when returning from the field about half the company can be transported at one time!

 

Max - Rinaldi's OPR technique is the base for what I have done/am doing on this build.  I am going about it slightly different the he does but it gives nearly the same effects.  I do like how it breaks up a monotone paint job.

 

Ernest

[Greif8]

I added the markings, such as they are, weathered and installed the exhaust and weathered the hatches, but have not yet installed the cupola ones.

 

I decided to represent a Panzer IV belonging to 4th Kompanie, 2nd Panzerregiment, 1st Panzerdivision.  Initially I thought figuring out the correct markings would be no big challenge, little did I know!  After much reading and looking thorugh photos of tanks during Fall Gelb I think I have gotten it right; however, there is room to critique my conclusions as to what constitutes correct markings for this unit.  Second regiment had both small and medium sized numbers in the positions on the turret that you see on my build.  The white dot identifies 2nd regiment from 1st regiment.  I did not have any white numbers the correct size in my collection of armor decals, but I do have quite a few HGW wet transfer decals to mark DB601/605 engine blocks and used those.  The film is still in place, and will remain so over night so that I have the best chance not to pull up any of the numbers.  You can also see the subtle OPR work I did on the turret hatch.

 

Closeup of the radio operator/hull machinegunner's position and hatch.

 

Shot taken further away showing the OPR work on the forward section of the hull and hatches.

 

The exhaust, which I am not entirely satisfied with.  I will probably tone down/remove some of the dry powder rust effect to bring out more depth on the overall exhaust.

 

Close up of the exhaust system.  I have removed some of the surface rust to expose more of the other rust effects on the smaller exhaust section.  This is much closer to the look I am after here.

 

Ernest

[LSP_Ray]

Looking great! I also use some of Rinaldi's methods.

[Gazzas]

Hi Ernest,

    Your painting looks great.  I really love how the vision block differs from the painted areas around it on that side hatch.

 

Re:  the muffler...

     If you want to upset the modelling gods, you can reference some of these purportedly original color photos I've had for a long while.

 

 

 

I find it's hard not to rust them up...  like it's some primeval need.

 

 

 

[Greif8]

On 5/24/2026 at 8:46 PM, LSP_Ray said:

Looking great! I also use some of Rinaldi's methods.

 

On 5/24/2026 at 9:56 PM, Gazzas said:

Hi Ernest,

    Your painting looks great.  I really love how the vision block differs from the painted areas around it on that side hatch.

 

Re:  the muffler...

     If you want to upset the modelling gods, you can reference some of these purportedly original color photos I've had for a long while.

 

 

 

I find it's hard not to rust them up...  like it's some primeval need.

 

 

 

 

Thank you Ray and Gary!

 

Ray - I like using Rinaldi's OPR technique on monotone dark colored paint jobs.  I think it adds some nice richness and contrast to the paint and if you don't go overboard you can get a pretty realistic look.

 

Gary - I hear you on the rust brother!  I am going to tone down the rust on my build's exhaust as the more I look at it the less I like it.

 

Ernest

[Greif8]

Though I have not posted an update for a few days I have been busy working on the build.  After several adjustments, I am finally finished with getting the track and suspension positioned so that I am satisfied with it.  I also spent a fair amount of time testing minor variations in the positions of the tank and building section getting them located in a way that "fits" - if that makes sense.  Below are some shots of the final results of that work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll let the track and suspension dry over night to make sure it is firm.  Then it will be time to paint the tracks and get them put on the tank.

 

Ernest 

[Gazzas]

Looking good, Ernest.  It's amazing how that dark base makes the panzer look so pale.

[Greif8]

19 hours ago, Gazzas said:

Looking good, Ernest.  It's amazing how that dark base makes the panzer look so pale.

 

Thank you Gary!  I agree abut the panzer IV looking pale on the black primed base.  It needs a blood transfusion!

 

Ernest

[Greif8]

I have been working on the tracks but am not at a stage that is worth taking photos.  I have also started painting the base and building section and did take some photos of that work.

 

The base colors laid in on the building section.  I still have a lot of paint work to do before it will be ready for prime time, but it looks a bit more like a building now.

 

 

The base is nearly finished at this point.  I like how the brickwork and sidewalk looks and think I'll call those areas good.  After painting the cobblestones three different colors for contrast and interest I decided to use actual tile grouting powder for the grouting between the cobblestones.  The texture turned out great but I will probably darken the grouting up some as I think it is slightly too light colored.  The cobblestones turned out well and the grouting makes the slight differences in the colors of some of them stand out without being too "contrasty".  The manhole cover and small grate were painted Tamiya Red Brown and then I rubbed a graphite pencil over them, blending that with a soft brush to give them a metallic sheen.

 

 

Ernest

[Gazzas]

Looking good, Ernest.  A few grey oil washes will have your cobble stones subtley assimilated and your grout brought into line as well.

[Greif8]

On 5/29/2026 at 9:36 AM, Gazzas said:

Looking good, Ernest.  A few grey oil washes will have your cobble stones subtley assimilated and your grout brought into line as well.

 

Thank you Gary!  I am in process of toning down the grouting.  I want it to still be fairly light to provide some contrast to the other colors in the diorama which are/will be pretty somber.

 

Ernest

[Greif8]

The tracks are one the Mark IV.  I had forgotten what a PITA Dragon Magic Tracks are to get positioned realistically, and I spent a lot of time fiddling around with the fit to get the look I wanted.  The tracks are about 70% weathered at this point, I still need to add pastel chalk and adjust some areas, but they look pretty close to how I want them to for the diorama. 

 

The bottom run of the tracks on both sides was glued to the road wheels after they had been locked in place with 5 minute epoxy so they were positioned correctly to allow for the curb stone.  The top runs were then put in place and glued onto the return rollers and idler wheels.  The bottom and top runs were then joined at the rear between the idler wheels and last road wheel.  Finally the pre-formed sections for the drive sprockets were placed, joined, shaped and glued - a real test of patience.

 

 

Often on armored fighting vehicles the tension on the tracks is slightly asymmetric when the are stopped/parked after a turn.  I wanted to simulate this small detail and the close ups show that the left side track is under slightly more tension then the right side, where the track is bowing a bit between the drive sprocket and forwardmost road wheel.  The photos also show the weathering at this point a little better. 

 

 

Ernest