Starting the Thread for the Panzer IV Digital Model and Interior Production Kit. This is a little history of how this started and future plans of what I am hopefully trying to achieve with all this.
This all started out as I am/was planning to do a Dio of a few Panzer IV D's that were returned to the Factory to be retrofitted/upgraded to the up-gunned version and wanted them to be completely torn down and I wasn't really to happy with any of the kits out there so I decided to do my own interior kit and one thing led to another and here I am now 8 months later with this growing into a monster.
I am doing the Computer Version as a Reference source as to hopefully update many the old 2D drawings of past and add more information that wasn't available before the internet and I have to say Spielberger's book is still pretty much right on with Doyal's drawings, for being over 30 years old.
I am Machining and scratch building a 1/35th set of masters of the interior for a company that will be selling them once we iron out the details and I actually get it done.
Right now it looks like it will be in 3 or 4 sections/kits.
Full lower hull kit for any PZ IV based vehicle.(And for those who want to use the Dragon Turret supplied parts.)
Engine compartment
Drivers compartment
Fighting Compartment and Turret. But that will be up to the manufacturer to do it how they want to produce it. (I was asked not say who it was until the masters are in hand as too many manufacturers announce were going to make such and such kit and then never transpires)
I may test the waters with Shapeways or Click2details for a 3d printed version.(But I think the prices are still a little on the high side for the average modeler but I foresee that changing in the future as materials become more mainstream and readily available)
I personally will be Machining and building a Complete 1/4 scale Museum Display Model for myself and possibly a 1/6th scale add on kit.
I'm not much of a writer but I wouldn't mind partnering with one and possibly publish a new updated book, But I think/heard "The Research Squad" is in the process of doing one based on the Wheatcroft Collection so not sure we would need another.
I am/will be working on some other Models and Kits also.
Here is a few that I have collected a huge amount of information about so far and have started putting together.
10Ton Crane. (SdKfz 9/2 (Famo) and Faun)
Strabokran 15t, 16t and various smaller Cranes
Vogele Turntable for Leopold
to name a few.
I am striving to make these models as Accurate as possible so if you see any errors please don't hesitate to show me what's wrong.
The more and more research I do the more I find out that there seems to be no standard way a component was made between various Manufactures.
All renderings will be free to Use/Share and download for Personal Use.
(For Commercial Use Please Contact me for Licensing Requirements)
Sorry.. I will not be making the actual Cad Files Available at this time.
Here A few machined test parts of the brake cover. The large one is no specific scale since it was made to fit a scrap piece of resin at 1.75"
The Cooling Intake Vents will be drilled out and I will install a PE Mesh on the final Part on the large scale model.
The small one is 1/35th the Master was CnC Machined out then Cast (Yes that is a #80 Drill bit) along with all the controls and Misc other parts to start test fitting everything together before I do the final masters.