PzKpfw IV Ausf. G Apr-May 1943 Production

[Mannet]

Hi,
I need help - I stocked with dragon 6894 kit- there are in painting guide options for Vomag and Krupp assembled vehicles, but there is no difference noticed in instruction… which features are for Vomag and which for Krupp?
here is link for scalemates instruction of this kit:
https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/5/3/5/1482535-44-instructions.pdf

[Paska]

Since the book that covers this exact topic spans 102 pages, the answer to your question is probably beyond the scope of this forum, unless someone possesses this book;

https://www.blurb.com/b/5689172-pzkpfw-iv-at-the-front-update-no3-factory-producti

[ayovtshev]

Hi Manet,

From what I see, the kit supplies you only Krupp Schuerzen.
If you want to model a Vomag vehicle from this period, you should remove the middle bolt on the front row of each side.

Back row of bolts is OK for both manufacturers.

Further:

• it seems you have both the bent down aerial deflector and the straight one(parts N14 and E10). Use the one that is bent downwards and attaches to the lower part of the gun shield- it corresponds to what both Vomag and Krupp used in this time period.If you want to go deeper in detail- Vomag’s bent aerial deflector lacked the infill at the bend and the bolts, while Krupp’s deflector had them.The straight aerial deflector is Ni-werk feature.

• forward part of turret Schuerzen, check whether the long kink is represented as simply bent(Krupp)
  

  

or welded(Vomag):

The long kink is this one

You can always rework what is given if it doesn’t suit you.

• Hatch of commander cupola opens to the right(Krupp),but on some Vomag vehicles produced in this period it opens to the rear.Still this is a vague feature as removing and inserting again some bolts allowed the TC to fix the hatch opening position in whatever direction he finds best.

• Tracks: hollow guide tracks- as given in the kit- are only used by Krupp in this period, Vomag and Ni-werke use solid guide tracks
  (except for the few tracklinks on the glacis spare, where a hollow guide tracklink is needed to accomodate the T-fixing for the track run).

• Regardless Krupp or Vomag you will need the smoke grenades on turret sides for said period.

• Vomag often had 2 Bosch lamps(one on each fender) in this period, while Krupp used only one(LHS fender),

• Vomag exhaust- if you plan to build a Vomag, you need to replicate the horizontal weld on the visible rear part of the exhaust.It is a Vomag only feature:
  

  

• Spare wheels bin: part C1 is Krupp’s spare wheel bin.
  In this period Vomag already used a bin with another shape and a retainer bar for the stored wheels(look at the picture above).
  Krupp’s design had triangular sides and no retainer bar, thus one often sees on Krupp vehicles tow ropes run between spare wheels inner and outer wheel to keep the later in the bin on a bumpy road.
  Vomag’s bin solved this issue, it was implemented by Ni-werke and eventualy by Krupp too(but not before June 1943 as this picture of a freshly delivered Bulgarian Krupp shows):
  

  

• 20 t. jack- part J7 represent the reinforced jack foot as used by Krupp.Vomag and Ni-Werke used a non reinforced jack foot on their vehicles:
  

  

• With regard to additional armor:
  You have all parts to build whatever combination you feel like(welded armor-parts E1,2,4; bolted armor- parts N9,10,11).
  Some superstructure’s additional armor has cutouts for a gunsight, that was not used anymore in said period(part E2), but stocks of it lasted long enough such plates to be used by Krupp in the second half of May 1943 (although the plate was bolted, not welded).
  Vomag also used both cutout and non-cutout additional superstructure plates in April and May, but their cutout additional superstucture armor was always welded.It seems- unlike Krupp- their armor supplier(s) lacked the equipment to drill bolt holes in hardened steel.

• Gun recuperator housing(parts N14, B40) Krupp chamfered the angles of the recuperator box:
  

  

while Vomag didn’t

There are some other subtle differences too-Bosch lamp cable positioning to name one- but these are not provided as parts in the kit and are only important for a Pz.IV freaks like me.

Anyway, if you are interrested in the factory differencies in Pz.IV production, I can only recommend you the excellent
“PzKpfw IV at the front” books by Craig Ellis

Member Profile: Craig Ellis | Blurb Books UK

April/May 1943 period is covered in UpdateNo 3

PzKpfw IV at the front: UPDATE No3 - factory production guide (G) by from the...

HTH!
Cheers,
Angel