Step by step: Converting a Pz Kpfw IV Ausf. C

This article shows how I have converted a 1:76 scale Airfix Pz Kpfw IV Ausf. F model into an early war Pz Kpfw Ausf. C.

There is a lack of early war plastic tank model kits. Most manufacturers focus on later war and the more famous tanks. I wanted an early Pz Kpfw IV, and did not want to splash out on a resin kit.

I did some research and decided that the stepped back hull of the Ausf. D was too much effort for a wargaming model. So I decided to tackle the Ausf. C instead. This model is meant for wargaming, so a minimal effort was put in for the modifications.

Here is the scale drawing of the Pz Kpfw IV Ausf. C which I stole from http://kubinka.ru/

Radio-man vision and pistol ports

The Pz Kpfw IV Ausf C has vision and pistol ports instead of a hull MG.

I filled up the hole meant for attaching the hull MG with Epoxy Putty. I later made a simple vision port with 0.5mm plasticard. I scored a line on the surface to represent the vision slit. The pistol port was made with a bit of copper wire.

Raising access hatches

The early Pz Kpfw IV models had raised hatches to access the steering brakes. Later models were flushed with the armour plate.

I used 0.3mm plasticard to raise the hatches and copper wire to make the ventilation ports. The hinges are wrong though, they should be in a different shape but that would take too much time to fabricate.

Removal of aerial deflector

The Airfix model moulded a bracket for the aerial deflector onto the 75mm KwK37 L/24 gun. Strangely, it does not include the aerial deflector itself.

I decided to remove the bracket and file the barrel down.

Removal of chimney

The Pz Kpfw Ausf. C did not have a ventilation chimney so it was a simple process of cutting it off.

I had to fabricate the hatches with plasticard and make the hinges with a bit of 0.5mm brass wire.

Removal of wheel rack

I have not seen a photograph of an Ausf. C with a spare road wheel rack, so I decided to leave it off.

That left two fitting holes to cover. I cut two lengths of 0.8mm brass wire to cover the holes and act as tools.

Removal of stowage bin

Stowage bins was more common later in the war, so I decided to leave off the stowage bin.

It left the fitting hole to cover up. I used a bit of Epoxy Putty to cover it up.

Removal of the ventilation grills

This is the hardest part of the conversion process. The Airfix Ausf. F model comes moulded with the engine deck ventilation grills.

This involved cutting them off with a sharp scalpel, and later sanding the surface flat. I had to refabricate some details that was accidentally removed.

If you botch up this process, fear not. All you need to do is to drape an aerial recognition flag or pile stowage over the engine deck.

As mentioned previously, this conversion is meant for wargaming, so only the most obvious cosmetic changes have been made.

The Ausf.C had its 75mm KwK37 L/24 gun in an internal mantlet. It would be too much work to fabricate an internal mantlet but I might try to paint a dark shadow around the gun to simulate it.

The commander's cupola of the Ausf.F looks similar enough to the Ausf.C for me to bother doing any modifications.

Another change I decided not to do is to replace the tubular spokes of the idlers with flat spokes.

Here is the end result. You can see pictures of the painted vehicles here.

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Step by step: Converting a Pz Kpfw IV Ausf. C

Radio-man vision and pistol ports

Raising access hatches

Removal of aerial deflector

Removal of chimney

Removal of wheel rack

Removal of stowage bin

Removal of the ventilation grills

	Radio-man vision and pistol ports The Pz Kpfw IV Ausf C has vision and pistol ports instead of a hull MG. I filled up the hole meant for attaching the hull MG with Epoxy Putty. I later made a simple vision port with 0.5mm plasticard. I scored a line on the surface to represent the vision slit. The pistol port was made with a bit of copper wire.
	Raising access hatches The early Pz Kpfw IV models had raised hatches to access the steering brakes. Later models were flushed with the armour plate. I used 0.3mm plasticard to raise the hatches and copper wire to make the ventilation ports. The hinges are wrong though, they should be in a different shape but that would take too much time to fabricate.
	Removal of aerial deflector The Airfix model moulded a bracket for the aerial deflector onto the 75mm KwK37 L/24 gun. Strangely, it does not include the aerial deflector itself. I decided to remove the bracket and file the barrel down.
	Removal of chimney The Pz Kpfw Ausf. C did not have a ventilation chimney so it was a simple process of cutting it off. I had to fabricate the hatches with plasticard and make the hinges with a bit of 0.5mm brass wire.
	Removal of wheel rack I have not seen a photograph of an Ausf. C with a spare road wheel rack, so I decided to leave it off. That left two fitting holes to cover. I cut two lengths of 0.8mm brass wire to cover the holes and act as tools.
	Removal of stowage bin Stowage bins was more common later in the war, so I decided to leave off the stowage bin. It left the fitting hole to cover up. I used a bit of Epoxy Putty to cover it up.
	Removal of the ventilation grills This is the hardest part of the conversion process. The Airfix Ausf. F model comes moulded with the engine deck ventilation grills. This involved cutting them off with a sharp scalpel, and later sanding the surface flat. I had to refabricate some details that was accidentally removed. If you botch up this process, fear not. All you need to do is to drape an aerial recognition flag or pile stowage over the engine deck.