Sturmgeschütz IV

[Eraserhead]

Hi everyone. I'm new here. :) Some AMAZING work on this site.

Here is my current project. The model is not finished, I'm adding in the details now, then I'll add weathering then textures. I only had internet photos to use as reference. I'm about to go to my local hobby shop and buy a scale model of it just to check the hard to see areas of the model.

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/3036/stugskylightwebnm3.jpg

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/1049/stugskylight2webuk8.jpg

[Caman0]

let me be the first to welcome you here :)

an enthousiast like from the model, i judge you are, is always welcome!!

only thing i can crit on, since i did the same parts myself (panzer IV), is the tracks and components. And those look really good! :) I was moan about the hanging of the track, as it does at the rear of the tank, also should apply a lil bit to the part of track, hanging from the gear wheel, down to the first roadwheels. but im not gonna say that, cos id be moaning :p

welcome :)

[Hitori Kyo]

nice model and welcome to the site, best thing to do would be to get your self a good set of blueprints as this will help with proportions and details.

- Hitori kyo

[Caman0]

i have blueprints of the model, so dont go out buying the scale model, i already did, few years back :)

want me to upload the pics for you?


gimme a shout :)

[Eraserhead]

Caman0: Thanks! I definatly fix the hanging of the tracks. I saw the panzer IV on your site, very nice work! What did you use for reference when you made that model?

Hitori Kyo: Thanks for the comments. I did use a set of blueprints for the modeling, which I found on the internet. Here is the one I used:

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/3351/17stug4jo9.th.gif (http://img406.imageshack.us/my.php?image=17stug4jo9.gif)

If anyone has any better ones I would very much appreciate if they could share them. :)

[Caman0]

for the PzKpfw IV, i got the blueprint here, there is loads more on that site :)

http://www.afvnews.ca/1-35.html

but this was a free sample :)


ill upload the stug pics later this week

[Eraserhead]

Here is an update on the tracks. Let me know if it is an improvement.

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/2118/stugskylight4webta8.jpg

[Igitur]

Very nice! But the "Schweinskopfblende" is to long.

[Eraserhead]

Very nice! But the "Schweinskopfblende" is to long.

Pardon my ignorance but what is the "Schweinskopfblende"? :confused:

[Caman0]

the shield over the main gun, where it is "connected" to the hull

[Eraserhead]

Thanks for the clarification Caman, I'll fix that component later.

Here is some detail work.

http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/8768/stugskylightdetailwebnk0.jpg

[cobra6]

Very nice and detailed work poo! Like the spring :)

Cobra 6

[Eraserhead]

Thanks cobra6! :)

Here is one more update on this section.

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1355/stugskylight5webmv1.jpg

[WonderWheeler]

Impressive and mean looking.

However, some of the misc. steel should be thinner IMHO. The Germans wouldn't have wanted to waste any material that wasn't required for protection or structure. Each leg of the steel angle supporting the triangles would not have been more than 1/2" thick, probably more like 1/4". Part of yours looks an inch thick. The two handles near the front hatch also would also be thinner.

Maybe these would be thick in a plastic model because of realities of manufacturing plastic parts. Were you looking at a picture of a plastic model?

Interesting detail of the rain diverter over the front hatch.

[Karras]

Bravo, maestro. :eek:
Great detail level.

[Eraserhead]

WonderWheeler: Thanks WW. :) You make a good point about the supports. I used actual photo reference, as models are useless for such level of detail. Do you have any close up photos of these particular components?

Karras: Thanks. :)

Here is an update:

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/9691/stugskylight6webkn6.jpg

[Skyraider3D]

That's looking superb! Real nice details. And welcome to MilMesh! :)

[WonderWheeler]

WonderWheeler: Thanks WW. :) You make a good point about the supports. I used actual photo reference, as models are useless for such level of detail. Do you have any close up photos of these particular components?

:\
Sorry, I'm ignorant of the vehicle, I just know steel detailing to some extent from architectural and engineering practice. It is possible that the member is square tube steel with a horizontal leg above sort of like this: ( []_ ) shown upside down. With the end capped. Rather than an ordinary cold rolled angle ( L ). Am only guessing. Typical square steel tube is something from the 1960's however.

[Lukem]

Very nice work sir! It's especially nice to see the anti-slip surface treatment at this stage - weld seams next?

[Eraserhead]

Skyraider3D: Thanks! :)

WonderWheeler: I'll try to find some close up reference photos of the component, and make changes accordingly. I was not finished with these components anyway so now I will pay closer attention to them.

Lukem: Thanks! I plan to do the weld seams as bump maps.

This is not really an update, it is more of a test. I was experimenting with some photoshop texturing techniques and wanted to see them applied to the superstructure of the mesh. Only part of it is UVmapped and this is no where near final. I also added some crude side armor coverings, which also are not final and most likely will not include them in the final scene as they cover up some of the most interesting parts of the tank.

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/3437/stugskylight7webls3.jpg

[Hitori Kyo]

could always have a couple of the side skirts missing to reveal the detail. What theater are you planning on portraying?

- Hitori kyo

[Eraserhead]

could always have a couple of the side skirts missing to reveal the detail. What theater are you planning on protraying?

- Hitori kyo

That is another good option and I may do that when planning the final composition. I plan to set this StuG on the Eastern Front, during the Battle of the Baltic in 1944. I may also do a Western Front version set in France.

[Hitori Kyo]

ah great, any unit or colour schemes in mind ?

- Hitori Kyo

[Lukem]

Do you mean Battle of the Baltic or the Bulge?

As Hitori suggests, leave some of the side skirts off as far as detail goes.

Look forward to seeing more.

[Eraserhead]

Hitori Kyo: The model will get a camouflage scheme, and possibly be from the 5th Panzer Division. I just started playing with Body Paint, I'll post some tests later on.

Lukem: I do mean the Battle of the Baltic, on the Eastern Front.

[Lukem]

Sorry mate - I've got Battle of the Bulge on my mind - I didn't know there was a battle of the Baltic.

Another Bodypaint user - excellent!

[Eraserhead]

Sorry mate - I've got Battle of the Bulge on my mind - I didn't know there was a battle of the Baltic.

Another Bodypaint user - excellent!

Battle of the Batlic refers to the series of engagments between the German Army and Red Army in that region, instead of one major conflict. There is some info about it at good old wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Baltic_(1944)). The 5th Panzer Division fought in Latvia and Kurland and later East Prussia during the Baltic Battle and were equiped with the StuG IV.

I just started using BodyPaint today and I may need alot of help from you more experienced BP users. ;) It sure does save countless hours of UVmapping individual details though.

[WonderWheeler]

Well call me a fool! I thought those side rails were too massive, assuming that they just held up gear, and camo nets, and were something not seen before.

With your addition of the side armor its obvious they are holding up quite a load and are not oversized.

[Spargonaut]

Very nice, Poo.:p You won't find many modern photo references of StuGIV's as there are only a couple in existence mainly in heavy disrepair: http://www.detektorweb.cz/index.4me?s=show&i=4059&mm=1&vd=1. So for the superstructure and schürtzen, referencing the StuGIII and PzIV would be the easiest to get proportion and details for those common or similar components.

Here's some better 4-view drawings from http://www.maus120.com/menu7.htm

http://www.maus120.com/pro4_early1.jpg
http://www.maus120.com/pro4_early2.jpg

[Eraserhead]

Thanks Spargonaut! Those reference images will come in handy! Another StuG IV was found in Poland submerged in a river and is being excavated for restoration. Here are some pictures of the process: StuG IV found in Poland (http://www.dws.org.pl/viewtopic.php?t=15331)

Sorry for not updating for a while, I've been busy with other projects. However, I did manage to practice with BodyPaint. This is my first ever attempt at BodyPaint so be nice everyone. :D

Right off the bat, I feel the Green is too bright and will be toned down in subsequent texturing attempts.

http://img75.imageshack.us/img75/8360/stugcolortestvx5.jpg

[Hitori Kyo]

very nice first attempt, i think the yellow could do with a lighter shade but its only my personal opinion (as no one knows the accurate shade)

- Hitori kyo

[Lukem]

I tend to agree concerning dunklegelb. Very good attempt though - very quick.

I apologise to the moderators and everyone else for what I'm about to say. For training on Bodypaint I can't recommend 3DKiwi's DVD enough. Whilst it is based in Cinema4D, the main BP functionality should be the similar whilst using the programme as a module. For more info. go to www.c4dcafe.com.

[Caman0]

hey man, sorry for the late reply, wont ask you to change it, in this stadium ;)

about the track, i was talking about another area. I posted a shot of this(shamelessly my own) track. I meant the part of the track, hanging down from the gear wheel, to the first road wheels. When the tank draives forward, and is in rest, the track falls like this. becase the way the wheel turns, the track gets pulled over it, dragging it down to the roadwheels. This way the track is a bit loose there.

Btw, great job on the paint so far!

the pic:

[Caman0]

found a pic:
http://www.panzernet.net/panzernet/fotky/tanky/pz4/076e.jpg

[WonderWheeler]

Wonder if he's turning. The track on our right is taught, the other slack.

[Skyraider3D]

When in doubt between two choices, I always go somewhere in between. Enforce the benefit-of-the-doubt! ;)

[Karras]

Hey see here, and view thoses tracks for the smud :lol:

http://www.detektorweb.cz/index.4me?s=show&i=2988&mm=1&vd=1

[gewehr]

The track slack is due to the forward movement of the tank. when a tracked vehicle is moving, the drive sprocket will pull the track and it causes it to have a little slack in the front. The amount of slack also depends on the tension of the track itself, which can very from tank to tank, and crew to crew. What I have observed (from research and from personal experience) is that when the vehicle is stopped, the slack in the track will not be there at the front of the vehicle, but resting upon the top return rollers.

From looking at your vehicle WIP, you might want to add a little slack between the return rollers on top and lessen some at the rear just in front of the rear idler wheel. Like I said though, it all depends on the track tension and how the crew maintained their vehicle. A well maintained vehicle will not have much slack.

[Eraserhead]

Thanks for all the comments everyone; I'll definatly work on the tracks. Sorry I have not updated in a while, I have been very busy with other things but now I can hopefully find the time to finish this model once other projects are finished.