Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.H, GPM 1:25

Hello everyone!
Three backs here!

I'm back to my regular place in The Armory

I'm back to my long term project - Line of WWII main German tanks from I to VI.
Now it is turn of Panzer 4 and particularly Ausf.H modification with long 7.5 cm gun and Zimmerit coting with protection plates all around.
You can read about this specific tank and modification here

I'm back to GPM... Oh GPM - lack of instructions and drawings, odd decisions not to paint some parts and of course total ignoring of 2Pi*r formula
But! On the other hand - solid design, excellent paper and printing and astonishing coloring and weathering with 3d effects! Oh GPM!

The model looks beautiful and there is a bonus with all Zimmerit details printed on special perforated paper.
In addition, some 10 years ago I've got laser cut tracks from anomera.com site that is no longer exists. His tracks were of excellent design, so I'm glad I kept those (have another ones for Tiger waiting in a stash)



Also, i will be using my new tools stand



Started as usual from the hull. No flap joins here, so you need to figure out how to glue and in which order. For that matter I cut all outer shell parts and checked every time if it fits the power structure.
There is no asterisks explanation, but I remembered from older models that * is for 0.5 cardboard and ** is for 1mm cardboard. Simple as that. Definitely not Sherman case



And already first odd decision not to paint rear wall or to give inner shell for it. I assume there simple was no room of additional parts.





Next by instructions were all outer details











Until now everything fits perfect
Got to say I am really enjoying working with GPM paper - bends nice, paint doesn't break, easy to wipe out glue residues

Thank you, friends

Inner skin glued.
Dry fit showed that somehow it was not aligned with power structure in the back, though outer skin set perfectly.
So, I divided it to two parts and glued before and after firewall and it did the trick.
Front beam will be glued later.
Also, you may notice that I painted back wall of engine compartment.
This is one of those odd GPM things, that I can blame on lack of space.
For my opinion I found right color shade.
In addition to that later it will be filled with engine and covered.

Starting to fill the interior
Raised platform and suspension covers
There is a mistake in raised platform- no opening for drive shaft. You can clearly see that it is missing, and I cut it by myself

Continue to fill the interior of fight compartment.
Ammo boxes, accumulators, transmission rack and some other bits.
As usual, curved parts do not go along with Pi, but it will not be noticed in the end.

Thanks friends

Added side walls and shell and ammunition boxes



Didn't glue shell racks, part 20a, because it will block inserting shells. You need to do it simulation - one rack, shells on top, rack on top, shells on top and so on.
In addition, parts 25, 25a must be glued after transmission block assembly, though it states in instructions to glue it in this stage.
And also, inner skin parts 19b cannot be glued for now, because there are no upper side walls in engine compartment. So, I put those aside for later use.

You're amusing!

Thank you, friends

Moved on to transmission box and here thing started to be complicated.
Following instruction you need to glue pedal rack, part 25. But this can't be done,
because there no markings on the floor and only anchor point is on transmission box.
So moved on to assemble transmission... but when I tried to put it in place - I found out that there are also no anchor points, and I must align it with clutch drums, that by instruction and numbering are coming later. So... I moved on to assemble those.
Finaly, the order you must assemble it all:
1. Glue clutch drums - part 30
2. Glue far back transmission box and check that it is aligned with clutch axes - part 26
3. Glue part 26h, 26h1 and align it with clutch axes
4. Connect axes rods on both sides
5. Glue pedal rack - part 25.













There were a lot of errors:
- part 26h must by glued higher than marked place
- parts 29 and 29 a are two cone shaped rod bases. But they different in size and as a result different in holes for the rod. So, on one side you need to insert rod edge inside and on the other glue it on top
- part 28a (left rod) is too long. I was in need to cut it almost in half
- pedal rack part 25 has no support in the front (used remaining rod spare )