1:48 Pz.IV turret box

A turret box for the Pz.IV in 1:48 scale, from the maker Hauler

A resin casting meant for the model of the German Pz.Kpfw. IV medium tank in 1:48 scale. It completes the rear wall of the turret with a stowage box, which a large proportion of the vehicles carry in period images. You need to own the base kit; it is not included in the package.

How it differs from similar accessories

Boxes differ between individual types of tank in shape, in proportions and in the way they are mounted, so a casting for another type of vehicle does not sit correctly on a Pz.IV turret and it shows at once. This part is made to measure for the rear of the Pz.IV turret. Resin moreover makes it possible to cast the box as a single piece complete with the lid, the hinges and the edges, which in an injection mold would have to be simplified.

Building and painting tips

Wash the casting in warm water with detergent; that takes the release agent off the mold. Cut the casting block off and sand the mating surface down on abrasive paper stuck to a flat board - resin sands quickly, so check more often than you are used to with plastic. Try the box dry until it sits with no gap, and only then glue it with super glue. Brackets and straps can be added with thin photo-etch or copper wire. When painting, do the box separately and fit it only after the base coat on the turret - that way you can reach behind it as well. It is effective to set the box apart with worn edges, a dusty lid and a fine oil wash in the seams.

Who the accessory is for

• Builders of German vehicles in 1:48 scale who want to set a model apart from the out-of-the-box version
• Modelers who care about the silhouette and the proportions of the turret
• Anyone interested in an undemanding improvement with no cutting into the plastic
• Those who want to try working with resin on a small part

This is an accessory for a kit, not a model in its own right. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package.