Saturday, September 3, 2022

Italeri (ex.Esci) 1/72 Panzer Kpfw. IV (Bulgarian Majbakh T-IV) tank (by K.Kaan Kerimoğlu)

 




Hello friends,

We will continue the Kürşat series with a few WW' era Bulgarian tanks. Our first model is the Panzer IV.

A short history,  The Bulgarian army ordered certain number of Panzer IV vehicles. The ordered 46 Panzer IV’s arrived in Bulgaria on 3.9.1943. The Bulgarians called them “Majbakh T-IV” (cyrillic transcription of the Maybach company name, that produced them). 46 was all the Germans could spare (Matev however states 97 were obtained, 46 is more likely however), despite the order counting on the double of that. It’s not really clear, what type of the vehicles were they – most sources (Ivanov, Matev) state it was Ausf.G, while other sources (Pejčoch) state some were Ausf.H (Ausf.G is much more likely). Either way, these tanks would continue to serve until early 50′s, when they were replaced by the T-34/85. Here is a drawing of an Ausf.G Panzer IV, serving in Yugoslavia in December 1944.

The model is very nice, well done my friend,

Erhan..


Bulgarian markings
A smaller white cross was used from 1941 in Armoured Regiments for air identification and a larger black diagonal cross was supposed to be shown within a white square for assault gun detachments although in practice it was usually just highlighted in white around the edges of the cross. This diagonal cross can be found liberally applied to the fronts, sides, and rear of tank and turrets and on the roof of a variety of tanks. Some crosses were very carefully painted on and highlighted and others rather hastily applied either individually or in conjunction with various slogans.Not all vehicles have used this diagonal cross however and some can be seen with large red communist stars outlined in white instead as recognizable symbols.


some photos about weatherig stage...




completed model...










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