Supplementary image for Vol 1

Ausf B possibly in the Sudetenland.

This image shows the Ausf B on p57 of Vol 1, broken down again. The location is clearly different and the vehicle is well weathered in this second image but the turret number and unusual BK are unmistakable.














This slightly lower angle reveals an interesting feature; the hull front appears to be one piece. This is not evident in the image in Vol 1 but clearly seems to be the case here. One piece rather than two welded sections was a feature of unique to the Ausf A. On the A the hull front and the angle below the chin were constructed out of one 14.5mm sheet bent to create the angles, on the B the nearly vertical front was upgraded to 30 mm with the lower chin being 20mm thick. However because of supply issues during the change over in production from A to B five Ausf A hulls had to be used to complete the first batch of Bs.

So technically speaking this is one the first of the hybrid hull, superstructure and turret combinations that were produced.

Vol 4 supporting images

On page 28 of Volume 4 an image shows a good close up of a mid production Ausf G of Pz.Rgt. 35, 4th Pz.Div. apparently falling through a frozen lake or river. I have come across this series of images that document an attempt at a difficult recovery of that vehicle. This first one is from a similar position...

From the other angle the plate across the turret roof described in Vol 4 is more obvious. This clear view shows the plate crossing in front of the cupola to cover the deleted signal port on the left side of the roof. This seems like an interim fix before the new thicker rear roof and uparmoured cuploa with a one piece lid could be fitted from Feb 43.

I did put in a bid on a few of them but was unfortunately unsuccessful.

Supporting image for Vol 3

I came across this image which changes my understanding of the series of 5 images that cover pages 76 - 79 in Vol 3, showing PzIV F2(G)s and a StugIII. 

The vehicles in the images are mostly intact with only one PzIII apparently destroyed. I had always thought that they showed a German unit carefully returning to or picking over a recent battlefield. This was partly due to me thinking that part of the series I didn't buy was of PzGr with a SdKfz251 (probably a mistaken memory of items). 

The location is Veliki Luki, a brutal Kessel that could be seen as the Stalingrad of the North. 11th PzDiv were part of the relief force trying to break the encirclement.

However the presence of Russian troops in the image above, which is clearly part of the series, changes my interpretation and explains the creepy deserted feeling in the images. They must have been taken after the relief efforts had been thwarted and Russian troops inspected abandoned vehicles left by the unsuccessful rescue attempt amid the hellish landscape.

The image on p76 and the bottom right of p77 appears to show a column of vehicle in motion and the last PzIV does look like it has a Commanders head is poking above the lip of the cuploa? Perhaps  this image shows the salvage of vehicles that were abandoned due to lack of fuel and then taken as booty by the Russians. It is however unusual for troops abandoning vehicle not to disable them.

additional view for Vol 4

An expired ebay auction gives us a slightly wider view of this wrecked late G in the Selerno area previously pictured  in a press photo on page 41 of Vol 4. Unfortunately it still doesn't give us a view of the drive sprocket. It may have got wedged into the ditch and been destroyed by its crew. 

This image appears a bit later than the press photo as the front section of the turret schurzen and the aerial trough are both missing, what it does show up well is the cupola lid opening further than standard. A number of PzIVs in Italy seem to have this feature and whether this was a unit modification or a specific short run factory feature is unclear, however it also appears here in conjunction with the other possible factory specific feature of reversed tracks.

1st update

The first update to the 5 volumes is on the verge of completion, content and layout finished - just final proof reading and editing to undergo. It is 80 pages, portrait layout with most pages carrying two images, as detailed in previous posts.
The content includes:

7 Ausf A - including one being recovered in Russia.

17 Ausf B & C - including a "yellow" cross from the Polish campaign and a detailed series of 5 images showing the loading onto a trailer.

25 Ausf D & E - including 3 more showing groups of DAK vehicles with white road wheels.

3 more hybrids and 3 VorPz.

19 Ausf Fs - including a command version.

15 Ausf F2(G) - early G - including a number of images of long twisting aerial guard and flat recuperator sides.

21 late G&H - including 8 Bulgarian images.

6 Ausf J - mostly late war wrecks.

1 SturmstegPz.
2 turetless ammo carrier.
3 PzIV/70(V).
2 images of a late StuGIV with swinging schurzen - one of which is a close-up of hooded exhaust pipes.
1 early StuPa
1 Mobelwagen with dot camo

So quite a lot squeezed between the covers. I should have it uploaded to Blurb within the month.

TauchPz IV Volume FINALLY available !!

Nearly a year after I thought it might be the TauchPz volume is now online and available on Blurb. I think it is all the better for the delay. Enjoy the preview below:

TauchPzKpfwIV Ausf D&E | Make Your Own Book

The book covers the TauchPz IVs use on exercises prior to Operation Barbarossa and during the conflict on the Eastern front. As the first book solely dedicated to the TauchPz IV a number of details revealed here have never previously been discussed. 

The information includes detailed analysis of the different specification for each Ausf as well as the units that used them and their associated markings and stowage. There are also images of TauchPz IIIs and a few rare glimpses of the SchwimmPz II.

This volume contains: 98 period photos illustrating the vehicle in greater depth than ever before, the vast majority published for the first time, short appendix on the TauchPz III, diagrams and a section on modelling the vehicle to conclude the book.

To make this volume worthy of the little dipper I have asked a number of other collectors who I have met online and through various forums and searched through national archives for images that fill some of the inevitable gaps in my own collection. So although the book is still subtitled "from the collection of 8wheels-good" there are some supplementary images (about 10 in total) kindly lent to me so this monograph can fulfill the potential of the research I have uncovered.

Reverse view from Vol 1

Another view of the KOed Ausf B pictured on pages 66 and 67 of Volume 1, prior to the road sign being applied to it.

A second image, this time from the rear, where it carries the same arrow and its rear mudflaps are also painted white presumably for visibility. From this end we get a better view of the signal pot fitted to the port on the right side of the turret roof as opposed to the usual fitting on the left.

The image was added to Vol 1 at the last minute and therefore the notation on the reverse was not added.  "Arras" is written on the back of the photo.

Vol5 review in AFV Modeller "excellent modelling reference"

Another supportive review in Januarys edition of AFV Modeller (no. 62).......


"The last in the series which we've enjoyed very much, is probably my favourite as it covers a diverse range of PzIV based subjects including Bruckenleger, Munitionsschlepper, StuG IV, Dicker Max, Brummbar, Jagdpanzer and more with fresh images and detailed study. Some of the images chosen are purely from a rarity perspective from the extensive collection and will be of huge interest to anyone interested in WWII German armour generally and of course excellent modelling reference and information.


If a StuG IV late is on your list of "to do" builds there's some detailed information and line drawings of the swinging armour skirts used on some of these last vehicles.


An excellent finale to the five volumes, along with the supplementary volumes (including two future releases), provide an indispensible reference on the PzKpfw IV with a great mix of interesting un-seen photographs and well researched detailed captions. The titles can be ordered from the Blurb website www.blub.com go to "bookstore" and put 8wheels-good into the search box to see all of the titles available."

http://shop.afvmodeller.com/customer/product.php?productid=18111&cat=&page=

additional views

During the ongoing research I have come across some additional views of the vehicles pictured in the books so I will post them here when I get a minute. 

The first is this front view of the JagdPz IV on p 66/67 of Vol5.

The bent last schurzen bracket, burn marks on the zimmerit and hang of the broken track all match up with my image. This view reveals it has the later style mantlet edge with its reduced bottom corners and that that it was manufactured with only one MG port.

BARBAROSSA - website review "amazing stuff"

Nicholas Mayhew at www.scaleplasticandrail.com contacted me looking to review the books on the new website. He recently received the Barbarossa supplementary edition and has posted this complementary review:

"The research here and its presentation is indeed top class. But if ever there was a book to help the modeller in search of early war Panzer IV inspiration, then this is it!"

http://scaleplasticandrail.com/kaboom/index.php/all-things-military-vehicle/everything-else/book-reviews/1076-barbarossa-stowage-from-8wheels-good-publishing

on to the next phase

There are a number of potential ideas percolating away in the background. I would like to do a Supplementary edition purely on the Hummel...

but that is a long term project with a lot of collecting ahead of me. However with the TauchPz volume nearly done the next phase of the project is starting to take shape.

Just because the main 5 volumes were completed this did not mean the end of the photo collecting. But how to evidence this? Although using Blurb allows me to update the books at any point I didn't want to go down this route as it somehow muddied the waters - a book should really be a fixed point in time, that is part of their value. I also didn't want to wait until a complete Second Edition seemed possible.

Currently I have started looking at the possiblity of a more magazine style update that doesn't completely mirror the original Volumes in style but allows additions to their content and understanding on a semi-regular basis.

Here are the first thoughts for the cover of UPDATE NO1. This first update will cover all 5 volumes but this may not always be the case. I suppose it is dependent on the photos that come my way what the content is at any given point. The timing of these will also vary, currently I am hoping for an annual update - perhaps a x-mas special. The proposed format is portrait with two images on most pages allowing the overall page count to drop and therefore reduce the cost.

Updating the supplementary editions such as "Barbarossa Stowage" could be in the same format but would be secondary to the blogs and I imagine appear less frequently. Occasionally content might necessitate joint updates.

Or there are certain units of which collecting photos depicting their activities is easier than others and these may lead to monographs.

For this to work some collaboration over unit organisation, structure, characters and history would be needed and I have already put out some feelers.