Walkaround: Sd.Kfz.162 Jagdpanzer IV L/48

[@paulrinkes3280]

Not so long ago I read about the Pz.Kpfw IV's; STUG. III's and the Jagdpanzer IV L/48 in Bulgarian service during WWII. I also learned that after the war they (along with older Soviet AFV's) were used as pillboxes/frontier defence along the Turkish/Greek border during the Cold War. I think it was a good decision to dig them out and salvage them. Even though they are just empty hulls what was brought to Yambol is priceless. Luckily enough I spent a lot of time every year in a little village 15 minutes drive from Yambol. So in 2018 I visited the "музей на бойната слава" . It is situated at the ulitsa Stara Planina 1 and just a short walk from the city center (also close to the busstation). My Bulgarian friend took me upstairs in the main building where the administrator has his office to buy tickets. She has no interest in military things and when off shopping. The administrator's English was excellent (and my Bulgarian I am sorry to say is just enough to buy bus tickets, cigari, Mekitsi, and Ayran/Boza) and with the proverbial Bulgarian hospitality he offered to show me around. I learned that he was or still is a 'podpolkovnik'in the Bulgarian Army. Anyway apart from the fact that I nearly broke a leg climbing in and out the front cockpit of an Hind attack helicopter I had the time of my life. My guide was very knowlegable. There were a lot of interesting objects outside like the MDK-2M trenchdigger for example as well as other Soviet made vehicles that I had never seen close up. The German armour was impressive too. I was amazed of how powerfull and menacing the STUG III and the L/48 looked. My guide was quite aware of the value of that German stuff. The L/48 he told me 'is worth diamonds'. Of course I asked him what happened to the Panthers Bulgaria used. He assured me they were all scrapped at some point after the war. After completing the tour outside we went inside were there's an historical exhibition of the Yambol garrisons through the ages. Interestingly many of the small arms exhibited were of German manufacture. I was assured that this was because of their quality. At that point my guide also told me that the optics of the dug out panzers were still there stored 'somewhere'. After learning that during WW I the Germans operated an airship base in Yambol my visit was over. If you get a chance to visit Bulgaria: go! It's one of the most beautifull countries you will ever see. And if you happen to end up in Yambol don't forget the Battle Glory museum. It's well worth a visit. Yambol also has a historical and an ethnographical museum well worth visiting. Especially if like me you like Bulgarian folklore. You might end up learning how to dance the Xoro! Mitko: I like your reviews very much!

[@TacticalJackalope]

Great video for anyone researching Jagdpanzers! Thanks Mitko.

[@user-wf2lm3vi7o]

I see how Tamiya modelled the inside of their L/70 🙂 Great photos. The casting detail is terrific.

[@carloscorreainfo]

Very very useful, I'm drawing one and this level of details is whats I need, thanks a lot!

[@DNModels]

Glad it was helpful!

[@starwars9876-i4t]

0:32 that’s weird that the break drum and it’s cover are just sitting in the middle of the vehicle like that

[@schweinhund227]

I like those walk around ! Thanks for sharing... I am sure WWII fans will put this to good use !

[@DNModels]

I am pretty sure I can do Scud walkaround if yhose videos are popular. And t55 too.

[@schweinhund227]

Yeah... a Scud walk around would be Awesome....

[@ArmourEmpire]

very interesting. thanks for sharing

[@TheCleansingx]

someone should save that thing from rusting away

[@Savchenkov1]

Painting over a rust bucket wont save it. Let someone who has the money to restore it.

[@izom]

semperit rubber- crazy- remember them makin tires in austria until the 90s !?

[@mercomania]

You can still buy Semperit tyres, I think the company is owned by Continental.

[@izom]

your right its conti now- but not an austrian company- they closed the production there in 2002 ! :-/

[@mercomania]

Thanks for the info.@@izom

[@HamilkarBarkasScaleModelling]

interesting! you even got inside the vehicle :) i think bulgaria dug in some german tanks on its borders to be used as bunkers right?

[@DNModels]

Yep. Commies buried them and made a defence line. Then everybody forgot about it. Now they are being restored.

[@a.t6066]

Is the jagdpanzer iv hull the same width as the panzer iv ? I bought an old tamiya stug iv with the intention of turning it into a jagdpanzer iv. I can't find any schematics or blueprints with the jagdpanzer iv dimensions though.

[@paulcourt6817]

Why, are you a masochist? Just buy yourself which ever version you want. It's a lot cheaper than remodelling a mark, to suit another. They are all available, from 0-Series (pre-production)L-43, L-48, L-70 (V) to L-70 (A). It will give you a lot less head aches, believe me.

[@KermitTheGamer21]

They don't share the same hull, only the same chassis. Turning a StuG IV into a Jagdpanzer IV would require replacing...virtually everything. The Jagdpanzer IV is very, very different from the StuG. Just get a Jagdpanzer IV model.

[@a.t6066]

@@KermitTheGamer21 well I am one of those people who enjoys scratch building. All I needed to know was if the hull was the same length and width as the stug

[@paoloviti6156]

@@a.t6066 understood, the hull is exactly the same as the Pz.Kwg IV or the StuG IV, just remember that everything on top of hull is completely different. Look carefully at the walk around for reference.

[@johnk1639]

Sell it to a western collector. It’ll be brought back to running order, and you’ll make a lot of money.

[@duke_of_destruction]

Note to self.... when becoming a multi millionaire buy one of these and a Royal tiger along with an M.E 262 just to show how much of an asshole you can be.... also make sure to get soft tracks so you can drive these beautiful works of artillery down the street!!! German tanks to me are some of the most beautiful and tough tanks in the world!! Not to mention their fighter Planes and Jets from the WWII era !!! I know that a lot of people frown upon the Nazi party but their artillery and Planes/jets were well built and ahead of their enemies Technology !!

[@TheSaturnV]

The USAAC P80 Shooting Star was flying sorties over Italy by 1945 and would have been more than a match for the Schwalbe.

[@Gestapo93]

The damage being done under that paint is awful.

[@kaylaclift4290]

This video is old

[@russellgosselin3325]

very interesting. thanks for sharing.