Calling all Panther specialists.....

nmayhew

well, not sure i can be that specific, i have no references as to who commanded what tanks, but perhaps you could check this out:

http://www.feldgrau.com/PzDiv1b.php

all the references are also listed. good luck, let me know if you think i can help you out.

oh, you also might try these forums, they all have some very knowledgeable people.

http://www.missing-lynx.com/
http://www.ww2modelmaker.com/
http://www.armorama.com/

edog (and the rest of you guys!) hi,
sorry i didn't make myself clear...the panther i have is indeed the steel wheel version, but the kit can also be made with the 'normal' roadwheels which is what i intend to do, which should fit in ok with the zimm...
as regards a specific scheme/theatre of ops, i guess what i'd really like is a tank with a bit of history with it ie one with a famous commander or one which took part in some key action, preferably with a cool scheme and decals to match!!!
i'm asking for a lot i realise, but am quite excited about it all now!!!
one of the reasons i said suggest pretty much any scheme with cool decals is i saw on the archer website www.archertransfers.com all their dry-transfer decals, giving me loads of choice....anyone actually tried these out, and are they any good????
have a cool weekend everyone,and thanks once again,
nick

nmayhew,

Ok, you’ll love me for this one… I do not believe that any steel wheeled panthers had zim on them. The steel wheeled panthers were completed in September of 1944, so a winter white wash would be PERFECT. But they came from the factory with a general camo scheme of red-brown, dark yellow, and olive-green. I would imagine they would have been painted white as soon as possible, which could be some time because the Germans were often short of supplies. And as far as when spring rolls around, your guess is as good as mine, but with the same basic 3 colors. nmayhew, if you have a specific theater of action, perhaps I could help you a little more on what decals, and paint schemes.

Hope this helps. Oh, and if you want to put the zim on anyway, I say go for it!!!!

Thanks for all the replies.

I found this a very interesting subject. It's probably as hard to find a definitive answer on this as anything.

I do love gathering references though. You really learn a lot!

as it says in one of the links ive posted, there might have been a couple of the Solution B Panthers in action against a group of British Comets, and the IR devices are of the same type as seen on the Uhu and Sperbre 251s
heres my IR Panther (a photoshop novice need so mutch help)

Sorry it took me so long to get back to you on this one… I own Trojca’s book Tank Power volume 1, which has some info on the IR sight. Unfortunately I don’t have the second volume yet which has the conclusion of his research on IR devices on Panthers. BUT from what I gather, the only Panthers that had IR devices while in service had the IR device on the commander’s cupola, and nowhere else. It does seem however that there was some sort of attachment on the left side (ass you look at the front of the tank) of the gun mantel for part of the gunners IR device. I think this was probably an attachment for the IR spot light. Honestly I would say your guess is as good as mine though, LOL.

Erock, it seems like you have touched on a hotly debated topic for serious German armor fans, and I don’t think anyone could “prove” you wrong, whether you put all the IR devices on, or just the commanders.

hey guys,
i was just about to post a new topic on panthers when i saw this!!!
now i'm not a panther expert by any means, but i do love this tank....anyway, i have tamiya's ausf G (steel wheel version), but have bought a pre-zimm'd resin turret and hull (sorry moses), and i'm in need of a cool camo scheme for it
ideally i'd like a winter white wash scheme, as i now realise my academy tiger has the wrong decals for wittman's berdichev jan 44 tiger, and am keen to try my whitewash technique...
i would be SO grateful for any help, especially if you guys could provide some pics AND what decals to use and maybe where to get them....
sorry for "hijacking" this topic, but it looks like i'm dealing with the experts here!!!
many thanks,
nick

ive been looking for other sites and found a good one here http://www.geocities.com/desertfox1891/nightfightingpanthers/nightfightingpanthers.htm
theres a few good books i use for the panther . theres the Culver & Feist Panther book
and theres some good Tankpower books 1-6 panther books
theres also "Osprey modeling manuals Panther" they have some good info about side sheilds around the engine decking few three infantry troops with night vision sights on there MP44s

just remembered about this one http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/dio/rwpanth/rwpanth_solutions.htm
the dragon kits ok you get a fair few infra red kits in the box so you could make a Sd.Kfz. 251 'Falke' support vehicle.

This may help
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/dio/rwpanth/rwpanth_solutions.htm

The Panther at Koblenz was put together by the US after the war using parts taken from a factory production line, The IR is a replica added in the last 10yrs. At least that ive read!

A nice AVI of the Koblenz Panther : http://whq-files.de/filme/panther-03.avi

And just to show that Panthers are still turning up 60yrs after the war, have a look at this.
http://www.lerenfort.fsnet.co.uk/page100.html
[:0]

Hey Eric, when you go to the link petbat sent you, back out the koblenzPant1.jpg part on the address line. There a LOTS of pics of panthers there. Especially take a look at the ones named panir~1.jpg through panir~5.jpg and check out that very even zimmerit, too. Who said they'd heard the Germans didn't put it on too evenly??? Oh yeah, it was me!! LOL

Hope this helps a little.

Bill

To expand on what the Cptn said, there are no know photos of a Panther with all three IR optical devices. I’m not sure which one you will want to get rid of, but I can look it up for you when I get home.

The following links are pictures of the Panther G at Koblenz. It has the night vision aparatus attached to the cupola, and these images are close ups.

http://www.twenot.nl/Specials/Panther/koblenzPant1.jpg
http://www.twenot.nl/Specials/Panther/koblenzPant3.jpg

Hope these help.

Happy Modelling
Peter

the Dragon one pictured is the Solution B, a what if/ maybe Panther so there wront be any photos of it but heres some links for the Panther
you might already know the sites http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pz4.htm#panther http://www.achtungpanzer.com/ir.htm