Mike -- if going with a custom hull configuration, my tip would be a Cavalier generic sheet -- best the value for money, easy to use, and you'll get far more in the pack than the project will call for. It's miles easier to modify than PE would ever be, and a darn sight cheaper than Atak.

M/TB379

That ATAK stuff is way outta my league. On Ebay I'm seeing $45 pricetags on it vs &15-20 for the cavalier plain sheets. Think I'll just grab a pack of that so I can custom trim it to my cutouts.

Well, I will admit the ATAK zimm set I purchased was more expensive than the similar Cavalier one, but I found it for $22 (eBay) and had to pay $10 in shipping from Poland, but still way short of $45. (Maybe the set I ordered?) I cannot comment on which is better since this is my first experience with AM zimmerit. The sheets are relatively thick and require some careful sanding of the backside before application. The first pieces I put on look too thick to me.

- I have a very old Italeri Panther A in my stash that I may try the Cavalier zimm on in the future. Anything has to be better than the plastic panels they provide.

How was your shipping experience with Poland? My Karaya cables are sold from Poland also. I'm thinking of getting them.

It was fine, albeit much slower than say, ordering from Sprue Bros on Tue afternoon and getting the stuff on Thursday... It took 1.5 - 2 weeks, came registered priority mail. Only difference was it had a lot of Polish stamps on it. Packaged nicely, and the seller even included a length of brass chain as a little bonus. Nice touch anyway. Helped defray that shipping cost some. Always hard to swallow shipping when it increases the cost by 30% - lower prices help too.

(You may even be looking at the same seller since I saw that he has Karaya cables in his eBay store area... sk1968sk?)

Eric - sk1968sk is who I have ordered from on a few occasions and is an excellent seller. That is where I got my metal barrel, cables and metal shackles. He threw in a PE bucket and antenna for free. As for shipping from Poland I would consider him quick. My orders have arrived within 2 weeks. Joe

JadarHobby in Poland is a shop I've ordered from quite often.  Eric, I don't know what price and shipping you have found on Ebay, but on the mentioned site I get $6.68 for the tow cables and shipping would be $6.89 - US currency.

http://www.jadarhobby.pl/karaya-tcr02-towing-cable-for-pzvi-tiger-135-p-959.html

regards,

Jack

Well, here's what I've gotten done so far:

Main gun, not sure why I painted it since with the figures in the hatches you won't be able to see anything- but what the hey- just did it for the halibut I suppose:

Shot from the side, as you can tell the thread links still need some work:

Wow, oh shelled one, you're really cracking on! The indie links along take a lot of time and effort. Great looking KT!

M/TB379

Cliff you are flying thru that build. Zimm looks great.

Thanks guys for the tips. Jack, the shipping was just $2.50 for the shipping IIRC. Not bad.

is it too late to get in on this GB?  I have a Tamiya Steel wheel Panther G up in the closet.

Today's progress -- main zim sheets done and fenders on:

Some more dressing parts to go, a bit more filling and prodding, and it'll be time to see what the zim looks like under some paint...

M/TB379

Thanks guys!

And Mike, she's looking good! I'm really starting to like this pre-cut zimmerit!

pyrman64

is it too late to get in on this GB?  I have a Tamiya Steel wheel Panther G up in the closet.

Not at all Greg. Would love to have you and your Panther. I don't believe anyone is doing a steel-wheeled version. Nice. No need for zimmerit either.

M/TB379-the Zim looks great.....can't wait to see it with paint. 

Gamera-that is one nice KT-looking forward to seeing camo on it.

Both rooms have been painted-hopefully I can spend some time on the Panther this week.

Question for the group-for a Panther Late G, which barrel would be correct:

75mm KwK 42 (RB Model 35B06)...or...

75mm KwK 42 L/70 (RB Model 35B60)

Thinking about ordering from the eBay vendor listed earlier in the post , sk1968sk

Thanks

Oyyy Bob. When I hear L/70, I think Jagdpanzer IV Late. However, i think they carried the same barrel, but the Panther's had a muzzle.

Eric-both of the barrels listed have a muzzle....I can't really tell the difference looking at the pics...but I agree about thinking about the Jagdpanzer when I hear L/70.

Ok....another query: Do the Stahl Katzen have to have Wehrmacht/SS markings or can they be in captured livery?

Well Greg, to keep it in the spirit of things, probably the former. However, I suppose you could do it in the latter. ;)

Hey guys, I just wanted to stop in and say what great work is going on here!   I had to put the four little kittens back on the shelf until I finish up another GB.  I should be back feeding the kitties in a couple of weeks!  

Hope to see you soon Ernest.

I was hoping to have some update photos, but I got lazy. I almost have the upper hull finished. I'm working on the gun. My goal now is to have paint laid down next weekend. Still, progressing forward.

Eric, I'm fine with building as a Wehrmacht kitty.

JOE RIX

The problem I had is that the barrel came with no instructions on how to assemble it. Found the instructions to Armorscale's Barrel which is nearly identical. My question though is how to glue it together? It suggests soldering but that is not much an option for me. Mabe some CA or epoxy?

pyrman64

Eric, I'm fine with building as a Wehrmacht kitty.

No Greg, by all means build it in captured mode. The vehicle still classifies as a Panther no matter who ran it.

Bob, both RB products you listed are for the Panther.   The barrel length in calibers is 70, and yes this was same gun used for the Jagdpanzer IV/70(A)/(V) tank destroyer.

The official RP site only states it is a different style.  I think I might see a slight difference, although this might be a result of one set of photos being more in focus.  Also to me, product 35B06 looks to have a bit more flatness to the muzzle brake opening.

regards,

Jack

I'm finally getting started but I still do not have a lot of free time yet so this will be a long drawn out build for me.

One question. I want to build a "hard used Tiger" and I remember reading somewhere that the Tiger I's always overweight and had suspension failure. To make it set kind of low he cut off the positing stub at the back of each axle arm and lowered their angle slighty.

I'm not sure what he's talking about and I sure do not want to cut the wrong thing. Does anybody have any ideas what he's talking about or have another idea how to help it set kind of low?

Jack-thanks for the info.  I think I'll pull the kit barrel out and compare it to the photos at the seller's site.

Nothing's definitive right now but I might have to drop out of this one. The "boss" wants to relocate us to the Sacramento area by New Years which the date they gave on my Tiger was mid-October arrival. If it arrives then I'll be having to help pack through Nov and Dec, tearing my bench down probably mid Nov. Then on the other side I might not be able to get set up until Feb and on a full cut away project like this with PE and other mods there would be no way I could meet the deadline. We'll see if this move goes forward, chances are 90% certain it will happen though.

Kentucky Colonel

I'm finally getting started but I still do not have a lot of free time yet so this will be a long drawn out build for me.

One question. I want to build a "hard used Tiger" and I remember reading somewhere that the Tiger I's always overweight and had suspension failure. To make it set kind of low he cut off the positing stub at the back of each axle arm and lowered their angle slighty.

I'm not sure what he's talking about and I sure do not want to cut the wrong thing. Does anybody have any ideas what he's talking about or have another idea how to help it set kind of low?

I can't say i have ever heard that. The Tiger used a torsion bar suspension and it would be very unlikely for all the bars to fail at once, and its pretty obvious when just one fails. And if the suspension went completely, the tank would be in-operable.

Mike: I hope things go well, gosh I hate having to move.

KC: I dunno, if the torsion bars were worn maybe it could ride a little lower than normal? Sorry I'm not a mechanic or an engineer but I'd think it could droop a little bit.