ARMOR - Panther (PzKpfw V) Group Build (any scale)

Fruillmodels tracks are just incredible. The issue isn't really drilling them as "cleaning" the holes with a drill bit, it looks harder and more tedious than it is, its easy with 0.5mm drill bit (any hobby shop should have those especially if they also sell RC) and a small pin vise. (Have a look on page 11 i put a few pictures there about how i did it) it takes a while to do but i wouldn't imagine it being any worst than individually glueing each and every piece of track (especially modelkassen which i believe each link is actually 3 pieces). I’d recommend the fruil tracks to anyone looking for Aftermarket tracks, they're a bit expensive but i think once everything is done they'll look great and add some weight to the kit , i'm really happy with mine

My pleasure folks. The web page(s) is kinda fun, I like learning new stuff.
I started by using geocities page builder but didn't like the backgrounds etc. so I have been using Arachnophilia 5.2 to write the pages and then uploading them.
http://www.arachnoid.com/arachnophilia
I'll start a thread for some guidelines on how to submit for the web pages

I am gonna try Tamiya's A, I have the article and ordered some PE and Fruil tracks.

Please check the "web" link below to see if I forgot anyone other than myself!

PantherLehr,
i meant the Tamiya tracks when i said drilling the hole.
i believe they are missing it.

ed.

doh , i get it now *slaps forehead* i'm not sure i never worked with those , does anyone that has them want to post a pic of one the links , i'm curious now

i have them, but i only took a quick peek when they got in.
i am almost sure there is no hole.
i will shoot them when i get home and see if i can get the pics hosted for you to see them.

ed.

Chris you may want to look into a grille set for the rear deck of your Panther. They just look so nice and accurate when built.

As much as I like accuracy, I can't see spending as much on tracks as the whole kit.

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."-R.E.Lee

Derek,

Where did you get the pe set for the Tamiya A?? I ordered the Sep 90 FSM in and just got it today. Haven't even gotten it out of the plastic bag yet. Cool (for us) that Kalmbach has issues from that far back. (Shipping for one mag is a killer, though! $4.90!! Had I realized that, I probably would have ordered 2 or 3 issues.)

LHS just got in the Dragon (now Shanghai Dragon) Panther G Vampire (has the i.r. night vision set up) in for $19.00 (greatmodels is showing them for $15.20). Now, do I build the Tamiya A with all the am parts I've got, the Dragon D, Early A, or G?? This is getting more and more difficult a decision!

Geez Bill, no Bergepanther? LOL You do seem to have a problem. I would probably pick the kit you most want to build, because this is the time to do it. Like me, you might finish one. [:0] By the way, how does that Shanghai kit look. The price is right. Does it come with Schurtzen?

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow so fond of it."-R.E.Lee

the hole was on the early tracks
seen here

but on the very late tracks there were no hole so you could get away with it on the late panthers
in this photo there looks to be some late (no holed horns) on the top track above the 2nd inner wheel?

So being that mine is the late model I should'nt have to worry about adding any holes to tracks. I'll have to check on finding the tracks at a LHS but would'nt be abe to spend more than the kit was either since I really want to get a metal barrel to.

Tigerman- Gee thanks, now I got to be looking into the grill set to. This may turn out to be the most expensive kit I have ever built. Good thing I got such a good deal on the kit I guess.

Frosty:

QUOTE: the full title is ARMOR CONVERSIONS AND DETAILING PROJECTS, and it's a Kalmbach publication (#12166, i think),

Thanks for the tip. I've got one on hold at the LHS (well, almost L -- 35 miles away), and will pick it up tomorrow! I can't wait to read through it.

Chris:

QUOTE: As much as I like accuracy, I can't see spending as much on tracks as the whole kit.

Yeah, but they look soooo nice. I said the same thing when I built my Pz II. But it was worse. The kit only cost $8.50 and the Friuls cost $27!! But I wouldn't trade those metal tracks for the vinyl rubber band tracks for anything!

QUOTE: Geez Bill, no Bergepanther?

Nope, I haven't been able to find one! The Italari is supposed to be pretty good, but it's too much when I've got so many other ones to do!

As for the Shanghai kit, I haven't seen one yet. Only the boxtop on the web. However, there is a very intense build article. But the guy used a lot of the Tamiya kit parts, and some am stuff. He did say it would build up pretty nicely oob, though.
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/dio/rwpanth/rwpanth.htm

And no, no shutzen! But there seems to be shutzen all over the place!!

Bill

Yeah Chris, I know how you feel about price, this kit is adding up! [:0]

The grills are around $7 at the websites. Still a good deal. A metal barrel doesn't make as much impression as a grill set.

"It is well that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it."-R.E.Lee

Well $7 is less than I would have thought. I'll have to try and find some at LHS since no credit card to get them off web. Main reason I am wanting a metal barel is because I have bad luck with the seam that goes down the plastic ones. No matter how hard I try , just can't get it to vanish to well.

you can still do a great job with the tracks that are in the Tamiya box
in the photo of my Panther G late there the stock tracks
just glue them down

Hear you guys on cost. Like I said I won my DML Ausf D in a raffle (cost me AUD$10 in tickets). I really wanted to do one in near new condition so I needed front fender extensions and replacement skirts (as the kit ones are too thick for my liking) plus engine grills and barrel. I probably still got off cheaper than you guys, but Fruil links are way beyond my 'allowance' until I stop being Mr Mom and go back to work. (The wife thinks that having this time at home, and being able to do all the models I already have, should outway most of the need to buy more kits and accessories . Oh LQ I do envy you having a wife that understands the modellers needs)

Anyway, have thought about drilling out the DML indy links a few times......but usually after I've had a couple of drinks

To everybody that has offered to help me with a web page: I didn't know that you could go to sites where they had instructions. If I can put Aber 3 part tool clamps together I should be able to figure out a web page......I hope. Then again, I might just take you guys up on that offer of help. Thanks.

sorry about all these questions about the tamiya plastic tracks , how do you put each link together? with a wire/pin like fruil tracks or do you glue them together?

May I join in the fun ???

dj,
sure! hop in! plenty of room here!

PantherLehr,
the Tamiya Indy links glue together. if you have a 1/35 Tamiya G and there is a
black sprue w/ separate links to hang on the tank as spares,
those are the EXACT links in the Tamiya indy set.
i have jpgs of them, and am waiting to put them up on Derek's build page.
i can email them to you if you send me your addy.

i also took pics of the Tamiya grilles and the Eduard PE Zim that comes
w/ the Tamiya Early G (w/ PE).

so, i am waiting to see when the site will be ready for (my lame) content,
or putting them up w/ RonUSMC or getting Moses to host them so you all can have a look.

ed.

wildwilliamReceived your stuff and it is up.

Derek,
looks great! thanks!
are the photo sizes ok? i cropped then to make them more manageable.
but i have some basic software i can make them smaller if it would help.

PantherLehr,
if you click on the 'web' icon from Claymore68's posts, and then click on 'my' page, you can get a look at the Tamiya indy links, Eduard PE & Tamiya grilles.

ed.
(ridiculously pleased w/ myself even tho Derek did all the work)

Wildwilliam- Looks like we have the same kit and paid about the same off Ebay. My PE Zim was crumpled exactly the same way. Must be something about that end. I'll probally be sticking witht the tracks that came with the kit, did preety good on getting the vinyal ones in my T62 to look like they were metal. Just planning on a barrel and after seeing your grill kit try to get one of those to.

Chris i used the kit tracks on this and it could look good you just need to glue them down

im sorry if im posting to many piccys

Jon- That does look good. So i guess the side skirt is an optional thing? I think it looks better without it and alot of the detail dose not get covered up by them.

Chris,
i have the Eduard barrel on order.
i will be posting a pic or two of it once it gets here.
(if you want to wait & see what it looks like)
ed.

they have some photos of the Eduard barrel on there site
it is so mutch better than the Jorbi Rubio barrel and if fits straight in with no more work to do on it (other than a bolt on the top of the muzzel brake)

That will work , probally be a couple of weeks before I can get around anyhwere to get one anyway.

this is what the eduard barrel looks like

That looks like it could work alot better than the kit one. Bout how much do those go for?

wildwilliam: Photo size was fine, I'm going to put a resize in the webpages with "click to enlarge".

i paid 16$ cdn for it, eduard part number 34001

Edit

34001 for the G variant - tamaiya kit
and 34018 for the A variant - doesn't say what kit

i'm not sure what the differences are , all panthers used the same gun so the G and A should be the same