ARMOR - Panther (PzKpfw V) Group Build (any scale) - FineScale Modeler - Essential magazine for scale model builders, model kit reviews, how-to scale modeling, and scale modeling products

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 24, 2003 12:25 PM

OK guys....I'll be the first to admit it...I DONT KNOW JACK ABOUT WW2 Armor...Sure I know there were tigers,panthers,T-34's,and a slew of others....Ok I went to the LHS with my note card handed it to the owner and he pointed me to about 100 different kits all in 1/35 with PzKpfWV on the boxes....someone tell me what exactly am I getting? Some had aus F or D behind the slew of other lettering. One kit was a Tamiya(One of my favorite manufacturers) priced at $13.50 but he told me that was an older Tamiya kit...he said it like it was a bad thing. HELP!!!! Please LOL! Im planning a trip over to Mobile this weekend and gonna drop into hobbytown....I have a rough idea on what the price's are but if I see one at Hobbytown cheaper I need to know what Im buying....
Sorry for the in-evitably stupid question.....geesh I feel like a doof!
Thanks,
Chris

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shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Friday, October 24, 2003 12:35 PM

Chris - yes the old Tamiya Panther is a "bad thing". Seeing as you are kind of new to the "dark side", I would highly recommend that you go for one of the newer Tamiya Panthers. They are a little more pricey than some kits but they're engineering is top drawer and don't have indy tracks which can be the downfall of many first time armour builders. Try kits #35170, #35174, or #35176 and if you really want to splurge, #35261 includes PE.

Hope this helps a bit ..... even a Sherman builder could build these ones.

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 24, 2003 12:40 PM

Thanks Robert..again you have come to my aid. LOL
You should have seen it...I was really scratching my head looking at all those kits! I'll let ya all know which one I go with after I pick it up.
Chris

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Friday, October 24, 2003 12:59 PM

Chris,

For a little basic terminology. PzKfw meant (for all intents and purposes) a tank. Ausf whatever is a model designation. However, they don't necessarily go in order. For instance, for some unknown and probably forever arcane reason, a Panther Ausf D was the first model and an A the second, then they jumped up to G for the next and never quite got an F fielded. But, even more confusing is that there are different models within the Ausf's. For example, the Panther G had at least 3 different mods and the Tiger I 4 or 5, depending on who's doing the counting.

Don't get hung up in it unless you want to. Just find a model you like and go for it. Armor (at least models) won't hurt. You'll like it!

btw, I'm doing the old Tamiya Panther you and Robert have been talking about. But I've got a mess of aftermarket parts for it and am doing it as much of a challange as anything else. Just to see what happens!

Bill

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 24, 2003 1:20 PM

Hey Shermanfreak, are you gonna join us on this build?

Would be a hoot to see you build a Panther, Robert Evil [}:)]

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Moses

Member since
February 2003
From: Long Island

Posted by Moses on Friday, October 24, 2003 1:26 PM

Wow, missed this thread. Although I am having a hard time using the airbrush with the wife being pregnant..I am all for joining the build group. I have a Tamiya Panther G late and Tamiya Jagdpanther Late on the shelf. I would love to get that Panther G started up once I finish building this Schwimmy. Count me in!!!

Cheers

Rob

"ZIM FIRST, ASK QUESTIONS LATER!!"

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shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Friday, October 24, 2003 2:01 PM

Eric .... aren't the 7 that I have already built enough?

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

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erush

Member since
May 2003
From: USA, GA

Posted by erush on Friday, October 24, 2003 2:28 PM

The Panther G late is one of my favorite looking German tanks. IF I didn't have the Jadgpanther ready to go I'd pull the G out.

Just find one you like Chris but do lean toward the newer kits. Much better detail and fit on them. They'll build nice OOB if you don't want to get too involved on your first armor kit.

Eric

Hi, I'm Eric and I'm a Modelholic too. I think I have PE poisioning.

"Friendly fire...isn't"

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Kumy

Member since
December 2002
From: Steeler Country

Posted by Kumy on Friday, October 24, 2003 2:51 PM

Is it ok if I do a Jagdpanther fella's?

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 24, 2003 4:23 PM

Dwight: Jump in anytime you are ready.

Eric: You're welcome

Box1: May be you can help the rest of us that have Tamiya Panther G late.

Kumakichi: Bring on the Jagd!

A little more on terminology: Panzer Kampf Wagen is the full term literally meaning armoured struggle car. It was shortened to the acronym PzKpfW or simply Panzer. The PzKpfW V was the Panther. The Ausferlung (sp?) aka Ausf was a varient with in the model. Therefore in US nomenclature, a Pzkpfw V Ausf A would be an M5A1.
The first Panther variant, to my knowledge, was the A. Later renamed the D1. When the Ds started coming out the first ones were also called D1s, Getting confused yet? My fingers don't know what to do now so i'll quit but you can see how it went.

BTW: I am kinda suprised how this has grown. I believe the idea started on the Tiger group build thread, went to one of PantherLehr's posts, I was asked to start a thread and here we are!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 24, 2003 5:53 PM

still waiting on my a/m parts here but i have my kit (cheated a little , i got half my roadwheels sanded Big Smile [:D]

), very nice to see how many people are joining. anyone have experience with the barrel store and how long it takes with them , i ordered last week but have yet to receive a confirmation e-mail or anything Sad [:(]

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Friday, October 24, 2003 5:55 PM

Glad to see both the Eric twins in. Cool [8D]

Wildwilliam, you got the same kit I'm building, were taking the easy way out on the zim aren't we?

Wouldn't mind a Jagdpanther myself, but all who have one are welcome to build it with us.

Any Bergepanther builders out there?

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

Eric

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Kumy

Member since
December 2002
From: Steeler Country

Posted by Kumy on Friday, October 24, 2003 6:47 PM

Thanks guys Smile [:)]

I have no reference materials yet. I've been digging on the internet. Does anybody know if only some Jagdpanther came with zimmerit? I'm guessing the earlier ones from Dec. 43 to sometime in mid to late 44? I know so little about these beasties. Would really appreciate any help Wink [;)]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 24, 2003 7:06 PM

with the Jagdpanther the late ones with the bolted mantle didnt have zim the ealy mantle may have/did thats the easy way to look at it with out getting my books out
the Tamiya Jagdpanther is a great kit and even comes with the late panther bits (great for your parts box) ive got one that kneeds finishing
some panther and jagdpanther links for you all http://www.jagdtiger.de/index2.htm?http://www.jagdtiger.de/GermanTanks/PzIV-01.htm
http://afvinteriors.hobbyvista.com/jagpan/jp1.html
http://afvinteriors.hobbyvista.com/pan/pan.html
http://www.geocities.com/desertfox1891/nightfightingpanthers/nightfightingpanthers.htm
most here might know them heres one about the different kinds of zimerate
http://www.panzerdiesel.com/data/e/27b.html

glad you all could join us

Robert. a Panther would look good on that Dragonwagon of yours, a nice Dragon A or Tamiya G

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Friday, October 24, 2003 7:10 PM

Glad to have you Kumakichi. The early Jagdpanther came with what is called a cross-hatching pattern. This looks much like a grid. To me it looks kinda tedious to do, unless you go aftermarket on it. This is explained in FSM May 2002 issue.

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

Eric

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shermanfreak

Member since
January 2003

Posted by shermanfreak on Friday, October 24, 2003 7:10 PM

Jon ... enough Panthers were hauled around on the back of the DW as war prizes after the war .... so I think I'll stay with my original plan.

Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 24, 2003 9:34 PM

Again many thanks to everyone for explaining this all to me...I will be looking to pick up my kit tomorrow and will let everyone know what I went with.
Thanks,
Chris

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Saturday, October 25, 2003 4:04 AM

Chris, I'm hoping for a Tamiya Panther G. Of course it's up to you.

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

Eric

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 25, 2003 11:47 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman

Chris, I'm hoping for a Tamiya Panther G. Of course it's up to you.

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

Is the type G the one with something about steel wheels on the box? If so I looked at it today...however $57 Shock [:O]

is a bit steep for my first armor kit...I'm still considering it...I didnt make it to Hobby town(Mobile) today as I had planned...but Im going tomorrow because its RACE DAY!!!!! And the Snakepit will be out in full force KATN! Wink [;)]

Chris

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lizardqing

Member since
July 2003
From: Dahlonega, Georgia

Posted by lizardqing on Sunday, October 26, 2003 1:06 AM

Hey guys count me in. I've yet to do a real piece of German armor so it could be a good thing. A plus is that I've got to get my foot welded the first of jan so I'll have nothing to do but sit around and build, which is alot better than the 3 month's of judge judy back in the summer. I should be able to get by a shop in the next month and try to decide which to get. It's almost tempting to try out some zimmeret.

Chris The Scale Firehouse The Lizard's Workshop

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Sunday, October 26, 2003 2:17 AM

HistoryinScale, there are three versions of the G- Early, Late, Steel wheel. You should be able to get those much cheeper if you order through a web-store, rather than your LHS. Probably more like low $30's. Give www.greatmodels.com or www.rollmodels.com a looksie. I have a few things to order through them for our build. Good luck.

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

Eric

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 26, 2003 12:56 PM

Here are the best of the links i used for my Panther.

http://www.ww2modelmaker.com/articlepub/ChadPerkinsBuildingPantherG.htm
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/dio/rwpanth/rwpanth.htm
http://www.twenot.nl/panther.htm
http://www.waffenhq.de/panzer/panther2.html
http://www.panzer-modell.de/
http://www.waffenhq.de/index1280.html (german site with Zip file full of pics, also some good vids)
http://www.europa1939.com/whermacht/carros/panther.html#6 ( in Spanish)

I used the Aber Fender set and the side skirt set
I will post some pics soon (when i can work out how!)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 26, 2003 3:00 PM

Historyinscale there are three tamiya Panther gs as Tigerman said, the one with steel wheels is the early G with an added sprue with the steel wheels and NV gear in the box
the late Panther G is i nice kit (its basicly the same as the others but has some nice figures in there and a chin on the mantle
dont bother with the Tamiya panther with the Eduard PE zimerit set becouse if you wanted it you could proberbly get it cheaper buying seperatly

box1 to get the images up you will need to have your pictures hosted on line,
when you do you just right click on the picture and open its properties and copy the address, then paste it between

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nmayhew

Member since
July 2003
From: Kent, England

Posted by nmayhew on Sunday, October 26, 2003 3:58 PM

hi guys

i've got tamiya's steel wheeled panther but have a resin pre-zimmed hull and turret (sorry moses, don't read any further! Black Eye [B)]

), which i want to do for this, my first group build Smile [:)]

however, i need a camo scheme and decals... Disapprove [V]

i was thinking of the tamiya/eduard zim combo (red 435 or something like that), but how do i get them? does anyone on this build have them spare?? Tongue [:P]

i looked on archer's web site, but they don't seem to have anything for panther g's, which i find a bit strange Disapprove [V]

i've scoured loads of web galleries and seen lots of cool pics, but few seem to add a little history of their kit re unit, location etc etc, and no-one puts down where they got their decals from!!! Angry [:(!]

i'm really keen on the group-build, so i'm desperate to get a scheme sorted out.
many thanks for all your help as always, Smile [:)]

regards,
nick

Kind regards, Nicholas

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 26, 2003 4:47 PM

I ordered the Tamiya Panther with the Eduard PE(cant remember the kit # think its 325671 or something like that) through HobbyTown in Mobile...for $37.99 + tax...Should be in by next weekend. He didnt have many panthers in stock as far as Tamiya went...he had a few dragon kits...So since I had to order something I figured I might as well go all out and get the PE goodies.
Chris

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Sunday, October 26, 2003 6:28 PM

HistoryinScale, I should have told you about Tamiya's p/e grille set, it'll really spruce up the rear deck of the Panther. You can get it for less than $10 at your LHS.

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

Eric

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wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Posted by wildwilliam on Monday, October 27, 2003 7:23 AM

Tigerman,
hope Moses does not notice our slacking w/ the Zim out of the box!! Big Smile [:D]

got my kit on ebay for cheap a ways back.

All,
was thinking abt going OOB, but already the evil ways of the darkside are pulling at me! was someone saying that the rear deck grills were cheap & easy? Tongue [:P]

and some one else is waiting on a metal barrel?
i guess i have just over a month to figure out what to do and get it in one place! i do have the Squadron/Signal book for the Panther. guess i had better start looking for a tank to pretend i am modeling. i am attracted to that three tone camo w/ dots/leaves/triangles. what is that? ambush? assault?
something like that! Wink [;)]

i had better get this pzkpfw IV ausf. D off the bench pronto!!

glad to see so many folks hopping on. i am sure it will provide me w/ the motivation i need to get this project started.
AND FINISHED !! Big Smile [:D]

ed.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 27, 2003 8:37 AM

Captain Caveman: I thought the steel wheel was a late G. Confused [%-)]

Am I mistaken? Shock [:O]

Anyway one site i ranacros stated that there were only about 24 steel wheel variants built which seems low to me. Off to do more research!

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erush

Member since
May 2003
From: USA, GA

Posted by erush on Monday, October 27, 2003 9:05 AM

Derek I know my steel wheel G kit is a late version and I'm pretty sure all the steel wheel varients were late. I think it was due to the rubber shortages toward the end of the war that they started doing that.

Eric

Hi, I'm Eric and I'm a Modelholic too. I think I have PE poisioning.

"Friendly fire...isn't"

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

What I am thinking...

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 27, 2003 12:20 PM

late Panther G.........Jagdpanther....................Late Panther G..................Jagdpanther.............late Panther G.............aaahhhh!!! can't decide???

Kenneth

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