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

Jon or Frosty, isn't Dragon supposed to release an Ersatz M10? Should or could be out by now? Anyway, good luck Frosty on your adventure.

Sorry Jon, I don't have a clue about Milliput. I wish I had the time and patience to do my own zim (kits doesn't have enough depth IMO). Anyway, i just want to have fun and not stress out. Already I'm waffling on schurzen and now I'm thinking of a tri-color camo and not an ambush scheme. I thought that would make more sense for my future G late version.

Eric (Erock), when do we get to find out about your little surprise?

im thinking of useing Milliput for the Zim as i cant get tamiya putty over here
anyone know whats the bast colour box for milliput Black or Red

frosty your welcome, if your after any other photos of the M10, you could try looking at the Model sites like missing-lynx for built models

Got the grilles on and they look great. Be careful with the glue, use sparingly on them. I've said it many times, really sets off the rear deck. I don't have a digi camera yet, so I took a picture with my old zoom lens, I'll try to get it up later.

All,
just a few quick words:
i discovered you CAN remove the big square pieces of zim.
i was unhappy w/ the front piece so i popped it off w/ a #10 (curved) blade.
work slowly and keep the sharp side toward the plastic!

unfortunately, this did not work w/ the smaller piece from the back part of the hull.
piece looked like it would tear, so i quit while i was behind.
maybe if i had steadier hands, stronger nerves, or put it in the freezer first . . .

i will share Eric's philosphy and try to conceal it.
if i try to remove this one, i might end up w/ a more obvious problem.

my Eduard barrel arrived.
looks beautiful!
i will post a few pics w/ Derek tonight, as soon as i review naming rules, etc.
thank goodness i use a digital camera.
i need to take about 15 pics to get 5 usuable ones!!

i will also try to get together a list of the FSM issues that have Panther articles or pictures.

ed.

I should ditto Ed on products.

Tamiya early G with pe #35261
Tamiya track links #35171
Tamiya Grille set #35172
Eduard G barrel for Tamiya # 34 001
Eduard zimmerit

Got the rear deck finished, except for the grilles and torsion bars installed as well as the storage boxes on the rear plate finished. Had a near disaster with the pe for the rear plate. I was using Zap CA and that stuff is fast! I got it off and repositioned it. A few wrinkles, but should be covered up with the exhuast pipes.

Brian, I'm having second thoughts on the schurzen, kits doesn't look that great and since I have the indy tracks, sag won't be a problem. Not sure.

Thanks for the heads up Wildwilliam. I've yet to get anything done, hopefully tonite though. Everything is primered though since I was'nt counting on any more nice weather. I might go ahead and try out a few pieces of zim tonite also.

Frostygirl had a lot on her mind...

Can't wait to start seeing pictures of other peoples builds... I got to call Tamiya to get a copula and perisopes. Its great being able to order individual sprues from them. Is anyone else taking advantage of this...

Goal for tonight is to finnish re-dressing the weld lines and flame cut edges.

Kenneth

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman Frosty is going to build a Ersatz- you go girl! Sorry that is old school. Anyway it should be fun.

no apologies needed... i'm liking old school all the time , yo !
(got my baby blue adidas gazelles in the backpack rite now, in fact ! )
looking forward 2 building with everyone !
frosty

QUOTE: Originally posted by djmodels1999 Frosty, Of course the day I need it, the scanner does not work... Is there a fax number I can send the stuff to (2-3 pages). e-mail me at dominique.jadoul@kent.gov.uk

Domi:
thanx for the offer, & 4 trying !
if u can, try faxing the stuff 2 my friends at MoMA, and they'll get 'em to my mom. the fax number there is : 212 995-1350
better than e-mail, since attached documents tend 2 crash this 'puter...
thanx again !
frosty

QUOTE: Originally posted by Captain Caveman heres a photo of a M10 frosty

Captain C.:
thanx ever so much 4 the pic of the ersatz m10....
sorry, i'd have said thanx sooner, but i just saw this 4 the first time .
please don't think i'm not grateful, it's just that this thread is getting so huge it's hard to keep track (no pun intended) of it all !!!
too bad u have 2 wait until the weekend 2 start, but best of luck w/ ur build !
frosty

QUOTE: Originally posted by PantherLehr frosty: there is one picture in the book of a panther disguised as a m-10, i'll scan and post it later , right now i'm just finished getting my airbrush setup to prime my pak-40 when i'm done with that i'll get it for you

PantherLehr:
triple thanx again 4 the ersatz m10 pix !!!
i missed this post too...
hope ur pak-40 is turning out ok !
frosty

QUOTE: Originally posted by wipw I got started (barely) last night. I got the first layer of filler in and some preliminary sanding done. I also (barely) dodged an almost fatal bullet! (Anybody know something that disolves epoxy??) Bill

Bill:

OUCH !!! what a pain.... but at least u caught it before u went too much further !

i heard that baby wipes will clean up uncured epoxy, but i'm not sure anything out there will dissolve it once it gets hard.

i totally fear epoxy & superglue... if i have 2 use either on a project, i get really nervous that i'm going 2 end up with something attached ... 2 me !

frosty

Still waiting on my Aftermarket stuff

Tamiya Jagdpanther late
Eduard Barrel ED34017
Eduard PE ED35337

Oh and an Etchmate!

Looks like i wont start until the 8th as im going away tomorrow!

I'll have some catching up to do when i get back!

What? You're gonna sand off the Tamiya logo?[:0]
That's blaspemy, Bill!

I got started (barely) last night.

Working with the old Tamiya kit, I have to block and fill all the motorization holes and sand them and the Tamiya logo down. I got the first layer of filler in and some preliminary sanding done. I also (barely) dodged an almost fatal bullet! I am using the Armor Research Panther Center Road Wheel Set (#2029). This set adds the second set of center road wheels that is missing from the Tamiya kit. The instructions say to glue them to the kit wheels with the dished side against the flat side of the kit parts. Well, I guess I need a lesson in symantics because I took that to mean the convex side of the new wheels should be glued next to the kit wheels. The spacing looked about right. (btw, I used 5 minute epoxy! Nothing like making it easy.) An hour later, I started worrying about it and checked the instruction sheets for two of the Dragon kits. They both show the convex sides pointing away from each other. YaHa!. So, I spend over an hour prying the wheels apart with my razor saw. (Anybody know something that disolves epoxy??) I think the only thing that saved me is that my epoxy is several years old! Anyway, they are once again in 16 seperate parts. Some of the metal wheels are a little scared up, but I'll settle for that, under the circumstances.

Bill

weeee...
Stayed up burning the midnight oil last night. Got a good start. When I get access to a digicam i'll submit some pictures. I have to confess though like many others I jumped the gun a little. I built the MK tracks over the Thanksgiving holiday (what else was I to do with 4 days off in a row..... )

Roll on ya'll....

Kenneth

frosty's ersatz m10 project: first report

i'll b using Hasegawa 1/72 Panther ausf. G as the basis for the conversion. ( i already had a Revell Panther D/A, but decided 2 keep that for another project... it really is a nice looking kit as domi says !)

the conversion will b done in almost the same way as the prototype.
removal of commanders cupola & rear stowage boxes
adding new parts: false glacis plate, false mantlet, false turret armor, flush hatch , false differential covers, replacement side skirts and rear deck assembly
adding details: lifting hooks, bolt detail, lights, front step, spare track

most of the new parts will b scratchbuilt w/ styrene sheet, strip and rod, and details scrounged from other kits or scratchbuilt also.

so far i've:
sawed off the commander's cupola, filled in the hole with a sheet styrene plug (used my new circle cutter, only took about 6 tries, lol)
sheet styrene shims and some squadron green putty

cut patterns/templates for new glacis, side skirts, and back plate

installed styrene strip spacers to front of glacis on Panther (this is so the false glacis will clear the mg mount, just like on the prototype)

i think the things that will give me the most trouble will b the differential covers and the compound angles on the front and rear of the false turret armor .

i'm also in 4 a fair amount of puttying, filing and sanding all around. these r my least fave things, but by working this way i hope that my skill in these areas will improve a little bit.

well, that's my project at a glance. i'll keep posting updates, and some pix will b coming as well.... stay tuned 2 this channel !

good luck and happy modeling 2 u all !!!

frosty

Chris,
i put some of the PE zim on the lower hull (front and back pieces, not the sides).
the thin Zap is definitely too fast for me!!
the first two pieces i put down were off by just a bit, and locked down in place.
almost zero adjustment time.
dropped back and punted. switched over to the green (bottle) zap a gap
and did much better w/ the next piece.

i have pretty much completed the first three steps.
idler arms on, road wheels, drive sprockets and idler wheels assembled.
jack assembled, reduction gear covers assmbled, but not on yet.

going pretty well so far. have not glued anything to my fingers.
and i did the first two pieces of PE zim on the lowest parts of the hull so
any problems would be better concealed.

i will try to get some pics & text to Derek today after work.

My stuff:
Tamiya Panther Type G, Early w/ Eduard PE Zim
Tamiya independent track links
Tamiya grille set
Eduard aluminum barrel (still has not arrived).

ed.

Started the 1/72 Revell kit (ausf D/ audf A). Took a few pics that I'll send along soon. The kit is pretty impressive, particularly when compared to earlier kits from Hasegawa (albeit the one I have is a Ausf G). Details and the quality of the molding is superb, yet not as good as their later offerings such as the Pz IV, Leclerc, Merkava and the like...

There were a number of annoying sink holes on the side walls of the hull, but they'll be hidden by the wheels. However, just to be on the safe side, I filled them in with Milliput. Milliput was also used to fill in the (nice) engraving of the interlocking plates of the hull and of the turret... I'm not sure yet whether I'll simply engrave the Zimmerit ontoi the plastic or try it with a thin layer of putty... I know the first technique works, 'cause I've used it in the past, but the thin layer of putty does add a bit of thickness, and is therefore more realistic...

The wheels are simply superb (much better than Hasegawa's). I've started adding the individual links to the drive spocket and a couple of longer sections of track, but left the outer layer of roadwheels off until much later. This will make it easier to represent the worn metal of the middle layers of road wheels...

I can post the kits and components on the main page under your name, no problem.

RE: Tracks, I decided to go with the early tracks as I want this to be a real veteran. You'll see what I mean later, but suffice to say it will be pretty beat up.[ :D]

My PE is for the Italeri kit, not sure if the site I ordered from didn't specify or if I missed it but a Panther A is a Panther A, no matter who made the kit.

P.S. Your stuff is up Petbat.

As per the page I sent Derek:

Main Kit:
Dragon Panther Ausf D (Kursk) 1/35th scale

Vehicle Extras:
Armo Aluminium Barrel
3 x Part PE sets Engine Grills Schurtzen Front Fenders
Eduard Zoom German Tool clamps

Other Accesories:
Dragon 'Tiger Aces' figure set
Lots of styrene strip/rod/card and brass sheet.....and lots of patience

That sounds better Eric. I figured i would give them a little slack cause of last week, hope they don't take to long though.

im going to have to wait for the weekend to start

I didn't mean to scare you Chris, now that I remember, the item that they shipped second was a preorder. I was surprised that they charged me shipping again, but that was one of my first online orders and I didn't know if that was the wa they worked or not. I'm sure you'll be o.k. I'd email them tomorrow and ask what's holding them up. They're usually prompt at replies. They could be bombarded right now for the holidays.

Tigerman-Well if they try to charge me extra for shipping then they can just refund the difference since that would completely defeat the biggest reason for going with them of saving money. I hope they wil be here soon cause I worked on it a little in the last hour or so and those parts are all I need to finish up Actually I hope to get a start on some of the road wheels tommorow since those seem to be that I set to the side the most.

Something sorta of similiar happened to me at Greatmodels. It said it was in stock, but my status said it was searching for it. I assume they have a supplier that can guarantee merchadise within a certain time period. I ended up getting it within a week. Hopefully they won't ship part of your order and the rest later. They did that to me and charged me extra shipping, which they shouldn't have done.

looks like its a backorder to me chris, you should give them a call on the timeframe to fill in the order.

i too join the ranks of those that got nothing done today , all i did was put up a few more pictures of what i did this weekend - 2nd clear coat on t-34 and primer on the pak-40 , humm i finished my left side tracks too , maybe i should put pictures of those up.

i think i'll start with the roadwheels / suspension assembly just so i can mount the tracks see how they look on the (unfinished) kit.

Chris are you finished yet. Sorry, I just couldn't resist. You've finished more kits in the past couple of weeks than I have finished in the past two years. Thing is they look great. Maybe that's my problem, I take too much time. Anyway BTW, good luck on your build.

Allright ,I finally made it here today atleast. Got nothing done on the Panther though. Since I got off work had a brush fire, kitchen fire and had to work on the engine and it's now 10:30 p.m. , so no progress for me.

Here's my planed fiasco:
Tamiya Panther G Early w/ PE zim
Tamiya pe grills
Eduard barrel
tool tube- don't know was $2 thought I would see

Now if the parts other than the kit would ship I would be doing ok. Of coarse I check the staus at great models and it no longer says waiting for payment, but does not say has been shipped either. Everything says 1 ordered and 0 available, is this a bad sign?