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

QUOTE: Originally posted by Captain Caveman heres one i made earlyer

Nice buildup, Caveman. I love the way the treads look.

Anyone considering one of those Flak Panthers? Those things are wacked out! Did they actually build any of them?

Just for fun, I had considered building the Ersatz M-10 Panther from Skorzeny's unit on the Bulge. That is majorly cool, and Accurate Armour makes a kit for it!



But I don't currently have a Panther built up in 1/35th, so I'd prefer to do a more hum-drum representational one at first -- probably a Late G from Wiking in the Budapest battles of early 1945 -- with that funky vertical stripe three-color pattern.

Someone who has a dozen Panthers on the shelf should definitely do that Ersatz buggy though! It will set you back a chunk of change, though -- more than $30, the cost of another kit.

Wildwilliam, I'm sure Moses is shaking his head and wants us to try doing it ourselves. I plan to on my Elefant. However, they came with the Panther at no additional markup.

As for OOB, I had to get grilles, they just spice up the rear deck. I need tracks too, those vinyls are just wrong! Indy's look so much better, even if they take longer to assemble. I'm still debating on a alum barrel, but I think I will order one. Why not?

I just purchased an Osprey New Vanguard Panther book to go along with my many others. Neat camo schemes, info yada, yada.

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

edog,
great link! thanks for that & the barrel tip.
i think i will slip that and the grill PE into my stalled greatmodels order and quit there.

muzzleflash,
i might be able to do that.
i am in southeastern PA, i thin Aberdeen is only an hour or so away.
not this weekend tho!
unless my buddy cancels out, i am headed to Massachusetts.

ed

WOW!! All I did was have a busy weekend, I come back and the forum looks different, and the group build is on page 4 !!!!!


I have the DML Jagdpanther, late model with bolt on mantlet.
I'm going to tear the box open and check out the kit.
I know it has indy tracks, but not the sherman style (thank goodness)

Well here is the 1:1 of my 1:35 project to build..



Anyone want to meet at aberdeen to take more pictures before it gets TOO cold?

wildwilliam,

75mm KwK 42 L/70

I found that info here: http://www.achtungpanzer.com/pz4.htm#panther

As far as what manufacturer to go with, I HIGHLY recommend Eduard. Their muzzle breaks are already on the barrel and require no cleanup.

Kenneth,
perhaps both?

All,
i see i am going to have to start reading the reference book!
was checking great models for aluminum barrels, and realized:
i have no idea what gun an 'early' G model carried!
tough to order when you don't know what you need.
and the stuff is a whole new language!
looks like the CMK piece comes w/ a zimmed mantlet,
if "7.5cm KwK 42 L/70" is the right gun.
Jordi Rubio makes one w/o mantlet, i think.

any recommendations on the barrel maunfacturer's ?

obviously a you mis-spent on wingy things and race cars is little help here.
much to learn!
i want to have any and all accessories assembled in time for the build start.
think i will limit myself to the Tamiya grille set and a barrel.
i think.

ed.

Well, I've got a major dilemma!

I planned on doing the old Tamiya Panter A, adding to it several AM parts. Including a resin turret, metal barrel, pe clamps, etc. But my wife got me the new Aber "super set" for the Dragon D or A. Now I know what the poor guys on the 1/16 Tiger build have been going through. But these things are half the size! This set is unbelievable. It has 4 large frets, 1 medium fret, 2 small frets (one has the engine screens, the other is "microscopic" chains, 3 sizes of wire, a square of wood (looks like balsa) for the jack block, a length of "cable", a beautiful aluminum barrel, and some turned brass parts! And a 35 page instruction book! Oh man! Aber is a Polish company, and all I can figure is that this is their "payback" for all those jokes that used to go around!! Revenge is sweet!
Seriously this is one awesome set. Various combinations of the parts can be used to detail a D, an early or late A! It looks like there are lots of parts that are exclusive to each version, so could be spread over several kits.
But this looks very much like a 1+ year project to me (the way I work). I know there's no way I could even make much of a dent in it in two or even three months. I've never seen anything so daunting!

Bill

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

Kenneth

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

Captain Caveman: I thought the steel wheel was a late G. Am I mistaken? 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!

Tigerman,
hope Moses does not notice our slacking w/ the Zim out of the box!!
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? 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!

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 !!

ed.

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

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

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!), which i want to do for this, my first group build
however, i need a camo scheme and decals...
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??
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
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!!!
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,
regards,
nick

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

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!)

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

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.

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 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!
Chris

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

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

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.

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

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

Thanks guys

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

Glad to see both the Eric twins in.

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

still waiting on my a/m parts here but i have my kit (cheated a little , i got half my roadwheels sanded ), 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

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!

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

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