Love how she's going, the different clear and painted areas look really cool. 

Thanks Clint.

I  hoping that my build will inspire "dark side" builders to look beyond prejudices and razor saws to hack about expensive kits to reveal detail and just to stop and think about what can be achieved with some masking tape and imagination.

Rye Field Models latest upcoming release is a Sturm Tiger. It has only one clear panel and that is the roof. I personally would like to have had the entire upper hull done clear so I could do like I am doing with the Panther G.

I think that they have taken dissenters comments to heart. I think that the limited version of the Panther G with clear upper hull and turret was and is a huge step forwards in display thinking for full interior kits.

Instead it seems to have frightened many "dark side" builders who scream and run off because it is "not how things are done" And post on Facebook to that effect.

Me? I'm happy to try something new and to let the creative juices flow and I say that this is a golden opportunity to show off a highly detailed interior without resorting to surgery by the simple use of masking tape!

I don't think that every bit of interior detail will be seen. The engine and cooling compartments are difficult to display, so the option to paint everything there including the covers (which are removeable) will have to do!

My aim is to display as much interior detail that I can and also to show just how cramped these tanks are.

James

I am in two minds over this kind of thing, isit a gimmick or a genuine attempt to put working detail in a kit!

It has been a bit cooller and I took the opportunity to work on the turret.

Shade authentic RAL 9001 (Vallejo) is used on the interior

Exterior colours.... Authentic RAL 6003 and 8017. The last shade of 7028 is replicated as closely as possible (just slightly darker) by RAL7008.

parts waiting to be put on after masking removed.

I hope you can see the display effect I am looking for now.

What I need to do is to clean all my fingerprints off the clear plastic without damaging the painting.

Thoughts, questions and comments

James

Looks good!!! 

I have a AFV Club M10 with the spring recoil system and once painted it gummed up and didn't work- not that I was all that upset about it.  

I do think that it would be possible to pose the main gun in the recoil position.

when building the main gun you have the option of using the spring or putting in another part that completes the gun tube. You have to then remove the spring block on the gun mount.... But it is an option in the build.

I will put one of my photos through photoshop with alterations marked.

I'm not on my PC at the moment. Also, the heatwave here in Gods Own Country has forced me to step away from the build until things get cooler. 30c heat does not help paints, nor does it help building as small parts are pinging into the depths never to be seen again.

I have emailed RFM to get sprues A&B for replacements. With a kit like this and the wealth of detail there is in it it seems not right to have a part missing on the build!

James

Looks like you're off to a good start, James!

The kit really seems to be overflowing with details.
After seeing that spring in the gun assembly, I wonder: Is it possible to forgo the spring and display the gun in its fully recoiled position?

Hi loyal followers of the dark Side! LOL!

The main gun is now built, painted and ready to fit.

It has taken a bit longer than I thought it would but I have had family visiting from overseas and of course, priming and painting will take up the majority of time in this build and I am keeping in mind all the time of the overall display result and some flexibility will probably be needed.

I don't like to rush and so I always work to my own time.

So! First I have a dry fit of major parts with reference to fit and painting.

Parts are then built up with reguard to painting and where they fit and how I am going to paint.

Once as much assembly as possible has been done, all parts are collected together and moved to the painting area.

Once all the painting has been done to original paint orders and references then time to build things up

Finally, a dry fit into the turret. Masking has been removed from this and detail is being added prior to re-masking for painting.

Now you're all up to date.

Comments and questions welcome.

James

I'm definitely going to keep an eye on this build.

This kit seems to be the best Panther G model out there right now. I just picked one up myself, so I can't wait to see what you're going to do with it!

Cheers, Clemens

Oh, sounds very cool James! The Academy T-34 is basically the regular kit just with the upper hull and turret molded in clear. I like the idea that Rye Field put a little more thought into it than that! 

Thanks Gamera.

How you approach a kit like this is a very individual thing and also the subject itself has a say as well as the actual design and level of detail within the kit.

Takom have approached their interior kits with a traditional exterior kit with interior without actually thinking about display options.

Meng, with their Tiger II kits have approached from a different direction and made it a tale of two kits.... You have the option of just an exterior build and glue the upper hull roof panel in place as well as the engine deck panels and the turret roof panels, or add the internal kit and leave the roof panels loose so they can be removed to show the interior and engine compartment.

Rye Field Models have chosen a different path that is just slightly different to Takoms and that is to provide the upper hull and turret in clear plastic.....  And it is really clear! This, along with options of a late '44 early '45 Panther to a July '45 Panther that the British had built at the MAN factory for testing purposes.

There is a huge wealth and depth of detail in this kit which, unfortunately is a limited edition. The second batch has the upper hull and turret in tan plastic which puts it directly in Takom's thinking sphere. The internal detail remains the same, but with the upper hull and turret now being in tan plastic limits the view and so hides all the work that has been done. There may be a way around this which I will discuss later in the build.

The transparent upper hull and turret in this version gives the builder a large range of finishing options that gives the opportunity of showing off all the internal detail and areas of external camouflage (or not as the builder wishes) while also keeping the size of the tank (Panthers are not small) and showing how cramped the interior is without resorting to razor saws and scalpels and hacking apart quite an expensive kit.

Personally, I do like both Meng's Tiger II approach and RFM's clear upper hull/turret as both give options to display the interiors without having to resort to surgery that may be disasterous.

Lets see more of this thinking from companies!

James

The build has begun..... Watch this space!

Love what you're doing here!!! 

If I ever, ever, ever get around to my Academy transparent T-34/85 I might have to borrow your idea! 

Hi Clint,

Sorry, but the lower hull is a complete write off! practically all of a 100ml bottle of AK xtreme cleaner went over it and it is no way salvageable.

I can build the turret and turret basket as none of those parts have been affected and get a turret stand from Meng when they get out to the population.

I do have the new kit which is the same build apart from the turret.

I can recommend Meng's kits as being better than Takoms especially from the display point of view and I encountered no fit problems at all right up to the accident.

These are now in my stash...

I will be replacing the destroyed kit(s) and getting a couple of these....

Still plenty of fun to come and I will have one of Zoukei-Muras 1/32 kits on my bench later this year.... not sure which one yet though!

Still open to questions, comments and thoughts on my display choice!

James