Hello tankers,
I hope it's OK by writing this in English as my Dutch is really awful
Since 2 years now my 1:15th scale Panther kit of the limited-lot production from Markus Horn is waiting here to be built, now at last I started building it and would like to give you some impression of this beautiful and uncommon model in this scale.
I decided building an "Early A" version what just makes some minor differences to the kits' version.
The kit itself is highly engineered with Aluminium lower hull, Aluminium road wheels with rubber tyres, metal tracks premounted and comes with the entire components, what makes it a kit to be built right out of the box.
Anyway, I am always looking for some extra detailing.
Hope you enjoy this.
The Panther should look like this Original when finished one time:
Starting with the suspension and the sprocket wheels, where the sprocket cover is fastened with 1mm screws instead of being glued:
The transmission cover is rebuild and added, besides the 2 bolts on the front end of the hull were usually used to fasten the mud flap extension of the D & A versions:
Followed by the back panel, where I also decided to screw the components instead of glueing them to the hull:
Newly designed exhaustpipes bent with the help of sand filling and heat:
Shackles secured by 1mm splinter pins:
The back panels' nearly finished layout:
After this I cared for the details on the turret, starting with the commanders' copula, where I added some weld seams by using "magic sculp":
And the commanders' direct sight:
Some handles and the fully workable safety locker for the escape hatch are fitted:
After fitting the main gun with the elevation device like shown in the manual, the turret was nearly finished, so I spent some effort on the superstructure of the Panther. The tool racks fitted to the starboard sides are moulded within the upper hull. So I decided to design them completely new by using brass and copper material. The left tool rack prior to soldering:
...and after soldering in comparison to the kits' moulded version:
The Panther at present status:
So, that's it for now and what the model looks like this morning and I think it still will take minimum 1 more year before I'll get this thing finished.
Hope you'll like this, eventhough I write in English- and if so, I would like to keep you informed and updated from time to time.
Critical comments are always welcome.
Have a nice sunday.
Cheers
Uwe
