German Panther Kit Choice Help

[hrcblade]

Hi

Have not built anything in a couple of years and looking to dig out the airbrush and tools and get busy again. I am thinking of a Panther kit but with so much choice not sure what one to get. Not looking for something too involved, more a nice medium challenge kit to start up again.

Looking about online these seem to be my choices:

Dragon 1/35 Sd.Kfz.171 Panther G w/Zimmerit '39-'45 Series # 6384

Tamiya 1/35 Panther G w/Steel Wheels # 35174

Tamiya 1/35 Panther G Late Version # 35176

Dragon 1/35 Sd.Kfz.171 Panther A early type Italy 1943/44 # 6160

Dragon - Sd.Kfz.171 Panther A Late Production - Scale 1:35 6358

Any help and advice greatly appreciated.......

Can't wait to get building again .... been too long

[Aziraphael]

Not sure about the others but Dragon's Panther A Late Production needs Zimmerit to be accurate i think. You'll either have to do it yourself or go to the extra expense of buying some after market resin stuff.

If your're looking for an easy kit, the Tamiya ones would fit that bill. Plus they're usually a fair bit cheaper than Dragon's offerings.

Edited February 6, 2012 by Aziraphael

[JackG]

Yes Tamiya would be the choice if you want decent detail but not a huge parts count.

If you can find a Dragon boxing labelled as Smart Kit, those would be good too. The slide mold technology allows easier builds but still maintains high quality.

regards,

Jack

[Aziraphael]

Yes Tamiya would be the choice if you want decent detail but not a huge parts count.

If you can find a Dragon boxing labelled as Smart Kit, those would be good too. The slide mold technology allows easier builds but still maintains high quality.

regards,

Jack

That'd be Dragon's 6370: Sd.Kfz.171 Panther G w/Steel Road Wheels .

[Andy K]

If you want something relatively easy to build go for Tamiya, Dragon tend to be more in depth and the instructions can be a bit of a 'mare too.

[Panzer Vor!!!]

If you want something relatively easy to build go for Tamiya, Dragon tend to be more in depth and the instructions can be a bit of a 'mare too.

top class advice totally agree

[hrcblade]

Thanks guys will see if the local modelshop has a Tamiya kit, if not will order online today.

[hrcblade]

Picked this up today in Tunbridge Wells ..... Thanks for the info guys .... hopefully can knock something decent out after a long time away.

[Wayne rc]

The Tamiya Panthers are easy builds but inaccurate,and only have rubber band tracks.

The Dragon kits are far superior. The premium ed Ausf D and A have etch and great accurate tracks with hollow guide horns.....the steel wheel and late G smart kits have the same track and minimum etch. If you are not bothered with etch the smart kit is good OOTB.

And with added etch, amazing....a little Panther knowledge and some minor tweaks....you get what you pay for and IMO. The Tamiya 1990s

G's are way behind....Some of you may have noticed that Im a bit of a Panther nut. Any questions just ask....Regards Wayne

[hrcblade]

Geting well into the build part as off this week so need to think of some paints to order for this tank. The kit states Tamiya colors XF60 Dark Yellow , XF-64 Red Brown and XF-61 Dark Green for the camouflage.....is this a correct and is there a better combination using either Vallejo or Lifecolor paints?

[Andy K]

The Tamiya Panthers are easy builds but inaccurate,and only have rubber band tracks.

The Dragon kits are far superior. The premium ed Ausf D and A have etch and great accurate tracks with hollow guide horns.....the steel wheel and late G smart kits have the same track and minimum etch. If you are not bothered with etch the smart kit is good OOTB.

And with added etch, amazing....a little Panther knowledge and some minor tweaks....you get what you pay for and IMO. The Tamiya 1990s

G's are way behind....Some of you may have noticed that Im a bit of a Panther nut. Any questions just ask....Regards Wayne

Inaccurate in what way? I always thought they were decent kits

[Andy K]

Geting well into the build part as off this week so need to think of some paints to order for this tank. The kit states Tamiya colors XF60 Dark Yellow , XF-64 Red Brown and XF-61 Dark Green for the camouflage.....is this a correct and is there a better combination using either Vallejo or Lifecolor paints?

German armour colour is and always will be a bone of contention. In my humble opinion I tend to use lighter colours as I feel the Tamiya ones are too dark, especially when weathering as this process darkens them even more. For a base coat I tend to use a buff colour, for the green anything from a light pea green upwards and red brown from an earth tone to a dark brown. You have to remember that german WW2 paint was supplied as a paste that could be thinned with anything from water to petrol so shades did vary a LOT.

[hrcblade]

Thanks Andy

Next question I have is the tracks are as someone said a bit like rubber bands so if looking for replacement items where and what should i go for?

I have seen some tamiya ones are they any good or are there other options. Tamiya 1/35 Panther Type G Track Links # 35171

Sorry for all the questions

[Aziraphael]

Personally i like Fruils aftermarket tracks. ATL-08 is the set for the Panther G, I belive.

Fruil Model

[Andy K]

Oh yes Fruil tracks are great and my choice everytime but at £25-30 a set they are pricey. The Tamiya tracks you show are decent enough plus if you muddy them up you won't be able to tell the difference LOL.

[Lothian man]

If you are in the mood to spend a little more baksheesh (or scratchbuilding!) it's also worth adding the mesh covers to the grilles on the engine deck - a very noticeable element of those tanks.

Tamiya do a set for the Panther G but check the kit instructions and go by the Tamiya "kit" number to make sure you have the right one - if I remember rightly the kit instructions show this as an optional extra.

There are also other makers which provide sets for the grilles alone (i.e. not just as part of a big and largely unnecessary set of etched parts) but some of those will be intended for the Dragon kit and may not fit, so watch out for that. Hannants website is a good place to start.

[alanmac]

Hi

I think you've made a good choice in what you described as you'd like to do. Sure it may not be as accurate as the Dragon offering, but even they can have faults, mixing details of various variants in one kit.

The rubber band tracks are great for ease of build but on subjects like the German Panthers and Tigers were you need to show that track sag around the front drive sprocket they are not ideal

Fruil tracks have been mentioned and as stated they are expensive, too expensive for my tastes even if they are all they say they are. Alternatives are available, and one set comes from SKP. These are "clickable" in other words you assemble them by carefully position one link with the other using pins moulded onto the links. They are available from SKP stockists, and if you are in the UK Historex will supply you with a set for £13.60 plus postage.

Historex page

for more details here is a review on them from Terry Ashley's site PMMS.

Tracks review on PMMS

You could do with adding the mesh grills over the intake and exhaust vents on the engine deck. You could buy a whole set of Photoetch Detail or just get the mesh grills.

Happy Modelling.

Alan

[alanmac]

Hi

Me again. Just thought I'd let you know of another alternative for replacement tracks - Bronco.

They do early and late Panther tracks and depending on where you shop are cheaper again than the SKP ones.

Here for £12.99 with free postage.

No experience of them but here is a a review.

Review on Track Link

Alan

Edited February 11, 2012 by alanmac

[Wayne rc]

Inaccurate in what way? I always thought they were decent kits

Yes they were the best thing when they came out but there are a few issues.

To most eyes they do build into what most people would accept as a Panther but dig a little deeper and the idler is wrong,

I dont like the wheels and the skirt hooks, with a little extra work and maybe some etch you have an ok Panther.

But why bother unless you can get a Tamiya G for peanuts

the Dragon late G and steel wheel G are very good and have the benefit of being two decades younger,

so Im not knocking Tamiya because thier G's when they came out in the early 90's were the state of the art back then and I was over the moon to see them at the time.

However Dragons Panthers (recent)are the best and anyone who wants to build an

accurate one, get Dragon no I dont get paid for saying this.

Wish I did. :-)

[Wayne rc]

German armour colour is and always will be a bone of contention. In my humble opinion I tend to use lighter colours as I feel the Tamiya ones are too dark, especially when weathering as this process darkens them even more. For a base coat I tend to use a buff colour, for the green anything from a light pea green upwards and red brown from an earth tone to a dark brown. You have to remember that german WW2 paint was supplied as a paste that could be thinned with anything from water to petrol so shades did vary a LOT.

I agree for scale effect esp, lighten the colours, and yes the field applied camo varied greatly, because as said dilution etc.

But the Panther G in question was made during the period where panzers were painted at the factory the Tamiya instructions for 301

are quite good and represent a MAN factory pattern from about oct nov 44.

I agree with the point that Dragon put a mix of parts of different versions in the same box

but then its up to the modeller to make the most of it with a little research.

Its up to the individual. Some may be happy to put whichever parts that look cool,

Im not going to knock somebody for not being as crazy as me.