Eduard Panther A Updates (36390, 36391 & 36392 for Takom) 1:35

[Mike]

Panther A Updates (36390, 36391 & 36392 for Takom)

1:35 Eduard

 

 

There has been a rash of new King Tiger [/i]AND[/i] Panther models lately in the dominant 1:35 scale, with Takom amongst the competing camps.  These sets have been designed with their kits in mind to provide detail upgrades, scale thickness parts and the anti-magnetic mine countermeasure paste that is called Zimmerit.  As usual with Eduard's Photo-Etch (PE) and Mask sets, they arrive in a flat resealable package (the larger ones using Ziplok bags), with a white backing card protecting the contents and the instructions that are sandwiched between.

 

 

Upgrade Set (36390)

This general set is spread over two frets of brass, one of which is nickel-plated and pre-painted.  As this is an kit that includes the interior, the majority of this set consists of parts for the many shell storage boxes adding tons of detail and scale fidelity to these areas, with the rest of the set dedicated to replacing all the driver's instruments, radio boxes etc. with laminated and painted faces that offer much more realistic finishes whilst reducing the workload on the modeller.

 

 

 

Late Zimmerit (36391)

Zimmerit paste was a mixture of wood pulp and cement to resist the placing of magnetic mines on the hull as a slight overreaction to their use on the Eastern front.  It was applied with trowels to most vertical and near vertical surfaces in a pattern, some of which were specific to the factory the vehicle was built in.  This set is on two larger PE frets, and uses a thinner gauge of brass to make it conform better to the model.  The sections are tailored specifically to the Takom kit, and this includes the kugelblende armour around the bow machine gun, which is best rolled to shape on a soft surface using a good sized marble or other hard ball to obtain the correct curvature, so lots of trial fittings will be appropriate there.  Annealing the part will assist in this, making the brass more malleable.   Holes in the brass match the fixtures moulded into the exterior, which is most evident on the hull sides under the fenders and on the rear bulkhead, with separate parts for the stowage boxes and multiple sections around the exhausts.  The curved front fenders have multiple strips of PE Zimm that fit between the stiffening ribs, and each of the side-skirts (Schürtzen) have a Zimmerit panel keyed to their specific shape and size.

 

 

The mantlet is another curved surface, and you are shown how to attach the PE to these parts for the best fit, starting at the top centre and working your way around.  A few small raised areas will need to be removed before it can be fitted.

 

 

 

Exterior (36392)

A single sheet of brass containing new track stowage racks; pioneer tool details and shackles; fire extinguisher cage; clasps for the rear stowage boxes; jack block box, and a complete new holder for the barrel cleaning rod tube, with clasps and new end-cap skins for ultimate detail.

 

 

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