Bozothenutter Posted September 30, 2019 Share Posted September 30, 2019 (edited) Was gifted a Dragon Panther V2... Now this is happening..... Hinges are wrong.... Removed strengthening ribs First attempt at hinge Casting marks Holes filled Dovetail and armour modified Sanding down the turret ring Edited October 29, 2019 by Bozothenutter 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SleeperService Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 Great attention to detail and nice work so far. Yet another example of a kit launched to great acclaim in the usual places that turns out to be rather less than expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soeren Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 That is definitely something involving for people that line to mess around with the kits more than just ootb building. Good luck and have fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 1, 2019 Author Share Posted October 1, 2019 2 hours ago, SleeperService said: Great attention to detail and nice work so far. Yet another example of a kit launched to great acclaim in the usual places that turns out to be rather less than expected. Thb, most of the reviews were scathing, basically it is a half hearted parts bin special... But think of it as a transkit and it makes more sense. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 1, 2019 Author Share Posted October 1, 2019 39 minutes ago, Soeren said: That is definitely something involving for people that line to mess around with the kits more than just ootb building. Good luck and have fun. It's called 'doing a Soeren' 😉 Basically as a result of ADHD, I start a lot if good ideas....but never finish...😔 There are only six pics of this thing, should be doable, even for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soeren Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 Don't tell me about Soeren. I am going to start a thread in the SciFi Section soo. Looking forward to your super detailing of various kit parts That is an art in itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy350 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Looking forward to this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 At first I was just going to add the casting stubs... Then I noticed that the sides of the round part are vertical instead of angled. So I'll scrape'm a bit.... But then the bolt holes won't look right as the lower diameter needs to be bigger. Which means the flat casting needs to be slightly bigger or there will be no space for a flat edge around the outside... The round part needs to flow smoothly into the flat part Also the top seems machined as it is really flat The radiator cap cover needs to be raised a bit Does anybody know what that cap looked like? As the kit just has a circle with a blob... On 10/2/2019 at 8:56 AM, Andy350 said: Looking forward to this one. Me too mate....really need to finish stuff.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soeren Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 At least you will have a very unique piece of kit after all these amendments. Keep that track report so you always remember what detailwork went into this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 Just noticed another thing... Remember how early Ausf.D's had modified vent covers (removed the radiator bit) Turns out the sole Ausf.D remaining has one of these modded covers, and it is different from the V2 cover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 11, 2019 Author Share Posted October 11, 2019 Working on the turret Filled the ww1 trench trying to pass for a weld, proper weld detail to follow. Cupola seemed off to me. In the bottom pic there seems to be almost as much material above as below the view port, the kit part has less below the view ports. So height was increased. Test fitting for looks Picture I'm working from. The cupola seems correct for an Ausf.D btw, that did have a slightly lower version it seems. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share Posted October 21, 2019 When you need to scrape the lower edges of the armour to a straight angle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaastav Posted October 22, 2019 Share Posted October 22, 2019 Amazing, I am learning a bit of scratch building from here as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 27, 2019 Author Share Posted October 27, 2019 Didn't like my modded weld, so started over... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 29, 2019 Author Share Posted October 29, 2019 Wanted see trough cupola... Had some acrlic rod lying around, periscope areas are sanded flat a thin coat of Tamiya clear with a touch of green will bring them up nicely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 31, 2019 Author Share Posted October 31, 2019 More small jobs done.. The seam was scraped at a right angle, it will be filled with a weld. The pencil lines are where welds should be aswell, though barely visible on the pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted November 2, 2019 Author Share Posted November 2, 2019 I was going to use PE and wire for the handles But I thought it looked poo-poo.. So I scraped the kit part, cut off one handle and turned it around as per the pics 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted November 4, 2019 Author Share Posted November 4, 2019 Started on closing up the turret... Pistol ports, com port, rear hatch and bolts added. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted November 5, 2019 Author Share Posted November 5, 2019 turret lifting loops... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted November 6, 2019 Author Share Posted November 6, 2019 Only second time I have used my resistance solderer in anger Obviously working on the Aber smoke can set. Use the base for the Pz IV btw, the mounting bolt pattern is horizontal on those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted November 7, 2019 Author Share Posted November 7, 2019 Might as well share the research: Mind, this all relates to the Dragon kit! Hull: large exhaust muffler with sheet metal cover and exhaust on top into which the two exhaust pipes vented Turretlifting rings with a round base which also hold the smoke dispensers at the front, slightly raised from turret roof Ladder on left side (standard crew ladder?) Kit engine cover hinges are wrong, need to be reversed and no visible bolts (bolted from underneath, tapered head bolt) Remove ribs on final drive, the ribs are from the upgraded FD Remove raised edge on front of deck, can’t see it in pics Flatten filler port and add camfered edge, seemt too high and squarish to me Add lozenge shaped inspection hatch on engine plate near front engine compartment hinge Add hatch stopper near rearmost hinge (part is in kit from Ausf.D) Add bolt near handhold on engine hatch (square keyhole?) Add another near left fan cover (plug?) Add lifting hook on left past 3rd hole from top of engine cover plate (seems like standard location on Ausf.D) Add corresponding hook on other side near hinge of engine cover (seems like standard location on Ausf.D) Add lifting hook centre rear of engine cover (V2 had 3 hooks) Remove all bolts from engine cover plate, it seems for the pics only the corner bolts were used Add square keyhole above filler cap right of centreline, and corresponding plug? on other side Rebuild fan covers: Angle on outer edge of circle, base a touch larger, but minimal extra around the fan cover Add casting stubs and sand flat on topside so it looks machined. Oppsite the radiator cap does not have any horizontal surface Right side fan cover has left side machined for engine hatch clearance Add bolts to fan cover plates 8x Correct hull rear side extensions at rear need to be flat like the rest of the top of the side plate Roof plate lies on top of sideplates, is narrower than hull top (see photo of engine with all covers removed) Carve ledge for roof plate/side plate to add weld (convex weld) Front roof ‘weld’ is too far forward if you draw lines on the side plates to scale thickness of front plate Rear plate either falls within the side plates or on the side plates (not decided yet, but this decides where the weld goes) Replace 32mm front plate on bottom with 16mm plate (lowered front plate into hull) Inspection hatches on bottom seem too thick Add welds on all mating surfaces, they seem slightly recessed Lower edge of sideplates needs camfer as it was cut was at right angles, weld goes on this camfered edge Same for front plate wher it mates to bottom of sponson Fill holes on bottom of sponsons for schurzen Remove ‘bolts’ from bottom of sponson Cut slots in bolts on side of hull where shocks go (if shocks were on a different station they might have to be moved) Front plate ‘weld’ seems in to high a position aswell calculated scale thickness and draw a line Rear plate should be same height as roof plate, added strip to rear plate to make it higher Should have no front hatch plate on hull if built as in pics (can’t do that as no interior) No hull periscopes in pics Barrel travel lock should be symmetrical Turret to hull clearance should be minimal Dunkelgrau RAL7021 ' 2 ' on the glacis Numberplate IIN 0687 Front plate hangs from tow holes with wire and teardrop shaped chain Rear plate hangs from top exhaust tube by coarser chain 18 bolt rims V1 First and eight swing arms had shocks (V2 aswell?) V1 delivered end of September (V2?) Turret: Cable for smoke dispenser goes trough right angled (cut'n shut) tube( 90deg angle) in front of mounting bracket Thickness: Rear 45mm Front 80mm Side 45mm Thin down cupola mount ring, kit rings seems to high compared to pics Narrow ‘ramp’shape on cupola mount ring from kit compared to pics Add extra ‘ramp’shape to cupola mount ring to left of original Cupola mount ring should be almost on the edgeof rear and side plate (proverbial gnat’s bottom) Cupola needs increased height on bottom, metal above and below should be almost equal thickness(slightly less on bottom, but more than kit part, Ausf.D seems lower that V2 item) 4x tiny loop on barrel surround of mantlet Add thin piece of sheet to left side of mantlet to equalize thickness Remove rain gutter from mantlet Add casting mark circles on front Proportions of welds on the sides are wrong, copy from pics Fill keyhole on rear hatch Remove small tab on rear hatch Add better conical bolts to rear and side (1mm) Make cupola hatch handles more 3D and reversed one Fill seam on top of turret, weld should be narrower Remove small triangular supports from under fixed part of matlet and front plate Add welds useful bits: Aber 35A117 for rear boxes? Voyager Model - No. VBS0504 barrel Aber Fenders 35-A110 Ausf.D fenders Aber R-34 smoke dispensers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted November 8, 2019 Author Share Posted November 8, 2019 These are doing my head in a bit... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted November 9, 2019 Author Share Posted November 9, 2019 Talk about AMS... A well respected member on ML gave me some pointers on what was wrong with the Dragon kit. After a flurry of measurements and conversions, it turns out the kit is fine and Dragon did their homework. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted November 15, 2019 Author Share Posted November 15, 2019 Turn out the gentleman was right, the mantlet is offset, but the gun is centered Made a width jig And a sawing guide Second cut 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted November 16, 2019 Author Share Posted November 16, 2019 Pffff....keep seeing new stuff... The turret curve, and the vent cover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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