Marco1965 Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 (edited) It has been years since I last assembled an armored vehicle, but the full interior line of armor from Takom is simply irresistible to me. I started with the one I like most, the Sd. Kfz. 171 Panther A mid-late. The kit comes in a surprisingly big box, which is full to the top with sprue and some PE for the engine vents grills. Zimmerit, offers full interior, and I mean full, every tiny detail is there. Tracks are provided in plastic, either as segments or individual tracks, includes a jig to assemble the tracks and then put them on the vehicle, need to try that one. Some ejection marks here and there, most surely they will end up hidden in an invisible place, but I got rid of them anyway. Takom provides plastic sheets with the Zimmerit molded on them, that attach to the outer side of the hull. I guess a good way of using the same base parts for either with or without Zimmerit. Gearbox is a beauty, lots of detail, matches all references that I have, all parts fit perfectly, no issues at all. And after trying to stop assembling this beauty several times, I could not resist looking at all the detail that is added in every step, I stopped only when I reached the moment where painting starts, that will be another day. Fully satisfied! Marco Edited February 1, 2021 by Marco1965 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vytautas Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 Great! I will be happy to watch Vytautas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaoinas Posted February 1, 2021 Share Posted February 1, 2021 Yep, that's a familiar sight. Nice start on this. Kristjan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco1965 Posted February 5, 2021 Author Share Posted February 5, 2021 Continued with the interior paint. I followed the recommended Ammo Mig colors for the Redbrown and the Cream White, they look good. Applied some preshading, although I know most of the floor will not be visible, didn´t feel good having a featureless redbrown paintjob. I have my reserves though, following color recommendations of Dark gray for the gearbox and differential gearbox. The few available pictures show a lighter tone, and in most cases a different tone between gearbox and differential gearbox. As the general principle was that subassemblies like gearbox, engine, were left in the same color as delivered from the production plant, which varied, I used a more neutral gray (RAL 7012) for the gearbox and a mix of Bright Green 3:1 Base Gray. Weathering still pending. Added some minor details that might be visible once finished, like the hydraulic duct to the right of the radio-operators seat. Will add some more afterwards after checking if they will be visible or not. Very interesting to learn all the interior details of these beasts, hoping that at least some decent part of it will be visible after closing the hull! Marco 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco1965 Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 It is difficult to stop assembling this kit! I continued working with the torsion bars, let me tell you that locating the 32 torsion bars in place was a matter of patience and resignation. I sanded round the tips of the longer bars to make it easier for them to snap in place. In the end it all wend well, didn´t break nor needed to cut anything. Only testing what lay ahead of me. But first I glued the gearbox and differential gearbox in place. Not as easy as I had imagined, some pressure is needed to make the sub-assembly pass through the "beams" that were already glued to the floor. Once through, gluing it to the floor was easy Added some scratches to the edges, just testing new techniques. And some more scratches to the sidewalls. Notice that hydraulic lines were added to the hydraulics on the left wall. Additional weathering with artist pastels was applied to the hull floor. I put in place the left wall of the hull, put couple clamps and left it dry overnight, all looked good. Notice the rounded tips of the torsion bars, sanded with the hope of making them fit easier. Installed the pipes going from the engine to the floor, better to do it at this stage than before, as instructed in the manual. And the right sidewall, all 32 torsion bars are in place! It required patience, aligning and inserting all the bars with the help of a toothpick, not to scratch the paint. Some paint retouches will be needed here and there, but he worst part is over! Finally I installed the column to which the controls are attached. Instructions indicate installing it before putting the sidewalls, but it is much easier to do it afterwards. I never realized until now, that the structures on the differential gearbox that look like spear tips, are in fact part of the support of the control column, smart. And this is as far as I have gone, I am really enjoying this one. Let´s see how much of this is visible at the end, but anyway, the learning experience is incredible. Marco 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vytautas Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Great job, there is something to look at. Really impressive Vytautas 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Fantastic work going on here. 👏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 i love the colours 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco1965 Posted February 20, 2021 Author Share Posted February 20, 2021 Going on with the interior details, incredible all the stuff that these things carried internally, learning a lot about it with this kit. I continued with the driver and radio-operator seats and floor areas, fitting the floors to the hull requires patience, put they snap in place perfectly! The battery containers snapped in place, as well, little bit tight but there they are. Painting the covers was sort of an interrogation mark, in pictures of original Panthers (not restorations), the covers seem to be metal, could have been steel, not painted. Takom suggests a color that in the pictures looks quite dull black "Polished Metal", which I preferred not to use. I used NB Steel and rubbed artists pastels (black) to give the impression of unpainted metal. And in place Finally the sidewals of the engine compartment. I have the impression that I might have issues with the alignment of these parts once I install the parts around them, we´ll see later on. Marco 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diablo rsv Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 There is some very impressive work going into this build Marco, your painting, grime and wear effects are top notch. I do admire you guys that build full interior kits, the efforts you put into areas that will probably never be seen amazes me. Wayne 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 Very nice work on this, lots of lovely detail, you have done a super job on this one so far, looking forward to seeing more Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Bob Posted February 20, 2021 Share Posted February 20, 2021 This is superb attention to detail Marco, very impressive in all respects, I just hope some of this effort will be visible when it's all assembled, it's amazing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vytautas Posted February 21, 2021 Share Posted February 21, 2021 Very impressive, looks very good, great painting 👍 Vytautas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper dog Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Looks excellent, some really impressive paintwork and weathering. Great work Darryl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 nothing beats a full interior kit - and stunning progress so far 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco1965 Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 Indeed, I had issues with the engine compartment walls... For some unknown reason, the left wall did not fit properly, because suspension parts interfered with the lower edge of the wall and lower part of the fuel tank. As none lf these parts are going to be seen, I crudely trimmed both offenders and made the parts fit properly. I don´t know what did I do wrong. After that quick fix, everything fell in place perfectly, still some pressure needed but nothing unexpected. Finished the driver´s instruments, nice decals provided in the kit. Still need to apply some gloss varnish to the dials. Worked on the transmission shaft that goes from the engine to the gearbox, installed it without issues. Installing the shafts requires some trimming here and there, but the result is perfect, everything falls in place! The shaft that will connect to the engine ended up being centered, without really trimming anything, kudos to Takom. And started working on the 75mm ammunition, first the HEs. Quite funny, the kit provides 48 HEs and 48 APs, but... only around 40+ in total do fit in the tank, the rest, you can keep for a nice diorama! (Decals are limited too, only 44 stencilings for the shells are provided) Marco 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pig of the Week Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Some of those weathered component detail shots could be a 1-1 real vehicle ! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco1965 Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 Finished applying decals to the 75mm shells, I have to say that the decals provided in the kit are one of the very best I have tried! I applied decals to I think 21 HE shells, the remaining ones will be for the AP shells, and there sill be lots of shells that won't be used. I installed the first three shells in the racks under the floor, no issues at all, look nice! And added some lines (scratch built with wire) that go from the gearbox to the pipes on the right wall, they will be visible afterwards, when removing the turret. Instructions don't mention it, but don't forget to install the rear left ammo rack before installing the floor... All the other ones are easier to install afterwards. I finished assembling the vertical ammo racks, only HE projectiles are provided for the racks, I added one HE just for the sake of comparing colors and size, and left some openings, didn't like to see everything full with ammo. I finished the floor, weathered, and proceeded to install it, kind of tricky, but in the end the floor is level, glued in place. An finally I installed the ammo racks in place, some trimming was necessary on the back part of the front racks, after that, they fell in place easily. Marco 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vytautas Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Panther is getting more and more beautiful. Looks very good! Vytautas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelscale Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Looking good Marco 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Great work Marco, your attention to detail is excellent, beautiful work so far.... Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vaoinas Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 Looks really good, Marco. You somehow managed to make something decent out of the plastic ammo. But don't store different types of ammo in the same bin. It may seem boring in the modelling perspective, but they definitely didn't store it that way. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 Looks good! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco1965 Posted March 13, 2021 Author Share Posted March 13, 2021 9 hours ago, vaoinas said: Looks really good, Marco. You somehow managed to make something decent out of the plastic ammo. But don't store different types of ammo in the same bin. It may seem boring in the modelling perspective, but they definitely didn't store it that way. Hey I have been following your Panther! Amazing project! It has been difficult to find proper references of operational Panther´s interior, in fact I´ve got none, only from production or I guess manuals (and of course I don´t like restorations as reference). About the ammo, I didn´t know they would not mix ammo types, sound´s reasonable though. This time, it will stay there, already glued, artistic license, 🙂 Marco 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Callahan Posted March 13, 2021 Share Posted March 13, 2021 Its a joy to follow your thread. ........ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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