RFM Panther G

[Longbow]

3 hours ago, Peter Browne said:

 

 

Nice photos!  There you have a source for them?  I wouldn't mind seeing the exhausts...

Unfortunately I don’t have a source. I found the photos on Pinterest, listed as Operation Veritable. 

So, they may be further East than Holland. 

There is another photo of US troops inspecting a vehicle from the same unit, which is out there, somewhere. 

The first turret number is larger than the second two numbers. Possibly a 3. 

[Longbow]

This is the same vehicle as in the first photo. 
 

 

Notice the milk jug on the engine deck. 
 

No upper exhaust pipes are seen above the deck, so I think it’s sage to say it has the flame damper pipes, without the large elbow pipes on top. 

[Peter Browne]

21 minutes ago, Longbow said:

This is the same vehicle as in the first photo.

 

Notice the milk jug on the engine deck. 
 

No upper exhaust pipes are seen above the deck, so I think it’s sage to say it has the flame damper pipes, without the large elbow pipes on top. 

 

 

Thanks.  What do you mean by milk jug?   Just asking.

[Longbow]

3 minutes ago, Peter Browne said:

 

 

Thanks.  What do you mean by milk jug?   Just asking.

Directly above the stowage bin, there is a large milk jug on its side. 
 

[Peter Browne]

Ah, yes l looked at other wrong photo.  Looks like a DB bracket on the spare wheel...it could be my vehicle...would you say it should have a raised crew heater?

 

 

[Longbow]

12 minutes ago, Peter Browne said:

Ah, yes l looked at other wrong photo.  Looks like a DB bracket on the spare wheel...it could be my vehicle...would you say it should have a raised crew heater?

 

 

Yes. I would say so. 

[Peter Browne]

Photo caption says 3/pz.regt 130 which methinks is the refitted Panzer Lehr Division operating in the Ruhr Pocket after a fighting retreat from the failed advance at Remagen. At the Pocket it engaged the Anglo-Canadian 21st Army Group again during Operation Veritable.  So fits nicely.  More research... 

[Longbow]

2 hours ago, Peter Browne said:

Photo caption says 3/pz.regt 130 which methinks is the refitted Panzer Lehr Division operating in the Ruhr Pocket after a fighting retreat from the failed advance at Remagen. At the Pocket it engaged the Anglo-Canadian 21st Army Group again during Operation Veritable.  So fits nicely.  More research... 

you are right. It is Pz. Lehr. 

[Peter Browne]

Yep, the vehicle is on page 230 of Panther – External Appearance & Design and is stated as tactical number 321 from 3. Kompanie, I./Pz.Lehr Rgt. 130. completed by Daimler-Benz in December 1944 with the small idler wheels.  It states DB did not fit any Gs with the larger idler wheels.

 

It is painted in the 'Classic' standardised scheme of RAL7028, RAL6003 and RAL8017. 

 

The spare wheel on the turret is painted RAL6003 with splotches of RAL8017 and RAL7028 to break up the shape.

 

It is said to be on the Uedem-Xanten road Feb 1945.

 

The following vehicle, which appears on facing page 323 in the above reference is tactical number 323 also from 3. Kompanie, I./Pz.Lehr Rgt. 130.  Presumably at the same time and place in the Ruhr Pocket.

 

 

Same 323 vehicle in the following photos (photos not in the above reference).  https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/germany/tanks-2-3/panther-tanks/panther-323-pz-lehr-rgt-130/   The Flammvernichter exhausts are evident in this photo.  This will be the vehicle I will use.

 

 

 

 

[alanbeeb]

What kind is the allied tank on the right of the picture? Thanks.

[PDH]

59 minutes ago, alanbeeb said:

What kind is the allied tank on the right of the picture? Thanks.

Looks like a M18 Hellcat.

[Peter Browne]

Looks like a airbrush stencilling job to do the numbers on the spare tracks on the turret, probably just make my own stencil.
 

Any ideas for buying necessary spare tracks or do RFM tend to enough include spare?

 

Also, a spare wheel on the turret would have been nice, but 323 doesn’t show one, but 321 does.  But that is the only photo I can find of 321.  Also I would have to make the DB wheel bracket, which is no biggie, and Panther – External Appearance & Design has a nice drawing of it, but no dimensions...

[Longbow]

On 5/30/2021 at 10:08 PM, Peter Browne said:

Looks like a airbrush stencilling job to do the numbers on the spare tracks on the turret, probably just make my own stencil.
 

Any ideas for buying necessary spare tracks or do RFM tend to enough include spare?

 

Also, a spare wheel on the turret would have been nice, but 323 doesn’t show one, but 321 does.  But that is the only photo I can find of 321.  Also I would have to make the DB wheel bracket, which is no biggie, and Panther – External Appearance & Design has a nice drawing of it, but no dimensions...

Pretty sure there are plenty of spares in the RFM kit, but I used track from a Das Werk kit, as I already had them built.