The cheapest and most maligned kit-tamiya panther Auf A-1/35

[Muchmirth]

Most have atleast seen this kit at most model shops/sites. Tamiya 1/35 Panther Auf A hailing from around 1968(I think) and retailing for around £13 in some places. Originally meant for the rc market and still banged out in enormous numbers despite a lot of criticism rightly or wrongly applied. So why build this when theirs quite a few nicely tooled newer kits on the market from the likes of Meng or takom or das work? Well I’d like to do both and compare them. 
   I can and will correct or edit a few items but the main things I can’t and won’t change will be the scale. It’s more like 1/32 than 1/35. The large lumps at the bottom of the running gear, on the belly. These denote a fictional torsion bar outside the line of the bottom of the tank at the front and back (it’s just too much hassle to try rejig this plus won’t really be noticeable as I will be gluing it down to a very simple basic road base.)
   I’ve done a few resin figures to go along with it already and the kitty I’ll be trying to portray will be number 200 from grosdeautschland in Lithuania in the summer of 1944. 
  I only have the one fairly poor photo of number 200:

 

I picked this because of its zigzag hard edge camo pattern. Note the cleaning rod tube moved to the back instead of the side and lack of side plate armour to show off its tracks:

I’ll be adding the Eduard etch (mostly for the mesh grills and periscopes which do not come with the kit.)
  The tracks in the kit are rubber band which I’m normally a fan of but they don’t look like panther tracks and I’ve heard they a pain to fit so will be using rfm plastic workable tracks instead. Cheaper than metal and reasonably easy to assemble. 
  I’m going to use magic sculpt to do the zimmerit. I’ve still a demon to wrestle when it comes diy zimmerit. I’ve done it twice before but wasn’t really happy with either result. However this is the much simpler Daimler Benz square tile pattern. 
 Basic assembly of the main structures took about an hour or so as their are very few parts (which is right up my street):

 

 

Beneath the plastic evergreen sheet is the old panther sad face. I’ve just blanked it out as not too fussed on removing completely as won’t be seen. I’ve added a couple tiny bits of styrene sheet to square off the bit at the front glacis which is shaped wrongly on the kit.   
  There are no sponsons on the kit so I’ve made a start on making them up with styrene to fill the gap. This needs more work though and I might build up some boxes to go under the engine grills to blank them off.

   On the top theirs few seams which I’ve scribed in as the top plate was made of three sections (one of the seams I’ll fill in as it was too far forwards on the kit). I’ll also redo the welds at a later stage. 
  Not going to add to much detail like hooks, tool clamps and stowage until the zim is done. Less stuff to get in the way. 

   Thanks for looking in. If anyone sees me doing anything obviously wrong please shout! Also I’m aiming to keep the weathering subdued, I’d like it not to be completely covered but a bit dusty instead, so if you see me cover this in muck by the end, then please feel free to  call me out on this! I’m getting fed up with absolutely plastering my models in mud and crud. I think I can make it look used without looking worn out but find holding back very very difficult. I guess I’m from the more is more school. 

All the best and happy new year as we are getting close now!

Paul

Edited December 29, 2024 by Muchmirth

[echen]

I was quite tempted to get one of these when I saw the price but, with space limitations and being a 1/72 builder I will settle for watching yours develop.

[Stef N.]

Yes it's an old, clunky kit but it is a fun one and a great base to do any work on. I'll follow along happily to see what you produce with this. 

All the very best. 👍👍👍

 

Just to add @Muchmirth that I have a boxfull of Panther spares so if there is anything you desperately need give me a shout and I will check if I have it.👍

[flyboy2610]

I have 3 of these in the stash. I'll be following along, if you don't mind. I promise to just sit quietly in the back.

[Muchmirth]

3 hours ago, flyboy2610 said:

I have 3 of these in the stash. I'll be following along, if you don't mind. I promise to just sit quietly in the back.

Absolutely more than welcome to roar at me from the back if you like!

6 hours ago, Stef N. said:

Yes it's an old, clunky kit but it is a fun one and a great base to do any work on. I'll follow along happily to see what you produce with this. 

All the very best. 👍👍👍

 

Just to add @Muchmirth that I have a boxfull of Panther spares so if there is anything you desperately need give me a shout and I will check if I have it.👍

cheers Stef. I’ll definitely bare that in mind and may need something further along!

[Muchmirth]

7 hours ago, echen said:

I was quite tempted to get one of these when I saw the price but, with space limitations and being a 1/72 builder I will settle for watching yours develop.

Cheers Echen. Welcome along mate.

[Muchmirth]

Ok so update time:

I’ve made some masks on the pc, very basic and easy to make, printed on thick card. I made the titles for base and printed plenty duplicates in many sizes in case of screw ups plus I’ll overlap a couple for the black out line within the yellow:

I’ve just bought a u star swivel knife and have to say it’s kind of handy. I’ve a few more jobs for it so should pay more itself in decals in the future. Most people are using circuit cutters but I’m a bit more manual.
  Should look like the below once done:

     
I tried my best to scrub up the barrel:

But it’s a bit rough still. I might be using a bit of foilage along it anyway so might not have a lot showing anyway. 
  I thought I’d show the panther sad face and torsion bar bluges I was talking about in the first post:

 

The rfm tracks are ok. They give you a decent jig and a few spare links. No spare pins though! The pins are tiny and delicate and prone to breakage… if you’re heavy handed like me. The holes in them doesn’t go through the whole link but about 2mm through and one pin each side. 
I don’t mind making up tracks it’s mundane but nescary. Think I’ll have to try using styrene rod to fix the pins I broke or lost. Took about two hours per length, roughly. 
They provide two rear idlers which is handy as the idlers on the kit aren’t much cop, the instructions point you to remove the teeth from them before installing:

I’ve cleaned up the rest of the wheels, with a lot of sanding to remove a big bit of flash or a moulding seam which creates a bit of a step at the top of each one:

I’m going to try that thing which most others are able to do where the wheels are all glued together as a set. It’s easy I’m sure but I haven’t been able do it so far. As the wheels are interlocking I’d like to remove and paint separately as a set and then put back on once the lower hull is done:

That’s all for now, thank you for looking in. 
Paul

[Keeff]

Well, better get my chair and snacks  and observe intently as I have this waiting in my not-a-stash stash along with a PE set and Tamiya working tracks. 

 

Anyway, what's been done looks good ...  👍 

 

Keith ☺️ 

[echen]

Won't that sheet of white plastic spoil the smily face on the underside of the hull?

[Muchmirth]

1 hour ago, echen said:

Won't that sheet of white plastic spoil the smily face on the underside of the hull?

Poor sad panzer!

[Muchmirth]

3 hours ago, Keeff said:

Well, better get my chair and snacks  and observe intently as I have this waiting in my not-a-stash stash along with a PE set and Tamiya working tracks. 

 

Anyway, what's been done looks good ...  👍 

 

Keith ☺️ 

Glad to have you along Keith. 
   Me and you are in the same same boat with stash-non-stash as I’m down to just 4 kits! I tend to get my next build as as I want instead of building up

a huge collection.

[Keeff]

On 01/01/2025 at 15:47, Muchmirth said:

I’m down to just 4 kits!

Well I'm definately at 4 .... stackable plastic storage boxes though... 

 

Keith ☺️ 

[flyboy2610]

Between cars, planes, tanks, rolling stock for the model railroad, and structure kits I'm at 79....... just in here. Counting all the kits in the other room and it's well over 100.

[Muchmirth]

1 hour ago, Keeff said:

Well I'm definately at 4 .... stackable plastic storage boxes though... 

 

Keith ☺️ 

Ah man… you let me down mate! I thought you were still harbouring just a few…. But no you’ve been secret stashing! What’s the other half make to that then? (Only kidding good on you!🤛).

Edited January 3 by Muchmirth

[Muchmirth]

43 minutes ago, flyboy2610 said:

Between cars, planes, tanks, rolling stock for the model railroad, and structure kits I'm at 79....... just in here. Counting all the kits in the other room and it's well over 100.

Yeah I’m a member of the Irish IPMS and we have a Facebook page where this was recently brought up and I was literally the only one with less than 200 or 300…. I didn’t realise how much of a minority I was in until last week! Oh well. I’ve still enough projects lined up on the planner for two years! If that counts. I just get them as I build them. Strange but true!

[Keeff]

28 minutes ago, Muchmirth said:

I thought you were still harbouring just a few

I am .... a few boxes! 

 

29 minutes ago, Muchmirth said:

you’ve been secret stashing!

I have all my victims for the group builds in one box .... and I've aquired some kits at offer prices too good to miss!  

 

29 minutes ago, Muchmirth said:

 What’s the other half make to that then? (Only kidding good on you!🤛).

She's OK with it ... well, that's what she tells me! 

 

Keith ☺️ 

[Muchmirth]

So on with the dreaded zim.

 My tools of choice: the putty as you can see is magic sculpt. I love this stuff, it’s quite tacky, reasonably long working time (about 90 mins but I was t counting.), smooth and easy mix. 
   I used the rolled up tin foil ball and sanding pad to ingrain a rough concrete like texture. The metal croc clip I used as a roller and Stanley blade as a smoother. 
  The card board tile I used as a template. I looked a ref photo and counted the tiles in a section and then measured that section on the model and divided the tile square by this: measured to 3.3 mm by 3.3mm. I lined up the card tile and used a short ruler (from a cracker!) to impress the tiles.
   
   Finally I’m pretty happy with this. Definitely think the magic sculpt and easier pattern helped.

    I could only work on one section at a time as not to press my fingers in to a drying side. 

Then I did the upper hull The The below are the steps I took on the front glacis: I pressed/smeared the putty on and used Vaseline for the tools, to stop them sticking and to make it even-ish:

This is pretty thin or as thin as I’d like it before it begins to tear or lift. 
  As you can see I also did the weld seams from green stuff:

Then I used my sanding pad to make the texture:

I think this looks rough like zimmerit. 
  I stuffed up the pattern on this section as you can see the tiles in the center are mis shaped and unequal so I’ll try hack it off from where I went wrong and try correct it. But again that’s the beauty of the square tile pattern. It’s easier to start from where you left it.

I picked a few tiles out as if they were damaged. 
  Then I moved on to the last section left untouched whist theses sections dried: the turret:

  The air bumps settled down overnight and it actually looks better now. So this section is ok.

  I’m leaving the hardest to last to try and get the hang first. The hardest I think will be the gun mantlet and rear panel. Lots of niggles and bumps. 
  Once the zimmerit is on I can start hanging some of the greeblies but so far I’m glad I left them off as leaves my hard pressing free hands to reign without knocking a machine gun barrel or equipment hanger off. 
   With this moving along I started on the base. Well the grass for the base. I want to try something different:

   A A4 size sample of chestnut coloured fake fur. I’ve seen this look quite effective once painted so I’m going to use the Vallejo colours golden olive and olive green to colour it. But first it needs a trim:

Using the scissors I cut random clumps out of this, as it’s to represent wild meadow grass. I’ve used the pictured steel comb to try get out the loose fibres and ragged parts. The top section is uncut and the bottom section is cut and combed.
   I’ll try add the paint at a later time and see how it turns out.

  That’s all for now folks, 

Thanks for looking in.

Paul

Edited January 7 by Muchmirth

[Stef N.]

Zim's looking very authentic Paul. The only problem is the bit you've already pointed out, so all good. I don't know how you stumble on these ideas but the fake fur is a touch of genius.

[Muchmirth]

29 minutes ago, Stef N. said:

Zim's looking very authentic Paul. The only problem is the bit you've already pointed out, so all good. I don't know how you stumble on these ideas but the fake fur is a touch of genius.

 

I think I’m always coming up with weird stuff! Sometimes they hit the mark and some times they don’t but I’d still rather give it a go.

    I’ll find out tonight how hard this stuff is to remove once set! Might be a total mare.

   Cheers.

[Mig Eater]

1 hour ago, Muchmirth said:

I stuffed up the pattern on this section as you can see the tiles in the center are misshaped and unequal 

 

Zimmerit was applied by hand in sections and was never straight and even across the whole tank, so I'd say you made it accurately misshaped

 

 

Edited January 7 by Mig Eater

[Keeff]

Lovely work on the zimmeritt .... it looks 'right'. 👍

And a good idea with the fur .... random, but works! 

 

Keith ☺️ 

 

 

[Muchmirth]

46 minutes ago, Mig Eater said:

 

Zimmerit was applied by hand in sections and was never straight and even across the whole tank, so I'd say you made it accurately misshaped

 

 

Thanks Mig.

  Funnily enough the second picture (one above this)  I was looking at for a guide. But now I'm just curious to see how well adhered the epoxy is. 

[kitchentable]

On 12/29/2024 at 7:58 PM, Muchmirth said:

Most have atleast seen this kit at most model shops/sites. Tamiya 1/35 Panther Auf A hailing from around 1968(I think) and retailing for around £13 in some places. Originally meant for the rc market and still banged out in enormous numbers despite a lot of criticism rightly or wrongly applied. So why build this when theirs quite a few nicely tooled newer kits on the market from the likes of Meng or takom or das work? Well I’d like to do both and compare them. 
   I can and will correct or edit a few items but the main things I can’t and won’t change will be the scale. It’s more like 1/32 than 1/35. The large lumps at the bottom of the running gear, on the belly. These denote a fictional torsion bar outside the line of the bottom of the tank at the front and back (it’s just too much hassle to try rejig this plus won’t really be noticeable as I will be gluing it down to a very simple basic road base.)
   I’ve done a few resin figures to go along with it already and the kitty I’ll be trying to portray will be number 200 from grosdeautschland in Lithuania in the summer of 1944. 
  I only have the one fairly poor photo of number 200:

 

I picked this because of its zigzag hard edge camo pattern. Note the cleaning rod tube moved to the back instead of the side and lack of side plate armour to show off its tracks:

I’ll be adding the Eduard etch (mostly for the mesh grills and periscopes which do not come with the kit.)
  The tracks in the kit are rubber band which I’m normally a fan of but they don’t look like panther tracks and I’ve heard they a pain to fit so will be using rfm plastic workable tracks instead. Cheaper than metal and reasonably easy to assemble. 
  I’m going to use magic sculpt to do the zimmerit. I’ve still a demon to wrestle when it comes diy zimmerit. I’ve done it twice before but wasn’t really happy with either result. However this is the much simpler Daimler Benz square tile pattern. 
 Basic assembly of the main structures took about an hour or so as their are very few parts (which is right up my street):

 

 

Beneath the plastic evergreen sheet is the old panther sad face. I’ve just blanked it out as not too fussed on removing completely as won’t be seen. I’ve added a couple tiny bits of styrene sheet to square off the bit at the front glacis which is shaped wrongly on the kit.   
  There are no sponsons on the kit so I’ve made a start on making them up with styrene to fill the gap. This needs more work though and I might build up some boxes to go under the engine grills to blank them off.

   On the top theirs few seams which I’ve scribed in as the top plate was made of three sections (one of the seams I’ll fill in as it was too far forwards on the kit). I’ll also redo the welds at a later stage. 
  Not going to add to much detail like hooks, tool clamps and stowage until the zim is done. Less stuff to get in the way. 

   Thanks for looking in. If anyone sees me doing anything obviously wrong please shout! Also I’m aiming to keep the weathering subdued, I’d like it not to be completely covered but a bit dusty instead, so if you see me cover this in muck by the end, then please feel free to  call me out on this! I’m getting fed up with absolutely plastering my models in mud and crud. I think I can make it look used without looking worn out but find holding back very very difficult. I guess I’m from the more is more school. 

All the best and happy new year as we are getting close now!

Paul

Your comment on the over-size nature of this kit is interesting.  I built this one a few years ago and it sits in the cabinet alongside a Tamiya Tiger and a Tamiya King Tiger.   I was always struck by how similar in size the Panther looks compared to the Tigers.  Maybe the answer is that it is 10% over size!  Unless someone now says the Tigers are over size too.  
 

Anyway, I thought the Panther built up very well and gave a pleasing model.  You are doing brilliantly on yours and I’m looking forward to seeing it finished.  Your Zimmerit tutorial is really good and will set me up to attempt it if the opportunity arises.

 

kitchentable

[Mig Eater]

Yes this kit is a bit over sized and probably closer to 1/32 then 1/35, here is my one next to a Dragon and Tamiya Ausf.G.

 

[Muchmirth]

42 minutes ago, Mig Eater said:

Yes this kit is a bit over sized and probably closer to 1/32 then 1/35, here is my one next to a Dragon and Tamiya Ausf.G.

 

I Like that flak panzer, the double metal barrel looks the part! Which kit is it?

 

 Can I ask Mig, what's the small gap at the back of the tamiya panther A? Just on the back plate below the vents? Have I missed something here?