RAMSCHAUFELPANZER PANTHER

[HERMAN BIX]

Evening folks, had an H/L panther G for ages just lurking on the project shelf.
Going to make it into an early 'D' turned into a bulldozer used in the rubble strewn streets of Nuremberg.
Its a rare beast indeed, not only a D, but the only ever photographed Panther version fitted with a bulldozer blade device.
Now there are two very good conversions from a G to an A in this section, and I am unashamedly going to use ideas from both to get this done.

For now, its hack & slash.............theres bits of 'G' & Pantiger flying in all directions

[BarryC]

Herman, this should be a very interesting build. No worries about barrel recoil either.

Barry

[STHV]

Its an awful lot of work to backdate a G so good luck!

If you need any info or images of certain parts just ask, I practically have a library just on this one variant of the Panther lol

[c.rainford73]

Herman this is another example of you bringing something unusual and exciting to the forum! I will watch your progress closely.

BTW is the blade simply fixed and welded on or is it articulated with cables and steel arms?


Good luck with this complex project

Carl

[HERMAN BIX]

Herman this is another example of you bringing something unusual and exciting to the forum! I will watch your progress closely.

BTW is the blade simply fixed and welded on or is it articulated with cables and steel arms?


Good luck with this complex project

Carl

Good morning Mr Rainford, yes it is a lot of work relative to the outcome of no gun tank !
But it’s just so odd that it’s worth doing just for that.
The blade is attached by I-beam arms , the top ones off the towing eye points, the lower off mounts from the transmission cover plates.
There is a large handwheel that is allegedly for adjusting the blade height that runs on Pz1 road wheels which I have a pair from a benefactor overseas.
I will make the blade from brass, and ballast the hull so it can really push without pulling a burnout .

I will admit to feeling rather committed when I sliced the side plates off the panther !!

[HERMAN BIX]

Still no pics sorry, using a spare computer while mine is at the cyber-doctors

The amount of green plastic I've sprayed around is insane !!
Resorted to an air die grinder with carbide bits to remove the bulk of the profiles before getting close with the ryobi tool. Still to get the sander out to fully level the surfaces.
Rear deck is clear of all 6 vents, crew heater, intake hood, front hull is clear of drivers ventilator, drivers periscope & hatch hinge , radio operators hatch hinge and MG ball.
Ive sliced the sponsons from the lower hull ready to build into the 'paniers' at the rear.
I need to get some styrene sheet for the hull sides,paniers, inner hull sides and to fill in the gaping wounds I've made on the hull & turret.
Turret is missing its cupola, all late G fixtures, and the mantlet has has such a close shave that ole mate might want to ":buy the company" .........for those old enough to remember those ads .......the chin is gone, lots to do there to recover it.

There are bits of Mr Selkirks build and bits of Mr Esterniche's build, AND bits of Mr Jones' that Im using to pull this together.
All credit to them for blazing the trail ahead.
Long term, the real test is going to be the making of the blade frame and the load bearing wheels that help carry it.
Of course the wheels dont steer, so when the tank slews, there will be a lot of side load on the Pz1 wheels that will put side load on them and by that, the structure, so I'd better get things tough.

Pics as soon as I can either work out how to do it on this thing(different operating platform) or mine is back.

[HERMAN BIX]

Its an awful lot of work to backdate a G so good luck!

If you need any info or images of certain parts just ask, I practically have a library just on this one variant of the Panther lol

Thanks for the offer Mr STHV, i would appreciate a rear engine deck birds eye view, and a turret roof view if you have them.
Any specific image of the driver and radio operators roof & escape hatch areas please.
The money shot will be a close up of the panier/sponsons on the rear hull that identify these versions for what they are.

[HERMAN BIX]

Oh, and a dimension'd drawing of the commanders drum style cupola if you feel like gifting me the lottery win !!

[STHV]

I can do one better! The whole tank! Check your PM's

[c.rainford73]

Wow Herman looks like you struck gold!

[Ad Lav]

Look forward to the Ram Panther

[Xiaoshan_Sailor]

Interesting project. Gotta wonder how long it will be until Heng Long copies it?

I was at at event today in Shanghai where HL was attending in mass announcing their new rebranding as "New Model". This should be fun to watch.

[HERMAN BIX]

Ok, I've got the picture thingo sorted.
Just to rewind.

perfectly good Panther G..............I'm a terrible child, always wrecking my toys.

[BarryC]

A new life begins!

Don't you just love "hacking" away at a perfectly good model; kind of empowering.

Barry

[Son of a gun-ner]

Now THIS is my kind of modelling

Hack and slash away Herman

[HERMAN BIX]

Heres another angle of it, this time the leveling wheel can be seen easier.
There are a few renditions of this rare AFV that have been done in smaller scales.
Handy actually if even for different views of various bits.
I have a 79 page 'bible' for the D-A version drop into my lap, so anything thats not clear from a modelling aspect can certainly be clarified from factual records !!

[Son of a gun-ner]

Is this what you wanted those sitting down civilians for?

[c.rainford73]

Simply Awesome

[HERMAN BIX]

Is this what you wanted those sitting down civilians for?

Yip that’s exactly right.

[wibblywobbly]

This is going to be:

a. Awesome.
b. Unique.
c. Barking Mad

Please select one of the above (or all of them).