Panther II Hybrid
Posted: Sun Feb 14, 2021 11:10 pm
For reasons I can't explain, the Panther II has held a strange fascination for me. To add one to the model panzer grounds I host, the only real option was the kit by our own Chris Ludwig. But, the thoughts of making a model out of flat styrene plastic sheets was daunting and once I got into it, an even steeper learning curve than I thought or was used to. I thought that utilizing a Tamiya or Heng Long hull as a starting point and re-spacing the lauffrollen in the sixth position could be an option, but realized right away, that was probably beyond my modeling skills. So, for better or for worse I stuck to the flat styrene option, and I suppose it came to look something like the Panther II we're all familiar with, at least from the hull downward.
As much as the Panther II looks very much like a standard production Panther, none of the parts were interchangeable 'in real life' and the various pertinent angles and linear measurements were not the same. Chris's kit offered the correct angles and as far as I can tell, the correct other measurements as well. The reader is directed to the seminal work by Jentz and Doyle in Panzer Tracts No. 5-4, "Panzerkampfwagen Panther II and Panther Ausfuehrung F." Since I am among the least imaginative persons in the world when it comes to modeling, I admit at the outset, I simply (shamelessly) copied (or tried to) the works of others.
I have not documented each step along this long road, so what follows are just some of the pictorial highlights of the build process, omitting most of the many, many frustrations encountered along the way, and also here deleting the verbal vulgarities for sensitive ears and eyes.
The journey began inauspiciously enough:
Not pictured is the torsion bar set up which utilizes the standard Tamiya flat blade 'torsion bars' and their accompanying interior mounting lugs. The interlocking side panels create a strong mortise joint with the glacis and rear plate though the mortise extensions do need to be worked and sanded heavily to create a realistic interlocking appearance. Had I had the foresight at this point, I would have purchased a set of scribbing blades to create a proper channel for 'weld.' I did purchase some later in the build process for use on the turret. It was a wise and inexpensive investment and they worked great and I regret not having had them for this early stage of the build.
The rectangular grills are plastic-like screens. The idea was next to add a second mesh grill of a slightly different mesh opening size to create a double mesh grill effect, an idea (shamelessly) copied from an example seen elsewhere. The brass mesh grills are PE for a Tiger I.
Sharp eyes will have seen that I failed to place a bevel at the bottom of the deck plate where it meets top interior of the rear plate. This is the same type of problem encountered when building the Wecohe Panther as those who have done so will appreciate. Though not entirely corrected as the build progressed, the error was somewhat ameliorated by an application of putty filler which actually worked quite well for the purpose. While I am aware of the flaw, it's not really so obvious later in the build. I mention it here because the absence of beveled parts is something to keep in mind when constructing a tank from flat styrene, another factor I failed to take into consideration at the outset.
Not that I intended to end this, my first ever posted build report on the note that I failed to do this or that, let me do just that while I make some corrections to my photo album.
As much as the Panther II looks very much like a standard production Panther, none of the parts were interchangeable 'in real life' and the various pertinent angles and linear measurements were not the same. Chris's kit offered the correct angles and as far as I can tell, the correct other measurements as well. The reader is directed to the seminal work by Jentz and Doyle in Panzer Tracts No. 5-4, "Panzerkampfwagen Panther II and Panther Ausfuehrung F." Since I am among the least imaginative persons in the world when it comes to modeling, I admit at the outset, I simply (shamelessly) copied (or tried to) the works of others.
I have not documented each step along this long road, so what follows are just some of the pictorial highlights of the build process, omitting most of the many, many frustrations encountered along the way, and also here deleting the verbal vulgarities for sensitive ears and eyes.
The journey began inauspiciously enough:
Not pictured is the torsion bar set up which utilizes the standard Tamiya flat blade 'torsion bars' and their accompanying interior mounting lugs. The interlocking side panels create a strong mortise joint with the glacis and rear plate though the mortise extensions do need to be worked and sanded heavily to create a realistic interlocking appearance. Had I had the foresight at this point, I would have purchased a set of scribbing blades to create a proper channel for 'weld.' I did purchase some later in the build process for use on the turret. It was a wise and inexpensive investment and they worked great and I regret not having had them for this early stage of the build.
The rectangular grills are plastic-like screens. The idea was next to add a second mesh grill of a slightly different mesh opening size to create a double mesh grill effect, an idea (shamelessly) copied from an example seen elsewhere. The brass mesh grills are PE for a Tiger I.
Sharp eyes will have seen that I failed to place a bevel at the bottom of the deck plate where it meets top interior of the rear plate. This is the same type of problem encountered when building the Wecohe Panther as those who have done so will appreciate. Though not entirely corrected as the build progressed, the error was somewhat ameliorated by an application of putty filler which actually worked quite well for the purpose. While I am aware of the flaw, it's not really so obvious later in the build. I mention it here because the absence of beveled parts is something to keep in mind when constructing a tank from flat styrene, another factor I failed to take into consideration at the outset.
Not that I intended to end this, my first ever posted build report on the note that I failed to do this or that, let me do just that while I make some corrections to my photo album.