Converting HL Panther "G" to a Late "A"

[dgsselkirk]

So a little more...

One of the biggest differences between the A&D and the G's was the slop of the side armour. On the A&D's it was 40 degees off center and on the G's 30 degrees. Low and behold if you take the angle from the top of the upper deck to the outside of the fender edge on the HL it is almost a perfect 40 degrees!

so using styrene sheets cut a couple of pieces to fit sanded the edges in a bit to fit on the angle better and tacked them on after filling all the holes for equipment mounfs with 2 part epoxy,

[MichaelC]

Wow that's convenient........

[ALPHA]

Wow that's convenient........

Reclaim that Panther when it's finished Mike

ALPHA

[dgsselkirk]

Wow that's convenient........

Absolutely. I have seen other builds where they cut the sides completely off but this will allow the upper deck to retain some structural integrity as well as make a nice form when finished to sit on the lower hull.

[ALPHA]

Wow that's convenient........

Absolutely. I have seen other builds where they cut the sides completely off but this will allow the upper deck to retain some structural integrity as well as make a nice form when finished to sit on the lower hull.

Not to mention it's triangulated ....good thinking dgsselkirk ...it's pretty great when things like that work out.... take advantage of the serendipity

ALPHA

[Swamprat33]

Hi all, Is there any update on this Panther A conversion?

I am really interested to se how you wil be progressing with this project.

I have managedd to scrounge an H Panther g, and have mst parts to start this conversion as well.

Cheers

Tim

[jeff1101]

Its a good thing I checked on this forum today. Upstanding job on that panther A conversion, dgsselkirk. Now why didn't I think of that?? That hull side armor was one of those things that discouraged me from doing the panther A. But your solution is elegant and easy to do. If I only knew I would have given it a shot.

Now why would I want a panther A? ... So I could put zimmerit on it and it would be historically accurate

[dgsselkirk]

Hi Guys,

Sorry for the delay, I was sick all last week with a rotten head cold. Couldn't do any work because if I leaned over to try anything my nose would run like a tap! Not conducive to working on things like models! LOL!
Started back on it the last couple of night so will bring it up to date later tonight including mishap with some resin fill!But all in all coming along...

[jeff1101]

Hi dgsselkirk,

Since you have the correct side armor angle for the upper hull, don't forget to relocate the rear stowage bins outward so that the bins sit flush with the edge of the vertical part of the side armor. ( see pic of the Littlefield panther in svsm.org)



I only say this as I don't want you to miss that detail as I am very much liking your build thus far.

[jeff1101]

That also answers (quite nicely in fact) my nagging question as to why panther A and Ds were able to put spare Jerry cans in between the stowage bins with space left to spare for the twin vertical exhausts, while the G version can't seem to have the same fit. (even accounting for the extra space for the oversized tubes of the flame dampeners)