Panther G or HL?

[DRC]

I've been searching Ebay for a cheap second-hand tank (I'm also looking for a box of hen's teeth) on which to mount a camera and the other day I thought I have found such a beast! It was advertised as a returned Heng Long Panther G and it was cheap!

Now for the price I can not complain and please don't think I am. It arrived today and I wish I was able to post pictures at this point, the packaging was to say the least 'unusual' but it was intact.

The problem is, I'm not all that sure it even remotely resembles a Panther G. All the photographs of Panthers show them to be sleek, muscular and good looking with a that long 75mm barrel and business like body. What I have is just plain ugly! The barrel is short and fat, yes I know that it does have to be big enough to carry the 6mm insert but this is just like those early Tiger 1 barrels stuck in recoil. The body appears to be too wide and the lower hull looks exactly like an early Tiger 1 offering from Heng Long. The controller in one of those early 3 channel ones and there is no smoke and no sound.

I'm still not complaining. just saying.

Now the seller claimed that it was a returned tank, just how long is his returns period? I would have expected a 2015 or maybe at a pinch a 2014 produced model but accourding to the yellowed peice of paper stuck in the battery box this tank was made in June 2010.

So what is it? Is it a semi-decent representation of a Panther and are all those photographs wrong, were the tanks really all squat, ugly and sported a stumpy little barrel?

Still not complaining, just saying.

The tank goes and it shoots! The battery holds a charge, so for the price I paid (£40 inc P&P) I can not complain. What shall I do with it? Shall I:-

1. Keep it as it is as a perfect example of how things used to be?

2, Perform major surgery (That barrel is really bugging me!) and transform it into something resembling a Panther G - is that even possible?

3. Or shall I spray it a decent colour (I forgot to say - it's orange, black and olive green - Oh my eyes!), then lop off the turret and change the whole thing into a camera tank?

[Ad Lav]

Sounds like the PanTiger. Yes there is such a beast!

It's cheap because it was cheap to start with I guess. Cheapest you'll find otherwise is about £80 for a Sherman.

[Max-U52]

If I had a Pantiger I think I'd just go ahead and give it to my nephew. It makes a good toy, but that's about all (IMO).

[Ecam]

Is it just going to be a camera platform, or a good looking tank that can carry a camera?

[Max-U52]

If it becomes a dedicated camera tank the Tiger One lower is a perfect platform. Rock solid and durable.

[Markocaster]

Camera tank

[Spartan tracks]

I have a brand new bulldog pro you cen have for £65 if that helps