HL Panther V.

[IanHill]

So I would like to know what are the key areas that make the tank that I have not a real variant. Very curious. .

Obviously I am aware the wheels are incorrect as they have just used the same wheels as a Tiger 1. But seem to be correct on the G variant. Please tell me if I’m incorrect.

But what else.

[tankme]

We call it the PanTiger because it's basically a Panther turret on a modified Tiger I lower hull. There was never a Tiger I hull with angled sides and a Panther turret. Tiger I wheels are a larger diameter than all Panther wheels.

[IanHill]

So whilst on the G variant they have revised wheels that look like panther may still be wrong size! It has what looks like Tiger exhausts. The exhaust on mine is correct I believe?

[ColemanCollector]

The position of the bogie interleaving is incorrect on the Pantiger. On a Panther, the first bogie is an innie, on your Pantiger, it's an outie, like on a Tiger.

Easiest way I ID a Pantiger when cruising seller sites for used tanks is to check the glacis plate. If it's a continuous sloped plate it's a Panther. If it is sloped, then horizontal to the lower hull joint, then it's a Pantiger (blue line below).

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Mike.

[HERMAN BIX]

The poor Panther has useful engine deck vents and the exhausts can be re used. Cutting the side armour and adding those to a G can backdate a Panther to a D but it’s a lot of work.

[Panzermechaniker]

As Mr Bix said in the other thread before you sink any more money into trying to modify things just buy a new HL Tiger upper hull and turret. From the resources on this board you can build an HL Tiger 1 into quite the impressive tank. I can't believe these things are still out there but even in our club 2 of our newest members showed up with brand new Pantigers as their first purchase. Actually although a weird looking thing one of them modified out with a Clark board actually is a very capable IR battler except when it's wheels fall off

[MrChef]

FWIW I've seen some people really embrace the PanTiger lately. Have fun and remember theres loads of options relating to mods and painting, weathering and refinishing. As mentioned by Panzermech the lower is Tiger I except for the rear panel which could be swapped so if you're truly adventurous you could swap a Tiger I upper or even a Sturmtiger-

[STHV]

It isn't really feasible to turn a Pantiger into an accurate Panther, even the upper hull and turret are extremely inaccurate. As others have said you can certainly make them look very good (I have seen some stunning ones on this forum) but converting it into a regular Tiger I would probably be the best bet if you care about accuracy.

I did have an idea a few months ago though when I saw a Pantiger in person for the first time:

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VK 45.02 (H) (Image from it's Tank Encyclopedia article)
One of Henschel's failed designs for the Tiger II programme. It was never built and quickly abandoned in favour of their "Tiger III" design, the VK 45.03 (H), which beat Porsche's failed VK 45.02 (P) and became the Tiger II we all know and love.
The pre-production Tiger II turret is available in 1/16 scale and whilst it would still require some surgery to get the hull correct it would be easier than trying to turn it into a Panther albeit still harder than a Tiger I conversion.

[jarndice]

I have never researched it but I think the different wheel set up on the later into service Panther is because the Tiger 1 wheels accumulated mud between the leading wheels which overnight froze which stripped the retaining bolts as the frozen mud expanded which is why you can see many photographs of Tiger 1s running with only one wheel on the leading array,
These being removed by forward workshops,
This information getting back to Germany hence the revised wheel arrangement on the Panther,
Just a guess but it would seem to make sense.

[Meter rat]

You could always embrace your creativity, and do a Mad Max, post apocalyptic, Warhammer 40000 build. Most Warhammer tanks are loosely based on a prototype.