Jagdpanther (HL) Barrel Length

[MrChef]

So this has been on my mind for awhile now. The barrel on my Jagdpanther is about as thin and almost the same length as my Panther G. It's definitely modeled to look like the 2 piece barrel on the G2 but looks skinny, short and spindly. As well the muzzle brake is a bit small.

So after some research I confirm that the 8.8 cm Pak 43/4 L/71 two part barrel on the G2 for all intents and purposes the same as the 8.8 cm KwK 43 L/71 barrel on the Bengal Tiger. KwK designating the gun as tank mounted, Pak designating as an anti-tank gun. As a matter of fact the 2 part barrel was adopted by the time of the G2 to streamline production and ease of maintenance since it was shared by the K2.

After a bit more rudimentary research I measure the barrel diameter at the mantlet on both tanks and turns out it's the same. Skip forward and Toucan just has to send me current special deals So the Tiger II barrel was on short sale with their silly recoil for $15.99. Oh well...







I'm thinking of doing the black lacquer replacement barrel...

Annnnnd gonna finally cover the offensive Frog eye

[HERMAN BIX]

You are definitely in "The Life" now
And to think there are still folks out there that think one will do and they will magically stop at that

[Stormbringer]

I will be interested in how this progresses mate

[Herr Dr. Professor]

You are certainly doing your research about the Jagdpanther barrel. In fact, you seem at some time to have caught that Königstiger is actually the Germans' version of "Bengal Tiger."

[MrChef]

And here we have it.

First I did this the easier way of the 3 ways's I postulated it could be done. It's not plug and play but it's also not difficult. The way the mantlet is attached to the BB unit to allow for elevation/depression of the gun doesn't allow for the Heng Long Plunger pooper unit to work. It also would need further more in depth modding to facilitate a proper servo recoil. This is something that I will put on the back burner as right now I'm satisfied with the new barrel and will soon be jumping into more than one full project.

Here these pics show how the mantlet has a recessed lip on the inside where the stock barrel fits since it has been machined down with a collar added for a screw to retain it on the inside as if doesn't use the usual HL scew hole in the barrel.



















So I just cut the new barrel down and employed the new trick I learned from a new RC friend when working with servos. The barrel does not need to be rigidly attached, I want a snug fit and the ease and ability to remove it when I eventually do the servo upgrade. So I used white plumbers tape and tightly snug fit/screwed the barrel in. The tape wrapped the new barrel on the outside and the inner BB barrel inside the new barrel. Definitely a snug fit but not a bear to remove either.

I swapped the new plunger BB unit since it has the inner sleeve unit that I will use to stabilize the barrel from the inside.




Here you can see my trial and error of how much of the barrel I needed to trim.



And Bob's yerr uncle






And there's the old barrel laying right next to her.

[Stormbringer]

Cool mate and does look better

[PainlessWolf]

Mr Chef!
A Well Done Mod on the Barrel for this likely Looking Jagdpanther! Thank you for the Step by Step! Always useful! Are you going to slice off the molded on Mantlet Form that HL used to hold the warning light and rotate it to face upwards? Add a brass Bolthead over that hole if you do, Sir. Following Along!
regards,
Painless

[ColemanCollector]

Whoa! Size does matter!
Nice job accurizing.

Mike.

[MrChef]

Cool mate and does look better

Thank you sir. Yes she does have more of an imposing look now. Granted the muzzle brake is a bit too large. I investigated pieces by schumo but they're like $40+ USD not including the silly shipping and tariffs now, so that's something else that will be down the road.

[MrChef]

Mr Chef!
A Well Done Mod on the Barrel for this likely Looking Jagdpanther! Thank you for the Step by Step! Always useful! Are you going to slice off the molded on Mantlet Form that HL used to hold the warning light and rotate it to face upwards? Add a brass Bolthead over that hole if you do, Sir. Following Along!
regards,
Painless

Not this time. That would likely damage or interfere with the paint an I don't have any intentions of repainting or detailing this one more. BUT this is all going into a file in my Noggin as I want to build a better Jagdpanther one day but will start with a Taigen lower and want barrel recoil and traverse so that'll be another whole project that I look forward to. Thank you for your mindful support