Panther G at the Eastern Front 1945

[majordisastor]

More good work Hotte, I agree with your comments on the gaps around the Panther hull, I was looking at mine this weekend and was coming to the same conclusion, more work can be done in this area.

Those side skirts are really excellent now and raise your build up to another level .....well done !!

Andy

[maxmekker]

pm sent hotte8487

[hotte8487]

More good work Hotte, I agree with your comments on the gaps around the Panther hull, I was looking at mine this weekend and was coming to the same conclusion, more work can be done in this area.

Those side skirts are really excellent now and raise your build up to another level .....well done !!

Andy

Hi Andy,

thank you for your comment.
It is important for me to close the large openings, because he's not a house cat and at some point I want to go outside with my Panther. I will not drive with my tank outside in heavy rain, but the expensive interior should in no case be covered with dust.

[hotte8487]

I will now continue with the welds - it's amazing how many of these costly parts are to install on the Panther.
To begin with, I don't like too fat welds, according to the motto: less is more. It's of course a matter of taste and no matter how it's done, it remains a decent fumbling here or is here somebody who knows the easy way to well-done welds?

On the still naked upper hull, I first created the welds around the armor protection of the ball mounted MG 34. I've used Apoxie Sculpt (how at my Tiger I and II), it's a two-component putty which you can knead in portions. Finally I brought the welds in form with a syringe cannula, sometimes also with a scalpel.
Here again some pictures of it...

As next I took care to the two front prow plates, both plates I have adapted with burning cuts and weld lines.

The small slot between the two front plates isn't very nice, let's see whether he's still there when the upper hull was screwed onto the lower hull in final position...

Down at the rear wall I have hint the bottom plate and also accordingly welds.

Also at the support plates of the side fenders I've added the welds...

At the next time it will go on with the engine deck.

[hotte8487]

Announced was the engine deck - and so it goes on. Thus, attachments of the hatches, the debris guard grilles, etc.
For simplicity again pictures...

And please do not complain about the old (opened) chain links, patience, it comes someday different...

Here again welds at the rear, the adaptation of the small lifting hooks on the fans and where needed also indicated burning cuts...

And the forward hatches with welds around them...

At the next time it goes on also with welds, then on the upper hull sides at the tool holders…

[maxmekker]

always nice to see an update from you

[tigerace007]

Stunning Panther build and amazing attention to detail. I would love to build my late Tiger 1 to such a level as your Panther. Looking forward to the next update.

Stu.

[hotte8487]

Hey guys,

thanks for your nice comments; the next update comes now.

So then, I will weld further...
...this time on the tool holders and again as usual with many pictures.
Here at first again welds on the rear at the tow rope holder and barely visible at the armor plate behind the fan under the vent pipe from the tank.

…and the other side

If I have it seen correctly on original photos, then was the chain link holder not complete welded, that's why I've also spared a few inches welds.

…at the tool holders it goes further

Here also good to recognize, the welds and burning cuts on the armor plates, I come back to it later at the turret.

And it goes on at the other side…

That was now the 17th part of my building report, in part 18 it then goes on with the turret.

[hotte8487]

Today I will report about the rebuilding of my Panther G turret. Some things are also here to add even for a relatively late representative of a Panther G. And many welds must be also added.
But first a few little detailings and changes at the turret. Starting with the commander’s cupola...
Again a few pictures...

The auxiliary visor a bit closer...

The opening mechanism of the commander's hatch; consisting of a tube with a fitting axis with internal thread (both parts are made from brass), two screws, two washers and a spring.

Here is a view to the holders for camouflage at the turret.

Bended from steel wire 0.6 mm thickness, inside glued and then shortened.

Self-Made lifting eyelets and the first welds on the upper side.

One of the two stops for the mantlet.

Aft also the first welds and of course also the corresponding burning cuts.

The next report follows and included then also the explanation for the welds.

[Jochen1944]

Really impressive work. I'm interested to hear what technique you use for the weld cuts. they are nice and subtle. I see too many models where the weld cuts are far to rough for the models scale.