HL Panther G customization diary

[jeff1101]

Thanks dgsselkirk, I am using Tamiya lacquer thinner so will try your suggestion and see if it makes a difference.

[Treesurgeon]

Jeff - Tamiya Acrylics spray like a dream using Gunze Sangyo Mr Leveling Thinner. It sounds stupid, but it has a self-leveling additive that stops it clogging the brush, and it also helps it go on smoothly You might also want to consider reducing the pressure to 15psi/1 bar to reduce splatter

I'm afraid I'm a battle-scarred and seasoned modeller of the static variety in my spare time when I'm not not treating trees for STDs

Fantastic job on the Panther BTW - I'll be stealing a lot from it when I detail up my JP

[jeff1101]

Hi Treesurgeon, Thanks for the advice. I am actually in Japan at the moment. Am in Tokyo for over a month now due to work assignment (that's why I had to put off the build for now) so I'll probably look that thinner up in the hobby shops around here. Will continue the build when I get back after 3 more weeks.

[jeff1101]

Updates - 6/15/13 - I'm back revisiting previous work

Hi guys I'm back. After a long hiatus due to work assignment, I finally have a chunk of time to sit down and work on the tank again. Having a break of 2 months made me realize I can redo some of the detail work on the tank hull better so, that was what I did. There was only 2 items that really bothered me before so...

I refashioned the jack block handles with piece of wire and brass sheet.



Also I wasn't satisfied with the fire extinguisher base plate I fashioned out of plastic as it looked too thick and out of scale with the rest of the brackets. I made a new one made from 2 pieces of brass strip cut and soldered together.


Here it is compared to the plastic one I did before. Better I think.


Here is the base plate CA glued to the hull with the fire extinguisher attached.



Here is the new base plate compared to the one before.



Just need to put weld marks on the brackets and other attachments, and the upper hull will be complete ready for priming.

[maxmekker]

always Nice to se an update from you

[jeff1101]

Updates 6/22 - Applying finishing touches on the upper hull

I added the fastening bracket on the hull roof just above the machine gun ball. A length of chain is attached to this bracket on one end and the other end of the chain a plug. The plug covers the opening in the machine gun ball when the machine gun is stowed and not in use.



I removed the MG ball and decided to blend the unsightly seam (using Mr. Surfacer) when I added milliput on the MG ball mount to add thickness to it. (see diary entry 05/28/12 viewtopic.php?f=22&t=8956&start=80 ).

Before.


After.

[Edwin]

Fantastic work ...

I'm still curious what follows

[jeff1101]

Updates 6/23/13 - Applying finishing touches on the upper hull - cont'd

As a final step, I added the fine welds (using milliput) that attaches the various brackets to the upper hull surface. At this point I can say the upper hull is complete. (Unless I forgot something so please if somebody notices something is missing please let me know )







Next week I will try to start painting the primer to the upper hull but first I would need to do the ff:

- Over the course of over a year of customizing the upper hull has been covered with all manner of dirt, dust and oils. This has to be washed with good soap and water without damaging the attached electronics.
- Mask/cover parts that should not be covered with the primer.

[maxmekker]

oho, we are soon ready for primer and Paint... looking good

[jeff1101]

Updates 6/28/13 - Applying finishing touches on the upper hull - cont'd

As they say, never say never... I thought I'd add some last minute details to the upper hull before painting.

I decided to correct the track rope bracket. Perhaps, 'correcting' is too harsh a word as there were variations in which this particular bracket was attached on panthers. In fact in this diagram (from the web) it shows them oriented vertically. However I decided to go with the common or majority variation.


I used the string technique to cut it off.



Re-attached it horizontally.


Also a missing detail which I almost forgot was the locking pin for the gun barrel travel lock. The locking pin, "locked" the travel lock either in the "down" or "up" position.

Since I had some leftover locking pins from the track hangers, I decided to use those. But first I fashioned the "collar" for the locking pin by drilling (using .8 drill bit) a sprue stem.


After that I cut off the stem and test fitted it to the locking pin.


I then glued the collar to the gun travel lock and then drilled through the collar all the way through the travel lock housing bracket.


Then the locking pin was inserted to the collar. The locking pin is attached to a retaining chain which keeps it from getting lost. The chain was fastened to the hull using the same method I used for attaching the locking pins on the track hangers. (See 7/15/2012 diary entry viewtopic.php?f=22&t=8956&start=120)

And here it is completed.