Scratch Panther 'A' Build

[Tailend charlie]

Looking really really good. So now slow down and let me catch up. It is true every time I think I'm a head there is something else to do. Well I know it keeps us busy and the wives know where we are. Right mate! Keep the pics coming.

[Matdragon]

looks brilliant chris, not that there would be any chance that anything from you would not be brilliant!!!!

cheers,

Matt

[fleshpedler]

Well done Chris it looks like another of your resounding success.
Remember if you turn it into a command tank you may require one of those strange aerials,
and if i can help , just give me a shout.
Fleshy........................

[grompix]

Thanks for the comments Matt & Pete.

You wouldn't say that if you could see it up close Matt. LOL

Now, strange that you should mention that Pete. I was just thinking it would look good with a star aerial on the back...
Maybe I'll give you a shout when its closer to completion...

Many thanks folks
Chris

[tankman]

All I can say to this one is what an outstanding build. Seeing what some of you guy's can scratch build makes me want to ....... give up  . All joking aside though thank you and all the other guys for sharing your builds, it's a real inspration and idea's goldmine for us students. All the best for now
Alan

[Mad Fox]

that is really coming on nice, excellent work, can't wait to see the project finished , keep us up to speed with it and be sure to keep the piccies coming too.

[grompix]

Thanks for the feedback Guys.

I managed to get a bit more done this afternoon (sorry Richard!). I couldn't resist taking time out to drive it round the garden in the sunshine though (Yes! Real sunshine. Wow!).

I made the exhaust housings from the square 21C ones (just rounded them with a file until they looked something like the ones on earlier Panthers. The pipes are made from bent aluminium tubing.

I used the existing 21C stowage bins and rear hatches. Even though they are 1:18th they don't look drastically out of scale. I did have to rip the stowage boxes off again though when I realised the bins on earlier Panthers had a different way of attaching to the rear of the tank and hang lower than Panther 'G's. Lots of curses with that one!

I tried making the mesh covers for the air intake grills from an old kitchen sieve. They don't look too bad in the photo but they were obviously not right. I ended up ripping them off and using the Schumo photo-etched set for the King Tiger (at £15.99 a set that was a pretty good rip-off too!  )

The exhaust brackets and jack holders were made from soldered tin plate and bolted to the plastic hull.

All in all, I'm quite pleased at how its turning out.

Will finish the hull this week I think and then start on the turret.

Hope you like it so far.
 
Cheers
Chris 

[Tailend charlie]

OK I see how it is . Just think the first finished the first to battle. While I wait you will be fighting and just look up the life expectancy of the Panther. It is really coming together. A true artist is born!

[grompix]

just look up the life expectancy of the Panther.

I think mine must be emulating the debut of the real Panthers Richard. While driving around the garden I spent some time afterwards looking for the small nuts and bolts that had dropped off!
Must get some locktite soon...

Cheers
Chris 

[BeeKay]

Nice one Chris. I really need to be taking photos of my SU-85 conversion. I think I almost have the mantlet cracked in my mind so now I have to produce. I have all of the blocking done for the superstructure so now the mantlet. See you at the club soon with the Panther? 

All the best

Brian