HL Panther G customization diary

[littletankman]

This is the older HL Pantiger . I have converted it to a Panther A (lots of work) You can see the barrel travel lock up and the lift and swivel type hatch in your pict.

Andy



http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae88 ... 0425-1.jpg

[littletankman]

A bit small and the turret is facing forward but looking at this the turret would block the hatches if it was at an angle .

http://www.the-blueprints.com/modules/v ... 65-mid.jpg

Or here
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KezhQ6waZT0/T ... 081%23.jpg

Andy

[tisaksen]

This is the older HL Pantiger . I have converted it to a Panther A (lots of work) You can see the barrel travel lock up and the lift and swivel type hatch in your pict.

Andy



http://i960.photobucket.com/albums/ae88 ... 0425-1.jpg

wow, nice build! Thanks for showing me

[jeff1101]

A bit small and the turret is facing forward but looking at this the turret would block the hatches if it was at an angle .

http://www.the-blueprints.com/modules/v ... 65-mid.jpg

Or here
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KezhQ6waZT0/T ... 081%23.jpg

Andy

If that's the case then its a fatal flaw. I wonder why it was never mentioned in any of the Panther reference books.

[mustclime]

It was done to because it was easier to produce and germany needed more panthers......A lot of tanks have clearance issues with drivers hatches because it is rare that people that build or buy tanks ever end up driving them into combat.

[tisaksen]

I found the answer:

The driver's and radio operator's lift-and-pivot hatches were replaced by hinged hatches, and later these hatches were able to be discarded in an emergency by loosening the hinges if the turret was blocking the hatches.

Source: http://afvdb.50megs.com/germany/pz5.html

So I guess it was an early G flaw which was fixed on the late G.

[jonger]

"Yes buddy undo the screws and the top shell just pulls off."

Not all of them or your smoker will fall off, three screws round the top right hand corner of the battery cover are for the smoker, they are slightly smaller than the rest that hold the two halves of the body together, they are usually black in colour whilst the body screws are silver.
Hope that helps.

[Tanker Mike]

A bit small and the turret is facing forward but looking at this the turret would block the hatches if it was at an angle .

http://www.the-blueprints.com/modules/v ... 65-mid.jpg

Or here
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KezhQ6waZT0/T ... 081%23.jpg

Andy

If that's the case then its a fatal flaw. I wonder why it was never mentioned in any of the Panther reference books.

Staring in August 1944, jettisonable hatches were installed. In an emergency, the crew could then loosen the hinge fasteners and shove the hatch up and over the side.

Mike

[jeff1101]

"Yes buddy undo the screws and the top shell just pulls off."

Not all of them or your smoker will fall off, three screws round the top right hand corner of the battery cover are for the smoker, they are slightly smaller than the rest that hold the two halves of the body together, they are usually black in colour whilst the body screws are silver.
Hope that helps.

Thanks jonger I was afraid of that. Good thing I asked the good people of this forum. No need to repeat the same mistakes others have experienced. In return, I hope to help others also. I have marked the screw holes that hold the upper and lower hull together.

[jeff1101]

Next I tried removing the screws. The screw holes are deep.



Turns out my trusty small screw driver set does not reach it.



I had to go out and buy a screwdriver with a longer reach. Took me a while to find one.



Also bought my first hobby knife. First time I used this thing. Turns out this would be a very useful tool.