Converting HL Panther "G" to a Late "A"

[dgsselkirk]

Well boys, the vision port is going to be static, sorry! Once I put the vision port glass block in to test fit there is no real way to make it function as the glass block cannot rotate to go back inside the tank which I would need it to do. On the real thing my understanding is you push the cover up into position and then slide the glass block up into position. Of course I can't do that so fixed it is.
On the otherhand with the periscope glass block in it does look very accurate in that it fills the hole completely like the real thing...

[dgsselkirk]

While messing around with the back end and relocating the large stowage boxes I thought I would fit the Notek convoy light on the bottom of the bin. I got this little light a couple of months ago from Germany. I took it apart and installed "glass" (clear plastic) and paintd the top green and the bottom red. On the real thing there is a flap that flips up and down to cover one or the other light panels. Depending on what It looks like when I light it up I might put it on but if it looks cool with all the colours lit I will simulate the cover ripped off!

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Next I wanted to add the final bracing to the upper hull and that is done. I used an aluminum strip screwed into the sides to help pull them a little closer and super glue under the ceter section. Once that was done somemore 2 part epoxy the secure it permanently...

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Panther A 86.jpg (53.77 KiB) Viewed 4608 times

[dgsselkirk]

so now started work on the back deck. This is going to take a while!

the pictures pretty much speak for themselves. Cut 2 panels, glued on scale drawing,

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rough cut the holes,

Panther A 88.jpg (56.92 KiB) Viewed 4608 times

Started building and fitting styrene for the grills, attached the circular fan covers I got from the famous "pantiger" upper hull I bought for peanuts. These are actually the correct covers for the "A" and are very,very close to correct scale.

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I used paper thin styrene to represent the thin bolt on plates for each section and added bolts in position

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I remember it was either on this forum or one of the others there was a big argument about how many bolts were on the antenna housing on the Panther. Some said 3, some said 4.
From my research on the D's and A's if the antenna housing had a little edge rounded to go around the adjacent fan covers it has 3 bolts. If the antenna housing was perfectly round (As on most G's) it had 4. So as you can see here I did 3 which matches the Munster Panther "A" which I am using for a lot of reference on the decks.

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Panther A 93.jpg (48.25 KiB) Viewed 4608 times

So I figure it will take me a week to finish these back deck sections and this weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving so we are going away so it may be a couple of weeks before I do a new update....
It's coming together though! Most of the really tough structural stuff is done. I know the angle of the bottom glacis plate is wrong but I really don't want to mess with the lower hull too much so I think I will leave it for now. Sorry rivet counters!

[ALPHA]

UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH..................... I got a question.... ...........by replicating the vents like that.... aren't they going to be more fragile?
and did your fingers get stuck together at any time during the assembly process

ALPHA

[dgsselkirk]

They will be more be fragile compared to a molded one for sure but I use a good bonding agent that melts it together. I also give any styrene I build a hard clear coat before starting to paint so unless someone pokes a finger hard on them they should be fine...

Nope, not this time!

[ALPHA]

They will be more be fragile compared to a molded one for sure but I use a good bonding agent that melts it together. I also give any styrene I build a hard clear coat before starting to paint so unless someone pokes a finger hard on them they should be fine...

OK............. ...........

Nope, not this time!

Dang! you're just too good at this already

ALPHA

[Swamprat33]

I think youve done a great job so far mate.
I personally think it would be great if someone (hint, hint) would make and supply some of these panels as a conversion kit rather than buying a complete Panther A styrene tank kit which might be well beyond some people.
I for one would buy it as it save me a shit load of time and probable way better than i could scratch.

Tim

[dgsselkirk]

No a chance in hell would I try to create panels for other guys to use!!!!
I have a hard enough time getting my stuff I cut to fit! Hehehe...
Having said that if someone really wants to try it for a small fee to cover paper, ink, post I am will to supply them with a bunch of copies of the same line drawings I am using...

Well, I wasn't going to post anything for a while but after about 5 hours work I finally finished one side panels with the grills! Yippee!!!

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Now I still have to do some finishing on them but it's just minor detals. Before I did the one end I also test fitted my screens made out of a kitchen splatter cover for a frying pan. They will have small frames fitted around them out of copper wire or styrene I haven't decided.

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Also I re-did the air intake hole. Here is the original way it was from my other Panther

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air intake hole original 2.jpg (37.88 KiB) Viewed 4569 times

and my replacement

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While grills were drying I decided to see if my Notek light worked so I plugged it into my Sherman LED in it so even though I did put in green glass it still comes up red so I think I will put the cover on the top the way it would have been done on the real thing.

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Panther A 100.jpg (35.05 KiB) Viewed 4569 times

That's it for now!

[jeff1101]

I remember it was either on this forum or one of the others there was a big argument about how many bolts were on the antenna housing on the Panther. Some said 3, some said 4.

That was on my build thread, dgsselkirk. Me and Hotte were arguing about the number of bolts used to fasten the armoured antenna base. Although it is still my contention that 4 bolt antenna bases simply does not exist.

[dgsselkirk]

Ahhh.... yes I remember now! I must admit I don't think I have seen a real pic with the 4 bolt base...